2012 Northeast Caravan
 

I do not yet see a NE caravan thread, so here we go.

I figure since I ended up leading a bunch of folks from Harrisburg on South last year, I'd volunteer to help get things going this year.

I currently plan on leaving Thursday morning between 6 and 9 AM depending on who needs to meet where from Harrisburg, PA. I will be taking 81 to 77 to Asheville, and then hopping 40 to 74 into Bryson City and into the Nantahala Village. If you can't go 40 minutes out of the way to see the incredible view from 77, then we'll have to part with you there. At the very least, we will be meeting up with folks in MD like last year.

Anyone whose eyes want to learn just how much fuel can be thrown out my exhaust while still getting 30mpg, you are welcome to follow me down. I know my way there, and my way around there. I can provide information on cheap, safe (for you and your car) lodging around the Harrisburg area for people making the long haul from up north (hope you canada folk are comin' back!).

I can also house a rotard or two at my apartment on the main drag in Hbg the night before (has off street parking), but you have to pass 2 tests. You must 1) be more broke than other travelers, and 2) not be a total toolbag.

Anyone involved, let me know how I may be able to assist in the planning and operation.

Thanks guys, this year is going to be the best yet!

-Whoopie

Im in maryland I was planning on leaving that Wednesday

I'm in Elkton, MD, but I'll be hitting the road early on Thurs. AM.

I was planning on leaving that Friday after work. Might want to see if taking 81 all the way down to Knoxville is faster.

Hey Pete... we're planning on getting a caravan together again. Same plan as last year except there's no reason (as of yet anyway) When we're you planning on leaving? We're hoping to be pulling out of H-burg around 9 again and getting to the villiage by 8pm. We've got myself and the GF in the Official RX7 Support Vehicle (my XJ) someone will be driving the turbo 'vert down, Kyle is driving his fathers phord p/u towing his FC down, and his brother, our master engine builder will be taking some for of transportation as well.

Last year I hit the road before ~0700, which was early enough to beat most of the B-more traffic on the beltway headed to I-70 on my way to I-81. My goal is to make it to Nantahalla by dinner time

That is a little too far west for me. I am down in Southeastern Virginia Hampton Roads area.

Oh snap well after looking at the lodging and the prices leaving Wednesday dont sound to cool now, So your in Elkton Pete Im in Catonsville I can meet up with you.

Sounds like we'll be able to link up somewhere along the way. Last year, I met up with a bunch of folks right off of I-81 in VA. Since I left early to ensure a painless pass thru B-more beltway traffic, I had to wait a while for the folks from PA, south MD/DC/NoVA & the Canadian crew to show up, but we had a great time driving down.

BTW, I can vouch for this route being well worth it. Last year we had to take this little detour on I-77 via Ashville to avoid the tornado carnage that closed down I-81 further south. According to Mapquest, it only added about 15~20 minutes and less than 20 or so miles to my end-to-end run from northern MD.

There will be 5-6 of us leaving from Wilmington, DE sometime early Thursday morning. We typically take the same route down so we can probably join the group at some point.

Id love to get that caravan going again...

Yeah... we didn't bother because we left a day late..... figuring the traffic was gone... killed us by a few HOURS

This sounds interesting. Right now the plan is to leave Speed1 @ 8am Thurs morning.

The detour we took to Asheville was a highlight of the trip. That view was amazing.

Afraid it will be a late decision for us this year. Would really like to make it 3 years in a row, but, the budget is a little battered from going to the 24 Hours of Daytona last month and needing to put a bit of money into most of the cars in the fleet, but, we may pull it off yet.
If push comes to shove, and we can only scare up a partial budget, we might fly in, just to see if we can make the rental company regret renting me a car when I flog it on the 129..

Would love to have you guys again... 3rd time is the charm for me making the caravan.... mainly becuase I'll be in the Jeep or the Mazda6 if I end up buying it.

I'm in for the caravan again. Let me know the details Brian, hopefully you'll actually make it this time ;)

Har har.... it's on the girlfriend whether or not we make the caravan. THe official RX7 Support vehicle is ready.

:icon_no2: Lame excuse TTT, if the GF isn't ready to go you go solo or drag her along caveman style whether she's ready or not.

:rofl: Well, she's graduating law school in May, and skipping an entire day of classes is possible and likely, but there is the chance that she may need to attend, in which case we'll just leave ~11 that night.

^Pussy

It's not... we've come home that way (Front Royal, Woodbridge, and Culpeper respectively).

We've made this trip 5-6 times over the years and the easiest/fastest route is usually 81 to 23 torwards Asheville... we've also gone 81 to 77 to 40 which wasn't bad...

