Carlisle Caravan

[saxybiker]

Hey it is only a week away! Time to organize our annual Eastbound Carlisle Caravan. I believe Kevin Fier and Don McLean plan to arrive here at the Gage Opel Hotel Thursday evening. We will then head on out toward our meeting place on the PA turnpike. We usually meet at the Donagul exit of the PA Turnpike around 9:30 - 10:00 a.m. This is where we meet up with PA Opelers Tom Cavataio, Ron Mattern and Todd Kirby. Sometimes we also meet up with the Opelers coming up from the SW on Route 70.

So, everyone chime in at let us know who is planning to show up. We can exchange cell numbers and make arrangements for meeting.

Looking forward to seeing everyone next Friday!

Vickie & Allen

[kevinfier]

Hi Vickie & Allen,
Thanks for confirming my reservation for Thursday nite.
I will be bringing a couple growlers of beer from the local micro brewers. We will also have to hit an Ohio liquor store before we hit the road .
See you Thursday.
Kevin

[dcm013]

Hi Vickie and Allen. Yes, I will arrive Thurs. evening

Don

[djenkins63]

Jo Anne and I are ready and looking forward to the event. Please let us know what time you are leaving and we can met you on 76?

[saxybiker]

Don:

We will try to pull out of here around 7:00 a.m. How about meeting at the Marathon station (next to Cracker Barrel) on Route 44 It is right on the way and I can get my capaccino. I'll PM you with our cell phone numbers.

Vickie

A reminder to everyone... bring your walkie talkies.

[gtopeler]

Hi all;
As usual, I’ll see you at the Donegal exit (91) of the PA Turnpike around 9:30 - 10:00 a.m.
Thanks for the walkie-talkie reminder, I would have forgot !!!!

Ron M.

[saxybiker]

Todd and I have been talking and if everyone else is in agreement, we would like to try a different route this year. For us it will elimiate 146 miles of turnpike driving and about $85.00 in tolls! The distance for us is about 10 miles more, but will probably take a bit more time. It would be more of a Cruise to Carlisle than a dodge the semi's on the turnpike. We are also hoping it will be less hectic with our tow vehicle.

Ron, for you it will probably be less distance. We will take 80 to 422 and head out 422. We would meet out by Todd's house. Tom, it would be a bit further for you.

Todd, when you get a chance, could you elaborate on the route.

Thanks,

Vickie

[dcm013]

Todd and I have been talking and if everyone else is in agreement, we would like to try a different route this year. For us it will elimiate 146 miles of turnpike driving and about $85.00 in tolls! The distance for us is about 10 miles more, but will probably take a bit more time. It would be more of a Cruise to Carlisle than a dodge the semi's on the turnpike. We are also hoping it will be less hectic with our tow vehicle.

Ron, for you it will probably be less distance. We will take 80 to 422 and head out 422. We would meet out by Todd's house. Tom, it would be a bit further for you.

Todd, when you get a chance, could you elaborate on the route.

Thanks,

Vickie

I've thought about a route like the one below before, Yahoo map says it's only about 13 mi. farther from my house:

Take exit #218/I-80 E onto I-80 E toward YOUNGSTOWN (Portions toll) - go 178.9 mi

Take exit #161/BELLEFONTE onto US-220 S toward BELLEFONTE (US-322)/PA-26 S - go 3.8 mi

Take exit #81/PLEASANT GAP onto PA-26 S - go 1.3 mi

Turn Right on E COLLEGE AVE(PA-26) - go 0.9 mi

Turn Left on S HARRISON RD - go 0.5 mi

Turn Right on PA-144 - go 8.6 mi

Bear Right on GEN. POTTER HWY(US-322) - go 1.1 mi

Continue to follow US-322 - go 14.7 mi

Continue on US-22 E - go 15.3 mi

Take ramp toward PA-75/PORT ROYAL - go 0.4 mi

Turn Right on PA-75 - go 4.7 mi

Turn Left on PA-74 - go 1.2 mi

Turn Left on PA-74 - go 29.5 mi

Bear Left on D ST

Bear Left on REDWOOD DR

Turn Right on E ST - go 0.8 mi

Turn Right on CARLISLE SPRINGS RD(PA-34) - go 0.4 mi

Make a Sharp Left Turn on US-11 - go 4.4 mi

Arrive at 1825 HARRISBURG PIKE, CARLISLE, on the Left

I'm all for saving toll money - helps pay for gas

Don

[saxybiker]

Maybe we can play around with the routes and try a couple different ones the next few years and see what we like best. Saving the toll $$ sure seems good to us.

