Caravan to Wincester,VA Welcome Center...

[Afuente]

...for CougarFest of course. Where are people meeting around here, or are we all just meeting there?

I've sent a PM to Shiva about meeting up with their caravan along RT 66 as they head out there. I live next to/near the corner of RT 66 and RT 28.

,Jeremy

[DanG]

I believe there was some dischord about where the caravans were meeting. I believe it was settled at one time (Heather being my only source of information for this) that Tidewater and what's left of capital were meeting up to drive at 64/81 intersection. For whatever reason, the Maryland crew is not taking the same route, which appears to me on a map to be a little silly?

Anyway- I'm in for the 64/81 caravan, since that looks like the most direct route. Leah and I are looking forward to going.

[Shiva]

MapBlast & AAA shows the MD route going down 95 to 66 to 81.....

Mapblast Map from MD to TN (http://icefury_shiva.tripod.com/icefuryampshivascougar/id9.html)

1 Begin at Bel Air, MD 21014 on E Pennsylvania Ave and go Southwest for 500 feet
2 Turn left on US-1-BR and go South for 0.8 miles
3 Turn left on MD-24 and go Southeast for 5 miles
4 Bear right on ramp to I-95,John F Kennedy Memorial Hwy and go Southwest for 16 miles
5 Continue on Harbor Tunnel Thwy,I-895 and go Southwest for 15 miles
6 Continue on I-95 and go Southwest for 18 miles
7 Exit I-95 via ramp to Capital Beltway,I-495,I-495 Outerloop and go Southwest for 22 miles
8 Continue on ramp to I-66 and go West for 65 miles
9 Continue on ramp to I-81 and go Southwest for 376 miles
10 Continue on ramp to I-40 and go Southwest for 14 miles
11 Bear right on access road and go West for 0.3 miles
12 Turn left on TN-66 and go South for 9 miles
13 Continue on US-441,Chapman Hwy,TN-71 and go South for 5 miles
14 Turn right on US Hwy 321,Parkway,US Hwy 441,State Hwy 71,Chapman Hwy and go South for 40 feet
15 Turn right on Sharon Dr,Sharon Rd and go Southwest for 200 feet to Sharon Dr

To meet up with PA all we have to do is at the 66/81 intersect we go 10 miles north on 81 to the Winchester meet up with PA since that is their big scheduled stop to pick up other chapters before finishing their route to TN...

PA NECO's caravan route (http://thor.prohosting.com/~nfredly/Cougarfest/cougarfest.html#schedule)

I checked Mapblast for Centreville, VA to Pigeon Forge, TN and here are the directions:

1 Begin at Centreville, VA on William Carr Ln and go East for 500 feet 0.1
2 Turn right on Triplett Dr and go South for 300 feet 0.1
3 Turn left on Red House Dr and go Southeast for 700 feet 0.3
4 Turn left on Newton Patent Dr and go Northeast for 0.2 miles 0.5
5 Turn right on VA-620,Braddock Rd and go Northeast for 0.6 miles 1.1
6 Turn right on Sully Rd,VA-28 and go South for 800 feet 1.2
7 Continue on ramp and go Southwest for 0.4 miles 1.6
8 Continue on I-66 and go West for 52 miles 54.0
9 Exit I-66 via ramp at sign reading "Exit 1A I-81 S to Roanoke" and go West for 1.0 miles 55.0
10 Continue on I-81 and go Southwest for 375 miles 430.2
11 Exit I-81 via ramp at sign reading "Exit 1B to Knoxville" and go Southwest for 0.6 miles 430.8
12 Continue on I-40 and go Southwest for 13 miles 444.2
13 Bear right on access road at sign reading "Exit 407 TN-66 to Gatlinburg / Sevierville / Pigeon Forge" and go West for 0.3 miles 444.5
14 Turn left on TN-66,Winfield Dunn Pky and go South for 9 miles 453.2
15 Continue on US-441,TN-71,Chapman Hwy SE and go South for 6 miles 459.1
16 Turn left on Francis Ave and go Northeast for 400 feet 459.2
17 Turn right on N River Rd and go Southeast for 400 feet to Pigeon Forge, TN 459.3

*Mapblast is also saying that you would take 66 to 81 not 64. I don't have a map with me at work to see where 64 is, but it seems that mapblast & aaa mid-atlantic are saying the same for all of us.

Rather than several mini-caravans trying to meet up along 81 through VA...in my opinion it would be better to have MD & Capital NECO drive up 10 miles on 81 from 66 to meet at the Winchester exit with PA, we'll be one huge caravan going down 81...we call ahead to Tidewater's Caravan since PA has no scheduled stop for them, they only have the Winchester one for us...and let Tidewater know early enough when we'll be near a certian exit or mile marker for them to meet up with us or be ahead of us and pull off to meet us or something like that.

[Shiva]

I just checked my Rand Mcnally map for 64 verses 66 and that is the looonng way, maybe you have your roads mixed up?....64 runs from Richmond 95 through Charlottesville to 81...where 66 runs from 495 DIRECTLY to 81 muuucch shorter distance and time...trust me Greg and I travel al the time down to FL, to TN, and to AZ and some other states and if AAA says 66 is shorter than 64 than go 66. not to rattle any chains but no point in adding extra miles/time to an already long trip.

