Hello all!

The "Great Northeast Caravan" starts in Michigan and will meet up with my caravan, which is actually coming from the Northeast (well, Northeast Ohio) in Kentucky. This caravan will be coming down I-71, meeting at the rest stop on I-71 around West Salem, Ohio - south of the I-76/I-71 interchange at 6:30, leaving at 6:45 AM sharp in order to make it through Cincinatti and to the rest stop in Kentucky by 11:30 AM. We'll stop in Mt. Gilead to refuel, it will be enough to get us to the next gas stop which will be after we join the caravan coming from Michigan.

This caravan is going to have a few people from my club, but I'd expect people from Pittsburg, Buffalo and Toronto may be interested in joining up. I'm gonna start a list of who I know is coming below. Please e-mail me at president@minineo.org if you are going to be attending this branch of the caravan so I can add you to the list, feel free to ask if you need more detailed instructions.

I expect the combination of the two caravans to be huge once everyone meets up on I-75 in Kentucky.

List of the Great Northeastern Northeast Caravan attendees:

Sarcux (with rabbot riding shotgun)
Dana (from Mini NEO)
Phil & Becky (from Mini NEO)

 

Re-named thread to prevent confusion and make it easier to follow the caravans.

Hugs,
PB

 

Thanks, PB.

 

Okay, I believe it's about time that I post where and when we're gonna meet, and the route down there.

These directions are being conservative with time. Do not be mad at me if we get to the meeting area in Kentucky (where we're meeting the HUGE Detroit caravan and some other stragglers from Southern Ohio) a bit early. I know 6:00 is very early, so go to bed early!

Be sure to leave with a completely full tank! First gas stop will be south of Columbus! Second won't be until halfway through Kentucky!

We're gonna meet up at the rest are on I-71 just south of exit 196 (West Salem area) at 6:00 am, leaving at 6:15 am sharp.

From there we'll motor down I-71 to the first Mt. Gilead exit (I believe it's 151) and stop at the Dutchess restaurant there for some brekkers. There's also a BP there for anyone who needs it. We should arrive there around 7:00 am, we should leave by 7:45-8:00 am.

From there we will motor all the way to the rest area in I-75/71 in Kentucky between exits 178 and 175. It comes up on the right very fast, so stick to the right lane, even though there will be slow semis. (We will
stop for gas about halway between Columbus and Cincinatti).

By then it should be about 11:30 am, which is our meeting time.

From there we will motor with the Caravan to the Man o'War exit 109 (I-75) for lunch and gas. After that its a straight shot to the Dragon!

I will post the directions below:

Time Mile Instruction For Toward
Summary: 468.1 miles (7 hours, 45 minutes)
9:00 AM 0.0 Depart I-71 Exit 151 [Food, Gas, Diesel, Lodging, Store, Open 24 Hrs, Medical Services, Play Area, Truck Scales, Truck Parking, Truck Services, RV Parking] on I-71 (South-West) 43.7 mi
9:43 AM 43.7 Continue (West) on I-70 [I-71] 1.2 mi
9:45 AM 44.9 Continue (West) on I-71 88.8 mi I-71 / Cincinnati / Dublin Rd
11:08 AM 133.7 Turn off onto Ramp 0.7 mi I-275 / I-75
11:09 AM 134.3 Merge onto I-275 (North-West) 5.1 mi
11:13 AM 139.4 At I-275 Exit 43A, turn off onto Ramp 0.6 mi I-75 / Cincinnati
11:14 AM 140.0 Merge onto I-75 (South) 16.0 mi
11:29 AM 156.1 Continue (South) on I-71 [I-75] 19.2 mi
11:29 AM 156.4 Entering Kentucky
11:47 AM 175.3 At I-71 Exit I-71 South Ramp, continue (South) on I-75 55.1 mi
12:39 PM 230.4 At I-75 Exit 118, turn off onto Ramp 1.0 mi
12:40 PM 231.4 Merge onto I-64 [I-75] (East) 5.5 mi
12:47 PM 237.0 At I-75 Exit 111, continue (South-East) on I-75 165.6 mi
2:30 PM 348.7 Entering Tennessee
3:21 PM 402.5 Continue (East) on I-275 2.8 mi
3:23 PM 405.3 At I-275 I-40 Exit, turn off onto Ramp 0.2 mi
3:24 PM 405.6 Merge onto I-40 (West) 0.7 mi
3:25 PM 406.3 At I-40 Exit 386, turn off onto Ramp 0.3 mi
3:25 PM 406.6 Turn LEFT (South) onto US-129 [SR-115] 52.5 mi
4:28 PM 458.4 Entering North Carolina
4:29 PM 459.1 Turn LEFT (East) onto SR-28 8.9 mi
4:45 PM 468.0 Turn RIGHT (South-West) onto Woods Rd 174 yds
4:45 PM 468.1 Turn RIGHT (West) onto Local road(s) 32 yds
4:45 PM 468.1 Arrive Fontana Village