[neuropel]

For those meeting at Alan and Vickie's place, you would come into PA and take Hwy 422 through New Castle, Butler, Kittanning, Indiana, and Ebensburg, PA. We would then take Hwy 22 to I-99 and catch the PA Turnpike at Bedford for the last leg into Carlisle. Vickie determined via Mapquest that the difference in time/distance from our usual PA Turnpike route is very little (from their starting address in OH), and it saves a bundle in tolls (especially for the Gages). I think it's also a little nicer for those towing vehicles. There are plenty of places to stop for fuel, breakfast, or whatever. Ron Mattern, Mike Trout, and any others that may be coming south via 79 could catch 422 well north of Pittsburgh and easily meet up with the caravan. We could also stop at the Bedford rest area and meet up with others that may be on the way. It's not a great route for Tom Cavataio - he might want to meet at my house or we can meet him at Bedford? Alternatively, if you guys want to meet at the usual Donegal exit, we can scrap all this - I was just throwing it out there for Alan and Vickie as an alternative.

Todd K.

[djenkins63]

Jo anne and I will see you @ around 7:00 am At the Marathon

[Mach1Tom]

You all should know by now that I'll drive anywhere. So a new route is fine with me. It took an hour to get to Todd's old house by the Donegal exit & it takes the same to get to his new house near 422. It's just a bit farther north.

Todd, just tell me when to be at your place Friday morning.

~ Tom

[neuropel]

Yes Tom, I think we kinda figured you would be ok either way. You've been known to take a drive or two out of your way, right?
I just didn't want to be overly presumptuous.

As for when to arrive, it really depends on when the Gage caravan leaves. Any time that morning is fine. Also, how about Ron? Is he in the caravan this year? This route should be pretty easy for him if he's coming down from Erie. I tried to PM him but no luck.

Todd

[saxybiker]

We are planning to get all of us out of here around 6:45 since we need to meet Don & Jo Anne Jenkins at 7:00 a.m. I am guessing we should be able to meet you around 10:00 or so.

Breakfast? Usually, we just refuel, grab coffee and doughnuts stand around and b.s. for a while and then hit the road. Then we get to Carlsile around 1 or 2 p.m. However, if people would rather do a real breakfast, that would be fine, too.

Todd, you will need to give us information on how to get to the meeting place.

Vickie

[neuropel]

Tom and I can meet you in an area called Shelocta, which is between Kittanning and Indiana, PA. If people want breakfast, there's a truck stop with plenty of parking and a great breakfast.

More details and landmarks...

When you're on 422E and have passed Kittanning, you'll be driving through some rural countryside. The next small town you'll pass is called Elderton (one or two redlights for the entire town). The "big" interchange in Elderton is the intersection of 422 and Hwy 210. There's a Citgo station at this intersection. After you pass this intersection on 422, continue on a mile or two and you'll be in Shelocta. You'll see an Exxon station on the right called CoGo's. We should meet there and you guys can refuel. Across the street from the Exxon there's a truck stop called "Sandy Kayes" and another small restaurant called "Grannys". Plenty of parking, etc.

You guys should give me or Tom a call when you pass Kittanning and we can meet you at the Exxon or Sandy Kayes. We'll be hard to miss in a bright orange GT and a bright blue Manta! Again, this is out in the boonies, so it's hard to miss. Some beautiful PA countryside along this route if the weather is nice.

Todd K.

[Mach1Tom]

Todd, I just talked to Ron. He will be in Pgh already visiting his parents. So we will meet on Rt 286 like we did last year. Then continue on to your house.

~ Tom

[gtopeler]

Hi all;

I just got off the phone with Tom discussing the 422 route. That sounds good to me. Actually, I’ll be going to Mom and Dad’s house –just north of Pittsburgh- Thursday night and leave from there Friday morning. I’ll take the turnpike to Monroeville and meet up with Tom there (rt22).from there, Tom and I will go to Todd’s and then meet up with all of you on rt422. At least that’s the plan so far……….
Ron M.

[saxybiker]

See you then, Ron.

So far, it looks like we should have about nine cars. If anyone else wants to join us, let us know.

Vickie

[neuropel]

Wow...that's easily the biggest caravan we've had over the years!

TK

[sawdust]

Hope someone has a CamCorder and four hands.