MECCA TOUR swoop from VIRGINIA

[blueskyys]

It maybe a good idea for the 301 exit.Now that we will be off of work and able to meet up at 2:30 at Southpark Mall Colonial Heights, Va. We would be arriving in the D.C. area around rush hour and it would be terrible traffic. I'm for 301. So other then Va.Sky, Darrylba, and Ctyankee. Any others out there ready to hop on the gravy train?

[NCBlue]

Count me in, I think! As long as we get up there in time for the group dinner, I'd love to join the convoy!

[Va_Sky]

NCBlue come on and join us the more the merrier....

[darrylba]

Originally Posted by blueskyys

It maybe a good idea for the 301 exit.Now that we will be off of work and able to meet up at 2:30 at Southpark Mall Colonial Heights, Va. We would be arriving in the D.C. area around rush hour and it would be terrible traffic. I'm for 301. So other then Va.Sky, Darrylba, and Ctyankee. Any others out there ready to hop on the gravy train?

Remember my plan is to join the convoy and escort you about 20 miles up 301 from my exit . As I have not decided if I am going up all the way on Thurs yet. If I change my mind then of course, I'd join you guys all the way.

[blueskyys]

Go all the way!Go all the way! No fun riding alone.

[Bogie]

Originally Posted by darrylba

Yep! I agree with you. Maybe I am partial, but you can get to 301 at my exit! (Exit 104) off 95 in Va. Ha Ha,, The Mixing Bowl Hole is a killer, who wants to be sitting in that bumper to bumper traffic for 150 miles. 301 offers cruising, stop & go traffic and avoiding the beltway. The downside is the No Va folks would not be able to join cause its out of their way. So choices choices Choices

It's not really out of the way for me, but I'm not familiar with the route. If ya'll down south can peg the route way points and time tags, and if someone who knows the lay of the land can pick a rally point for the NOVA folks along 301, perhaps somewhere between Upper Marlboro (4) and Woodmore (50), I'll be happy to pre-position and wait for the train.

If it sounds good, I might do a reconnoiter this weekend.

[Va_Sky]

Originally Posted by Bogie

It's not really out of the way for me, but I'm not familiar with the route. If ya'll down south can peg the route way points and time tags, and if someone who knows the lay of the land can pick a rally point for the NOVA folks along 301, perhaps somewhere between Upper Marlboro (4) and Woodmore (50), I'll be happy to pre-position and wait for the train.

If it sounds good, I might do a reconnoiter this weekend.

Bogie I'll see what I can do with the route but it will probably be Friday.

[Va_Sky]

Bogie looks like we can be at Upper Marlboro route 4 at around 5:30 and at route 50 at 6pm. Hey blueskyys do we want to set a drop dead time to leave the mall? I was thinking that we should try to leave the mall no later than about 2:40 would really like to leave as close to 2:30 as possible though.

[DaleF]

I've taken 301 accross the Harry Nice Bridge and up to rt 50 before. Didn't Like it at all. Way too much, very slow, stop and go traffic through Waldorf, etc. for me. I don't see the mixing bowl being too much of a problem since you're going against traffic. The Woodrow Wilson Bridge is another story. We would most likely spend a little time getting accross that. Then it would just depend on any "incidents" between there and the Bay Bridge. The fact that its a Thursday instead of Friday evening should help, regardless of route.
I know some shortcuts that could help on some of the jams.

[Va_Sky]

I was looking and I95 all the way actually looks better to me and takes 30 min or more off the trip and about 30 miles shorter too. I think this may be a better way to go. I do want to get there in time to get to the meet for dinner and going 95 will put us there right at 7pm give or take a few min.

[DaleF]

Originally Posted by Va_Sky

I was looking and I95 all the way actually looks better to me and takes 30 min or more off the trip and about 30 miles shorter too. I think this may be a better way to go. I do want to get there in time to get to the meet for dinner and going 95 will put us there right at 7pm give or take a few min.

