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Bookworm
Colonial Militia
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
February 10 2004
Status: offline
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 Posted - May 11 2004 : 07:58:35 AM
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A big part of the great advent'cha for me will be making the passage south and back. According to Mapquest, the drive will take about 8 hours 45 minutes, most of it on I-81. With rest/food/bathroom stops, I'm figuring about 12 hours, hopefully about 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Very convenient that the Gathering takes place during the longest days of the year -- at least the trip can be done (cross my fingers) entirely in daylight. Thinking about my journey led to thinking about everyone else's. In at least one case, that will involve a LONG flight from Scotland. Is everyone else driving? How far? All in one day? Any advice on my route in particular, or staying alert on long drives in general? Any war stories about interesting (hopefully not disastrous) events that occurred along the way?
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Dances with Beagles
Colonial Settler
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 19 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - May 11 2004 : 7:10:58 PM
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Always carry a spare set of keys, or have a magnetic key box,
in case your keys get locked in the car !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(especially at the sunrise on the Blue Ridge Parkway, where help is not a-plenty!) |
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richfed
Sachem
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 13 2002
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Posted - May 11 2004 : 8:22:22 PM
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It really ought to take you a bit less than 12 hours from your part of the world. I've made it to Long Island, NY in that time on occasion. Of course, that was with minimum stops ... and from Marion, not Chimney Rock Village.
I-81 is the way to go ... probably to I-77 South to I-40 West to US 221 South [Exit 85] down to Rutherfordton, NC.
Cold air & drinks ... loud music ... lots of talking to oneself [I do that a lot anyway!!!  ] ... and stopping at rest areas for a breather & cold water slapped in the face. All that usually does it for me.
You be SAFE!!! |
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Theresa
Bumppo's Tavern Proprietress
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 17 2002
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Posted - May 11 2004 : 11:37:34 PM
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I'll be coming from a small town southeast of Birmingham, AL. It will take me about six hours...a very easy drive, too I might add. I'm thinking that Carter and I will hook up somewhere along the way and caravan...right Carter?
As for eventful treks...none here. Quite simple for me. Good luck and be safe, Bookworm. |
Theresa |
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Kaylynn44
Mohicanite
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
July 13 2002
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Posted - May 12 2004 : 08:03:43 AM
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Thankfully, our drive to Asheville will be fairly short. It's about a three hour drive up there. I have been on those long trips before though. We drove out to Oklahoma one year, and that was a looooong trip. We stopped along the way and saw sights, and just took our time and had fun.
BW, make sure that you make plenty of stops, so that you can stretch and get refreshed. Okay?
Kay |
~ An Infinite Zephyr~
Some things never end
As long as goodness exists
Winds shall always soothe
www.cloudsbooks.com
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caitlin
Bumppos Tavern Patron
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 17 2002
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Posted - May 12 2004 : 1:26:33 PM
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Howdy,
You'll be fine! The first time, (the first Gathering,actually) I drove the 8-hour drive from IN by myself! Just take breaks and keep the LOTM soundtrack blasting in the car! You'll be there lickity-split! 
The following year I was fortunate to have help in driving... my NEW HUSBAND! Now, 3 children later and now living in Arizona, I just don't know. My hubby mentions going all the time - but I think he just wants to show off his filming abilities again... 
Enjoy yourself! You're going to be among some very, very special people and making memories of a lifetime! It's all worth it!
Good luck 
Caitlin |
Jack McCall: "Should we shake hands or something, relieve the atmosphere. I mean how stupid do you think I am?"
Wild Bill Hickok: "I don't know, I just met you."
"A nation with no regard to it's past will have little future worth remembering."
A.Lincoln
"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize that they were the big things"
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Christina
Deerslayer
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 27 2002
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Posted - May 13 2004 : 10:30:49 AM
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Drive for me to Chimney Rock is only about 2.5 to 3 hours, depending on the traffic I encounter on I-26 getting out of Columbia (I-26 west in Columbia, for any folks who might come through here, is home to all of our overdeveloped, tacky suburbs, strip malls and big-box store areas, so around rush hour on any day it's a nightmare...AVOID if possible...) But I digress. I offer all of the previous advice on long road trips with one extra...are you into books on tape or CD? I've found a book on tape can be an excellent "attention keeper" for a long trip especially if you are driving through areas without good radio reception or if you're just plain tired of your CD collection. Cracker Barrel restaurants have "rent a tape" plans where you can rent a book on tape at one of their stores and drop it off at the next one you visit.
