We have new developments in all of this, so I'm going to start fresh to keep details clear and straight. People I am most concerned about hearing from in this thread: GL, FatNasty, Nathan, and Zack. Anyone else who is going to be along the main route GL and I are taking out that wants to convoy up, speak up here. Details below.
GL will be driving from Cove, OR to Bismarck, ND. From there, we will convoy out to SF.
-If GL sticks to Interstate, it'll be ~1,300 miles/~18 hours to Bismarck. On the way, he can hook up with FatNasty in Post Falls, ID. They can each drive their own cars to Bismarck, ND.
-Once in Bismarck, Mark will leave his car at my place and ride the rest of the way out to SF with me or GL. From Bismarck, ND to Tremont, PA it's ~1,800 miles/~24 hours. It will be on the following Interstates: I-94, I-90, I-39, I-80, I-76, and I-81. It's tollways once we hit Illinois, so have cash handy.
**For a quick view of the routes .... Go to GoogleMaps and search the follwing routes ---> Cove, OR to Bismarck, ND ... and ... Bismarck, ND to Tremont, PA.**
-We will be going around Chicago as best as we can on I-39 and I-80. It's the only bad part of the whole trip. GL and I are planning on running CB's, so we can keep in touch if we lose sight of one another.
-GL and FatNasty will have to work on a time schedule on when to leave and meet so they can get to Bismarck sometime on Friday, July 13th. Be here early enough so that you can get plenty of sleep for the rest of the trip. It's a big push. Remember, it's all easier said than done. Safety first ... NO DROWSY DRIVING. Even if stopping for sleep costs us an extra day to get out there.
-We leave Bismarck early Saturday morning (July 14th). We need to get into Wisconsin before stopping Saturday night. Reason for this: We need to time it so we can get around Chicago in DAYLIGHT! Also, we are planning a stop near the Twin Cities to meet up with Nathan for supper before heading into Wisconsin.
-Sunday (July 15th) will be the big push. We will need to get around Chicago and as far as we can get in that day. I'm thinkin' we should make it as far as Youngstown, OH before having to stop for the night.
-Monday (July 16th) is the day we hit Skippyville. We rest, then rip S.U. apart for the new motor and trans. We can also help Scott out with gettin' ready for SF the following weekend.
==========================
Then, there is the issue of getting home. I'd like to give us at least four full days to get back home. Maybe five, depending on when GL and FatNasty need to be home. That means we will leave Skippyville on July 24th (Tuesday) or 25th (Wednesday). We are planning on meeting Zack in Nebraska on the way home.
-We will depart Skippyville and try to get as far as western Indiana by nightfall.
-Day two will be getting past the south side of Chicago again on I-80. Instead of going north on I-39, we will continue west on I-80 to Nebraska. We should easily get to Zack's area by that night.
-Day three is up in the air. We either hang out with Zack or continue our trip home. At this point, FatNasty would ride with me back to Bismarck to get his car and continue home to Post Falls, ID. GL has the option of not going north. Instead, he can stay on I-80 and continue west and north to Cove, OR. This would save him some miles and time. It's entirely up to him if he wants to take the southern route or come north with me and FatNasty to Bismarck, ND.
-Day four should be the final driving day for me. GL and FatNasty should only need another day and a half, or so, to get home at that point.
I want you guys to speak up and post your ideas, correct any of my errors, and let me know if I missed anything. Plan for something to go wrong (car troubles, construction, bad weather, etc.). Chances are things won't go completely as planned, so we need to be prepared as well as we can. Anyone else on or near our route should speak up, as well. The more involved in the convoy, the better.
I will give you my honest opinion of the route, since I have driven most of it twice. Butte, Montana to Bismarck is smooth sailing. Bismarck to Tremont is also smooth, minus Chicago. Even though we are going around Chicago, it is still going to be a challenge on the south side (I-80). The more people involved, the more fun it will be.
More details as the time nears.
GL will be driving from Cove, OR to Bismarck, ND. From there, we will convoy out to SF.
-If GL sticks to Interstate, it'll be ~1,300 miles/~18 hours to Bismarck. On the way, he can hook up with FatNasty in Post Falls, ID. They can each drive their own cars to Bismarck, ND.