SUMMARY
Driving distance: 468.1 miles
Trip duration: 7 hours, 45 minutes
Driving time: 7 hours, 45 minutes

 

im a definite! i will be there bright and early. and only 2 more weeks of schooL!

Patrick

 

I will be meeting you guys to hang out at one of the rest stops...just see how everyone is doing ...i cant leave school for the dragon though

 

Will there be a meeting point in the Hudson (or surrounding) area for those of us going together from here?

 

Check the minineo.org board, I have info on the Hudson meet there.

 

Just did, thanks.

 

There are 3 cars that would like to join up somewhere right on the south side of the city where the 71 crosses over the 270 outerbelt around the city...we can just get a ball park time that you'll be hitting that spot and we can zooom onto the 71 when you're passing by...

can you post or email your phone numbers and a time that you will be hitting the south side of Columbus??

 

Aaron -

Look for us going by exit 100 between 8:45 and 9:00 (estimate).

Call me for a better idea...

330.524.2800.

 

Did you mean 9:45-10:00?

Your instructions have you starting the 88.8 mile stretch @ mile marker 106 @ 9:45am?

Steve

 

No, 8:45-9:00. The times on the step-by-step instructions are not accurate.


There's a rest area near mile marker 66 on I-71 between Columbus and Cincinatti... that'd be a good place to catch up with us.

Aaron, you wanna hook up with us there, too? We can make a 10 minute stop. Or maybe we can get off at the exit 65 there to gas up, and we can meet there?

Remember that this schedule is almost guaranteed to make us early for the meet-up with the main caravan.

At Man O' War, I won't be stopping. There is a lot of construction and dinner starts at 5:00 at Fontana, so there's a bit of a rush. We'll prolly just stop at a McDonalds or something and gas up right before TN, 'cos we're gonna take a detour around I-75 in TN for awhile.

 

Ok, my wife and I (1 MINI till I get her 1) will be at the rest stop at marker 66 by 9:00. If it is only us, no need to stop, we will see you coming. We will then fall in behind and exit for gas, as we will need it also.

Mcdonalds and the detour is fine with me.

Btw dinner is @ 6pm.

Steve

 

I'm sorry I must have missed something. I have read this thread many times to find a date, but nowhere does it say what day all this is happening.

 

You're right.

Thursday, May 5, 2005

 

Do you want us to stop, or will you buzz onto the highway behind us? I can call you when we get near, and you can call me when you get to the rest area to see where we are.

 

No don't stop, we will fall in behind, don't stop for gas before we hookup, as we will need gas too. If you want to exit at #65 for gas great.

I will call you when we get to the rest stop, if you don't hear from me and you are getting close, give me a buzz.

my cell # 724-989-0919

Steve

 

Are you still planning on meeting in Hudson at 4:00AM? What time will that get us to KY for the meeting point with the MI crew? I'm trying to decide where I'll jump in at. I also left a message on minineo.org.

 

The Columbus crew of 3 will be motoring on our own in hopes of beating the rush to check in, etc...so please make note of that in your travel plans...


best,

 

What time are you guys leaving?

 

We're meeting at 7:30 at the waffle house on the Stringtown exit which is the first exit on the south side of 71 just outside the 270 outerbelt...

 

Okay, yeah, we'd be over an hour late to that meeting point.


Steve, you still meeting us at 66?

 

We will be there by 9:00am, I have your cell#, and I left mine further up in the thread.

I can't wait!!

Steve

 

never mind