Longest trip I usually take is about 5 hours over to Atlanta but on the occasional 9-10 hour jaunts to the family stronghold in Pittsburgh books on tape and CD have been godsends!
Christina |
See this face? This is the face of a woman on the edge.
Whoopi Goldberg, "Jumping Jack Flash"
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Donna
Colonial Settler
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 17 2002
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Posted - May 16 2004 : 10:38:36 PM
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I'll be driving down from northern Vermont. I hear it's a 16 hr drive.
I always take two days to do it. I take my time and enjoy the sites.
I enjoy my home made cassettes, and I'll listen to the truck
drivers on the cb radio. They're great about telling you about traffic
delays, cops, etc...
Tomorrow I'm having new brake pads put on my rear wheels and a major
check up for the car. You want to make sure it's in tip top shape to
handle the steep winding roads in and out of chimney rock, and the
trips we'll be making during the week.
I can't wait.......
Donna
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Been onboard since 1998.
"Push hard, 'cos you got to clear the French outpost by dawn." |
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Dillon1836
Deerslayer
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
July 17 2003
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Jo
Sweetser 4 Rep
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 27 2002
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Posted - May 21 2004 : 3:42:56 PM
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Well, my sisters and I are flying in from Oakland, California. I think we make 4 stops before we get finally to Ashville....I don't have the flight schedule here in front of me. The other Gatherings we always flew from San Francisco to Charlotte then drove to Chimney Rock. The flight(s) make for a long day; the flight usually left at 6am or so and with one or two stops we'd get to Charlotte at about 3 or 4pm I seem to recollect. Then we'd drive across North Carolina. I have many many many many memorable tales to tell about our journeys. We were always supposed to arrive in Charlotte at a decent time but usually had a "delayed" flight in Atlanta or St. Louis - in most cases it was hours. Once we sat in the plane on a runway in St. Louis for several hours waitning for the storm to pass over us, along with 40 other planes it seemed. THe majority of that time was watching and being part of the numerous planes all trying to merge into one line for take off. What a traffic jam! One funny incident happened at San Francisco airport, where we had been standing in a long long line for check in when this air plane company type came from around the counter and pulled the four of us out of line. We thought maybe we had been making too much noise (US?????...)or something but it was just for getting checked in faster as the flight time was approaching rather quickly. We just happened to be the first ones pulled out of the line. Another time after we had picked up our rental car, and noticing it had a GPS system on board we quickly punched in the data. We all nearly fell out of the car when the thing started talking to us! It created quite a scene and of course, she was telling us to take the exit we had just passed; then she told us very sternly to take the next exit (we changed our minds and had decided to go a different way than what the GPS had told us to do...). THe voice became quite irrate when it notified us we were totally off track and then the thing shut down for 2 days....and then majically returned itself back on. We never did figure it out why it would shut down which it did often.
And then there was the time about the mad dogs flinging themselves against the car (on several occasions) whilst returning from a Gathering thingy or whatever. But then, those tales are actually not traveling TO the gathering tales but tales of Gathering travel which again there are many to tell.
Can't sign off, of course, without any mention of my favorite: Bridge Ices Before Road
Jo |
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Jayne
Overseer of Ariel's Auction
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 23 2002
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Posted - May 21 2004 : 4:04:38 PM
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Oh, Jo! It must be such a hoot - all you sisters together in one little car! I'm certain your travels make Karen's and mine totally dull and boring. We enjoy the drive, though. About 7 or 8 hours from Indy. And a very pretty drive at that. We've done the drive straight-through a couple of times, and one year left late in afternoon so stopped overnight someplace in Kentucky. This year will be interesting since my new husband will be driving. Boy, he'll have fun.
See ya in a month - Jayne |
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Bookworm
Colonial Militia
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
February 10 2004
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Posted - May 23 2004 : 11:57:32 AM
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| Thanks to everyone for the excellent advice, and for sharing your stories. You've convinced me that frequent stops are the way to go, contrary to my usual desire to keep pushing on (I think my record for driving without stopping is a little over four hours on the Pa. Turnpike). You're so right about getting the car in shape, Donna -- I've gotten new tires in the past six months, and will be getting the car checked out early in June. Will you be coming down I-81? If so, be careful on the stretch between Hazleton and Harrisburg, as there's a lot of construction. When you're near Harrisburg, take the southbound express lane if it's open -- that will allow you to bypass some horrendous traffic patterns. And as you near Carlisle (the Middlesex-New Kingstown exit), the speed limit drops to 55 for 10 miles or so. This is a recent change, in response to several fatal accidents on that very busy stretch. Safe traveling to everyone! |
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Jo
Sweetser 4 Rep
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May 27 2002
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Posted - May 23 2004 : 12:19:20 PM
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Thank you Bookworm, the same to you - have a safe trip! There is one more bit of advice I could give you. Once you're driving for all of the Gathering events; get gas for your car before you really need it. There are few gas stations in some of the areas and you don't want to get to low on fuel.