-Once in Bismarck, Mark will leave his car at my place and ride the rest of the way out to SF with me or GL. From Bismarck, ND to Tremont, PA it's ~1,800 miles/~24 hours. It will be on the following Interstates: I-94, I-90, I-39, I-80, I-76, and I-81. It's tollways once we hit Illinois, so have cash handy.
**For a quick view of the routes .... Go to GoogleMaps and search the follwing routes ---> Cove, OR to Bismarck, ND ... and ... Bismarck, ND to Tremont, PA.**
-We will be going around Chicago as best as we can on I-39 and I-80. It's the only bad part of the whole trip. GL and I are planning on running CB's, so we can keep in touch if we lose sight of one another.
-GL and FatNasty will have to work on a time schedule on when to leave and meet so they can get to Bismarck sometime on Friday, July 13th. Be here early enough so that you can get plenty of sleep for the rest of the trip. It's a big push. Remember, it's all easier said than done. Safety first ... NO DROWSY DRIVING. Even if stopping for sleep costs us an extra day to get out there.
-We leave Bismarck early Saturday morning (July 14th). We need to get into Wisconsin before stopping Saturday night. Reason for this: We need to time it so we can get around Chicago in DAYLIGHT! Also, we are planning a stop near the Twin Cities to meet up with Nathan for supper before heading into Wisconsin.
-Sunday (July 15th) will be the big push. We will need to get around Chicago and as far as we can get in that day. I'm thinkin' we should make it as far as Youngstown, OH before having to stop for the night.
-Monday (July 16th) is the day we hit Skippyville. We rest, then rip S.U. apart for the new motor and trans. We can also help Scott out with gettin' ready for SF the following weekend.
==========================
Then, there is the issue of getting home. I'd like to give us at least four full days to get back home. Maybe five, depending on when GL and FatNasty need to be home. That means we will leave Skippyville on July 24th (Tuesday) or 25th (Wednesday). We are planning on meeting Zack in Nebraska on the way home.
-We will depart Skippyville and try to get as far as western Indiana by nightfall.
-Day two will be getting past the south side of Chicago again on I-80. Instead of going north on I-39, we will continue west on I-80 to Nebraska. We should easily get to Zack's area by that night.
-Day three is up in the air. We either hang out with Zack or continue our trip home. At this point, FatNasty would ride with me back to Bismarck to get his car and continue home to Post Falls, ID. GL has the option of not going north. Instead, he can stay on I-80 and continue west and north to Cove, OR. This would save him some miles and time. It's entirely up to him if he wants to take the southern route or come north with me and FatNasty to Bismarck, ND.
-Day four should be the final driving day for me. GL and FatNasty should only need another day and a half, or so, to get home at that point.
I want you guys to speak up and post your ideas, correct any of my errors, and let me know if I missed anything. Plan for something to go wrong (car troubles, construction, bad weather, etc.). Chances are things won't go completely as planned, so we need to be prepared as well as we can. Anyone else on or near our route should speak up, as well. The more involved in the convoy, the better.
I will give you my honest opinion of the route, since I have driven most of it twice. Butte, Montana to Bismarck is smooth sailing. Bismarck to Tremont is also smooth, minus Chicago. Even though we are going around Chicago, it is still going to be a challenge on the south side (I-80). The more people involved, the more fun it will be.
More details as the time nears.
My only concern is i forgot you were going a little early for the engine work, therefore i would need to take more time off of work. With my work schedule i work Fri, Sat, and Sun 11am-midnight (Long days but it gets me 4 days off per week). I think i would be able to get 6 days off; 2 weekends total. I would love to spend as much time as possible on vacation however if i miss any more than the 6 days i might go broke and my boss wouldn't be too happy either. So the problem is with this plan i would miss july 13,14,15,20,21,and 22nd. And if we left skippyville on the 24th and were able to return to bismarck on the 26th i would still miss the 27th (7 days). Not sure how we might be able to avoid this, but if it's possible i would like to just miss the 6 days. If not i might be able to get the extra day or so off, and eat a lot of ramen for a while. It will be worth it got go to scottfest, hell ramen ain't too bad anyways
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