If you were leaving earlier, you could follow down... we'll see you there though. I'm shocked at the lack of NOVA representing at this event. There are a ton of local guys, but maybe they're falling off these days... who knows (I don't even attend events like I used to locally)...

First off - I had no idea Chris and Kyle were brothers, lol...

Secondly.. Mazda6??? Where did this come from? They do make good DDs though, but not as good as an '04 RX8 with over 190WHP reliably... :squint:

we are leaving out of Mytle Beach Thursday morning will be going thrugh ashville area not sure what time we will have two or three cars, this is our fith year for DGRR and the first time leaving from here last year we car up with the Atlanta caravan We were living Florida and have driven from Ohio you never know where we will be. but hope to meet up with some of you on the way

I've got some people flying in for this (from England) on Thursday. I think they should be arriving at Dulles around 10-11am.

If possible I'd love to catch the Caravan down with them!

I'm also going to see if I can't round up some more of the Northern Va guys to come down for this!

Levi let me know when its closer and I can get you back to the gate. I am switching to graveyard but normally I am out at Dulles.

^ Dude, that would be awesome!

Depending on what time the convoy passes through our area I think I may try to link up with it and travel down en masse.

I think by around 10-11 we'd want to be more out to the Front Royal area...

I am going to put in for a day off on that Friday. Unless the project is behind it shouldn't be a problem. I might split with you guys and head straight to Knoxville. If I don't stop and say hi to mom she might kill me.

Yeah, we're going to miss the convoy down. I misunderstood what their flight schedule looked like, it turns out that they won't be landing at Dulles until 1pm. So yeah, we'll be several hours behind you guys =(

When were you planning on leaving the area?

you working on the space shuttle transport project?

Levi, it depends if I take friday off or not. I always have a place to stay at mom's which is about 30 or 45 minutes from the dragon so getting in crazy late isn't too much of an issue. Plus I better go spend at least lunch with her otherwise I might lose that free place.


We3rx7, no not working on the shuttle project. I work on the building controls out at the airport. But I do plan on being out at the end of the runway in the company truck with my camera when the shuttle comes in on the 17th. One of the perks is all access pass to the property.

Thats cool... just a guess based on the word "project" and the timeline... my office is in the flight pattern so I hope to catch a view of it...

When we get new buildings etc they call them projects. Hell we probably control the building you work in.

Lol.. nope.. I'm in a gov building not near the airport, we're just high enough and in its flight path...

If its a govy building then for sure we do something with it. By controls I am talking about HVAC, fire,security stuff. I work on the HVAC system controls.

Alright, guys... I've been asked to take the reigns on this matter for Brian. I will be organizing HIS caravan. :fawk:

Caravan start is 9AM at the Turkey Hill off Exit 69 (Progress Ave) of Interstate 81 in Harrisburg, PA.

Next stop is undetermined, but somewhere a bit south of I-66. Last year we did Stephens City VA, but this is a little north of there, so if anyone has suggestions on a better spot, let me know. RXtacy and Brewer Bob... I'm talking to you.

Next stop is typically in or around Roanoke. JhnRX7, would this be a good place to meet up with you? Where do you plan on meeting up with I-81?

We will be taking the I-77 'detour' into Asheville, and on up 40 to the gap.

So far on the list I have:

TitaniumTT - meeting at first stop
RXtacy - meeting at second stop
Brewer Bob - meeting at second stop
JhnRX7 - hopefully meeting with another group around 2nd-4th stop if timing can work out.
Pete_89T2 - Maybe waiting for us somewhere after he beats traffic
Redshift - as of yet undecided
JL1RX7 - What's your plan?

Feel free to post here, PM me, or hit my e-mail dmaudlin@gmail.com with questions, additions, or corrections.

I forget what time we will be getting in, because Mike and I decided to go explore the boonies before hitting the cabin... involuntarily.

Oh, I forgot to mention. I have 3 2-way radios for use on the trip. If anyone else has them, please bring. They are very handy to have.

I'm 1/2 hour away from the intersection of I77 and I40. Depending on the time,
I would love to tag along as your caravan passes through. What time do you
think it will pass thru this point?

It'll be daylight, I can tell you that. I believe last year my trip ran about 9AM to 8PM including stops.

We'll probably hit Asheville between 7 and 8 PM? I haven't hit the map too hard yet as I'm waiting on stop/meet info.

Damn right it's HIS caravan! :fawk:


Add to that list @ the first stop.
budfc3s
My brother
TwinCharged7

Actually if you wanna get technical about it, the first stop is Speed1 @ 8am. That's where HIS caravan officially starts ;)

Technically the place you start from isn't a stop at all. It's a start. :)