Jayne, yes, it does have it's moments the four of us in a car. Drove my mom nuts. Dad just enjoyed the noise.
However, it does have it's drawbacks. usually, the one driving is just driving while the rest of us are on the lookout for the road signs and the turns we're supposed to make....do I need to say, we usually don't do a very good job, I think we've seen every parking lot in North Carolina (to turn around in) (we call it the parking lot tour 4A); once Mary was making a three point turn around using someone's drivway - and of course that man came home while we were in his driveway; then there was the driveway we sort of drifted into it's air space on another u-turn and these rabid dogs came from no where and threw themselves at the car literally. We are very grateful we had those windows closed (but I honestly thought they'd break one) - this happened more than once, by the way....we figured they must know we're from California.
Sometimes we don't really know what is more entertaining: the Gathering itself or the driving....
Looking forward to seeing you and Karen and the new hubby!
Jo |
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Gadget Girl
Gatherer of Gathering Gadgets
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 17 2002
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Posted - May 23 2004 : 8:52:00 PM
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Oh Jo, you are too funny! I can't wait to see you girls!
That comment about driving "across" NC from the airport to Charlotte - I drive to the store further than that! From Murphy to Manteo - the REAL "across" NC is 543 miles. My usual trip "across" NC is about 275 miles, but since I'm flying in from Phoenix this time - it will be quite a difference....RACING up the mountains from the airport to dive into the rafts on the Nolichucky!
27 days or so to go!!!!!
GG  |
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Karen W
Colonial Settler
USA
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June 04 2002
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Posted - May 24 2004 : 5:01:49 PM
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Well GG, you just had to go and mention Manteo didn't you? I was just there and now I wish I was there again. Ever go to the Wanchese Pottry shop? Every year I try to get a new piece with the sea oats design on it. I've never made a long trip with Don before, so this year will be interesting. I know the trip will be fun and I'm sure anxious to see everyone.
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Gadget Girl
Gatherer of Gathering Gadgets
USA
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May 17 2002
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Posted - May 24 2004 : 10:25:29 PM
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No Karen, I've never been there - I've always spent all my time in Manteo. Now that the new bridge crosses over to the lower end of Roanoke Island, both Manteo and Wanchese involve a side trip. I miss the old drive through Manteo and by Fort Raleigh. Have you ever seen the Lost Colony? I plan on taking Kate to see that when she visits after the gathering. Ya know, Andy Griffith started his acting career as Sir Walter Raleigh in this outdoor drama. He now lives in Manteo right on the Roanoke sound!
GG |
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Jayne
Overseer of Ariel's Auction
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May 23 2002
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Posted - May 25 2004 : 11:33:55 AM
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Well, Karen. I'm sure Don will enjoy every minute of our trip. Who WOULDN'T just love riding in the car with two beauties like US?? We'll be there to give him guidance and advice each and every mile of the way!  |
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Karen W
Colonial Settler
USA
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June 04 2002
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Posted - May 25 2004 : 9:30:05 PM
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GG~The Wanchese Pottery shop I'm talking about is in Manteo. Don't know the name of the street, but it's the last one before you'd end up in the water in the shopping area. Not the big huge place. It's a little building on the side street. I think the lady now has her studio in her home in Wanchese, but they used to work right there in the little building. We've stayed in Manteo a few times. A couple at the Tranquil House (which we saw being built from the ground up) and a couple at the Scarborough Inn (I think) bed and breakfast. We always used to make a trip to the Christmas shop, but haven't done that for a while. I did know about Andy Griffith and his connections there and that he lives in the area. He's one of my favorites. I've never seen the Lost Colony. Sure wish I could join you and Kate for that one! Hey, that new bridge is something, isn't it?
Jayne~Yeah, poor Don! He's such a lucky guy. Well, he really is. After all, he married you didn't he?!
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Jayne
Overseer of Ariel's Auction
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May 23 2002
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