I think if Cap & MD want to meet before merging with PA we do it along 66 and then head to the Winchester Welcome Center...If not than both Chapters meet up with PA at the Welcome Center.

and then Tidewater will meet up with the whole caravan along 81 somewhere since last I checked they had not decided what route they were taking.

[carchck7]

Dan I said we're taking 66 to 81...sheeeesh...that's where we're meeting Eric F for breakfast in Winchester :) silly boy :)

Does any one know what time they're meeting there? I can't remember if its 8 or 9....woohoo I get to sleep in then :)

BTW...I'm coming to your house that AM and then you's and me's can leave together :)

[DanG]

Silly? <Ugh> You guys have it slightly skewed:

There was, as I remember, supposed to be a 66-81 route for Cap. NECO. Then we were supposed to be meeting Tidewater at the 64/81 junction. I didn't say WE were taking 64! :tongue:

Fill me in on the times- Are we going to have to feed you, Heather? :rolleyes:

[girlfriendal]

DanG...I am also remembering it as you are. I was figuring everyone would be heading down 81 anyhow, that being the most logical and easy way to get there. See map file attached (maximize the map to see). My only question then is, since 64 enters from the east, and then picks up again going west further south along 81, which split point would be where the meet spot is? Were there specific locations already selected?

[Shiva]

PA's Caravan will be at the I-81 Winchester Welcome Center- Virginia
Location: mile marker 320 from 9:45 - 10:05 am

PA's next scheduled stop is at exit 150B I81 at Hardees for Lunch from 12:34 - 1:30

PA Caravan Route & Info (http://thor.prohosting.com/~nfredly/Cougarfest/cougarfest.html#schedule)

I just called AAA Mid-Atlantic and here is what I have so far:

************************************************** *********************************
Winchester Welcome Center is Exit 320 on I81 PA's first stop in VA

*15 miles from exit 320 to exit 298 (20ish minutes)

I66 meets I81 at Exit 298

*100 miles from exit 298 to exit 221 (1 hour 50 minutes)

I64 meets I81 at Exit 221

*89 miles from exit 221 to exit 150B (1 hour 30 minutes)

Hardee's is Exit 150B Roanoke on I81 PA's second/last stop in VA
************************************************** *********************************
************************************************** *********************************
1. How about MD meets Cap at someone's home off of I66 we all have breakfast together as a group.

2. Than we drive on I66 to I81 (exit 298) and go north (15miles) on I81 to the Welcome Center (exit 320)

3. We've meet up with the PA & other north/north east caravans and now drive down I81

4. We co-ordinate a time for Tidewater to be at I64/I81 (exit 221) so they can just drive into the caravan already driving since PA is making no scheduled stop at that location.

5. Now we have all the Chapters together and are driving to Pigeon Forge, PA has the lunch stop set and it's exit 150B in Roanoke at the Hardee's.
************************************************** *********************************

How does that sound to everyone?

[carchck7]

No dan you DON'T have to feed me...but if you're lovely wife wants to then I'm not gonna look a gift horse in the mouth...


As far as meeting up...Near Dan G's place would be best....not to crowded and you have a selection of fast food joints to eat at....he's also the most west and closest to 81

[Afuente]

that's true, Dan does live a few miles just West of me....it's the 2nd RT 29 exit.

just let me know what would be a good time to meet up, and i'll be there.

,Jeremy

[Shiva]

Great, I'll get with MD and let them know, just tell let me know how early we should be there.

[carchck7]

well Winchester is only about an hour from Dan's joint so if we meet up at like 8:30 at a fast food joint...then we should be good to go.

[ProjectCougar]

I will be taking US 301 to I-95... I will be getting on I-95 at VA Exit 104. I will be taking I-95 to 64 West. I will remain on 64 West for approx 89 miles. When 64 West ends it will be dumping me into I-81 South. I think the exit is like #210 on I-81 South.... I will then be taking I-81 to I-40 West then exit 407 to Pigeon Forge...

I was just in Pigeon Forge this past weekend for the NOPI show and let me tell you, its a party town!

[ChrissyT]

woohoo...party town...yippy...we knew we could count on you...well for something:biggrin::tongue:

[Shiva]

James you should check with Tidewater since your taking the longer route, I think they will probably be on your way. Tidewater will probably (I've been talking with them to see where they are merging with everyone) be merging with the big caravan at exit 150B when PA/MD/Cap/ECt.. all stop for lunch.

edit: hehehe meant long way for MD'ers according to the map online and AAA, sorry bout that :)

[ChrissyT]

it depends on where they live...for most in Va...its the shorter route...look at Krissi's map...for us in Md and DC area its the shortest...it depends on where you live...so if you are better with the 64/81 Tidewater is cruising that way...66/81 Pa/Md/some of Capital Neco are cruising that way...tentative times are given so just pick and choose...we'll all meet up I'm sure at one of the two points...so hope to see everyone down there