That's assuming no traffic. I'm not familar with B'more's rush hour patterns.
It will probably end up being "six of one, half dozen of the other" kind of choices. Flip a coin and hope for the best. Or, listen to traffic reports and play it by ear.

[blueskyys]

Va.Sky I agree that we should give folks 10 or 15 minutes to meet up at the latest. Southpark Mall is a rocks throw off 95. It will take no time to hop back on 95n. Gas stations right near by as well. I will send out a follow up on the exact exit. Man we are going to look so good ripping up 95!

[Va_Sky]

I also linked this thread to the solstice forum so maybe we can get some more kappas with us...

[darrylba]

Originally Posted by DaleF

I've taken 301 accross the Harry Nice Bridge and up to rt 50 before. Didn't Like it at all. Way too much, very slow, stop and go traffic through Waldorf, etc. for me. I don't see the mixing bowl being too much of a problem since you're going against traffic. The Woodrow Wilson Bridge is another story. We would most likely spend a little time getting accross that. Then it would just depend on any "incidents" between there and the Bay Bridge. The fact that its a Thursday instead of Friday evening should help, regardless of route.
I know some shortcuts that could help on some of the jams.

Man, I love 95, but man the last time I went that way was to a redskin game, I got caught in Springfield, and it took me 90 minutes to get to Woodrow Wilson bridge and this was not even during rush hour. I understand that we don't win either route. but at least till Waldof you will be moving. If we get caught in that bowl it will be BUMPER TO BUMPER and if you are driving a manual, you are bound to get a sore leg. I understand the pros, but man the risks are just as catastrophic during the brush of those run hour times on 95.

[blueskyys]

Good thinking Va. Sky.Now of course they will need to know that the lead car will of course have to be a Sky.

[Va_Sky]

Originally Posted by darrylba

Man, I love 95, but man the last time I went that way was to a redskin game, I got caught in Springfield, and it took me 90 minutes to get to Woodrow Wilson bridge and this was not even during rush hour. I understand that we don't win either route. but at least till Waldof you will be moving. If we get caught in that bowl it will be BUMPER TO BUMPER and if you are driving a manual, you are bound to get a sore leg. I understand the pros, but man the risks are just as catastrophic during the brush of those run hour times on 95.

Well I'll go with what ever the group decides. I may look at at adding the dinner location to the map and see if maybe we can just meet everyone else there instead of driving to the motel and then back out to dinner. I think it may be on our way.

[Va_Sky]

After checking the map if we decide to go 301 we can most likely catch everyone at the Pontiac dealer that they are talking about at 7pm with no problem if we do not try to get to the hotel first. If we go 95 and do not get caught in traffic we would be there about 45 min. before everyone else gets there. So if we go 95 and get caught in traffic we most likely would get there at about the time they get there if not earlier. Mike and the rest are planning on getting there around 7:30. It looks like 4 hours and 20 min. from Southpark Mall to the Nauti-Goose going up 95 and 5 hours going up 301. This of course is not taking traffic into consideration.

[blueskyys]

I would rather make the hook - up with everyone for the dinner and say check into the hotels later. Now that of course depends on where each of us is staying.Who has a GPS in the car? Do they give traffic alerts? If not we can do it the old fashion way with the radio.

[Va_Sky]

Originally Posted by blueskyys

I would rather make the hook - up with everyone for the dinner and say check into the hotels later. Now that of course depends on where each of us is staying.Who has a GPS in the car? Do they give traffic alerts? If not we can do it the old fashion way with the radio.

I have a Garmin system with the traffic alerts. That is if the alert subscription has not run out... I'll have to check.

[blueskyys]

Would come in very handy. One week left till our babys our back home!

[ctyankee]

Let me know if you want specifics to get around Waldorf. There is a road in La Plata that will take you right around the 'dorf and dump you back on 301 north of the 'dorf.