Packing/Travel Plans

[geminigirl]

Despite the horror that is packing (though the moveres will pack for us, there are some things that are such a disaster from the last move that I'm packing myself) there are very few things that aren't cheered up by twelve week old kittens. I don't know where the camera is, but we welcomed Widget Ferdinand Thunderpaws and Gizmo Elizabeth Thunderpaws into our home about four weeks ago. They're a wonderful distraction, and a bright spot in the day. The are at the moment curled up on the couch near me purring and wrestling and licking each other. Beta is less than thrilled, but he's getting used to them. I think it will be easier when we're in a new home all together and the space wasn't Oblivion's house. (It was very very obvious that Oblivion was our alpha cat when we had both cats...she really kept Beta in line.)

Our travel plans....

We're expecting to leave NJ some time on Friday evening, and drive to the DC metro area. We'll stay somewhere around there (we're making no hotel reservations, and letting the length of time we feel like driving determine our actual travel distance and stopping points) and hopefully be able to corral people into brunch/breakfast at around 10 AM on Saturday morning. (Side note...I could use some help on this, if someone in the DC-Local crowd might be willing to be the local point person for this, who would be willing to transcribe phone posts and be the point of contact for non-LJ friends.) Wherever we go, we'll chose something childfriendly (if you've got any suggestions, please post them, or e-mail me.)

Our route will basically take us down I-95, to I-4, in Florida. If you're along the I-95 corridor, south of the DC Metro area and would like to see us, let me know. We'll see what we can do.

Comments

[raynaarwyn.livejournal.com]

Hey if you'd like to stop for short break, I'm right off I-4 at exit 101A What exit are getting off at for your new place?

[geminigirl]

Exit 90. I suspect whether or not we'll feel like stopping that close to our destination will depend on how our travel goes on Sunday. I'm sure if we don't stop for a break on Sunday there will be other time...

[entirelysonja.livejournal.com]

Bummer! We're going to be in Harrisburg working on John's parents' computer on Saturday and Sunday. :-(

I bet the cats are adorable!

[geminigirl]

They are toooo cute. And sleeping right now, finally.

You'll see them whenever you come visit. Which I hope will be soon.

[iamlisabee.livejournal.com]

I've not been able to get the phone transcription thing to work for me. But, you should be able to count on us being there for breakfast with you guys. (We'd LOVE it if it was in Montgomery County, but understand if it will be elsewhere in the DC area.)

Suggestions: la madeleine? (hey, there's one in Rockville!)

[geminigirl]

La Madeleine would work, since it's easy to manage a large group and reasonably kid friendly, since I'm hoping certain people with children who I haven't yet met will bring them.

I'm thinking we'll call foo for 10 AM on Saturday, or so, the only problem is making sure that the cats have a safe, cool place to stay if we have to check out of the hotel.

LM in Rockville works though, as long as I can find a hotel reasonably close by. If I needed a phone contact for people who are non-LJ, would you be okay with that?

[iamlisabee.livejournal.com]

Yup. I'm ok with being a phone contact. Definitely.

You have my number?

[geminigirl]

I do not actually have your new contact info. E-mail it to me, please?

[vvalkyri.livejournal.com]

La Madeleine locations

IHOP locations are everywhere but I've been kinda inexact in my clicking. There's one quite close to exit 3 by Landmark Mall , near 395 and Duke/Little River, which puts you a few miles from the bottom of the beltway.

Also for breakfast, there's a chain called Eggspectations, which I've seen in Silver Spring. And there's La Creperie behind Pentagon City.

[vvalkyri.livejournal.com]

The La Madeline in Rockville is pretty close to the beltway, too- it's at Montrose & Rockville Pike.

I think there's also one in Laurel. Of course there are other advantages to the Tyson's location, too.

There's also an IHOP at rte 1 and the top of the beltway.

:shudder: 10 am? Oof. But I'll be there if you call it, and find sleep some other time :)

[geminigirl]

Unfortunately, we've got to do early becuse we have a looooong drive on Saturday. Our goal is to get into Orlando at a reasonable hour on Sunday and be able to sign the lease and stuff.

[vvalkyri.livejournal.com]

Dad manages here to New Smyrna in 13 hours, sometimes less. He doesn't speedbut he also takes few breaks.

Just as a semiuseful datapoint :)

Would you like me to get info from him re the best gas prices in which states? He knows to the turnoff #. (He's en route right now)

[geminigirl]

That would be very very useful.

We figured about 13 hours, but with three cats in the car, we're thinking 8 or so hours in the car on Saturday would be sufficient for the cats, and planning on a three day drive.

[vvalkyri.livejournal.com]

They do it with two cats taking up the entirety of the back seat, so it's doable. A two day ride is certainly more doable, particularly if you're not really leaving til noonish.

I'll try to remember to ask tomorrow (they got a slow start today) but do remind me if you've not heard back from me by later in the day tomorrow.

[vvalkyri.livejournal.com]

VA=181 miles; NC=181miles; SC=201 GA=112 miles FL to Orlando=155
He suggests 95 to I4. There's another way branching out of GA, too. Most of FL is now 3 lane. Oh and Dad just offered extra car carriers but I figure you're covered.

1) best gas prices on your way out - fill up at 2A in New Jersey, just before the Delaware Memorial Bridge.

2) If you want to skip the evil stupid toll, right after the Delaware Memorial Bridge go west at exit 3 to Delaware 4. (Big shoprite about 2 miles south - sales tax free) take 4S to MD 896 (dbl check the #) - there's a big Chrysler assmebly plant on the right; at bottom of hill take left. 2 miles East on 896 back to 95. (also cheap liquor store on that corner in Delaware)

3) Racetrack, at Mile Marker 126A in VA (Fredricsburg) is some of the cheapest gas, 1/4 mile south of the exit; there's also a cheap station almost at the border with NC at Exit 8.

4) SC has truck stop at mile 181 and 170. stuff is cheap until mile 164.

There are a lot of motels at mile marker 164 but that's only 7 hours into your trip.

Hardesville (exit 5/ mile 5 in SC) has all manner of cheap hotels. You'll see heavy advertising by mile 98 and below. (Such as $29 single/$33 double, but Hardesville also has restaurnats.)

5) Truckstop at mile 14 of Georgia has cheapest gas of the whole trip. Miss that there's also cheapish at mile 6 and 3.

Enter FL with full tank.

Also a ton of hotels by Savannah. Rte 16 Modest hotels at any big exit.

Oh, and Dad buys diesel so his gas prices might be slightly off but they tend to trend the same.

[geminigirl]

Thanks for this information. I know that we'll be able to use it.

I presume the hotels your Dad suggested are pet friendly?

[vvalkyri.livejournal.com]

Presumably, but I can't guarantee he actually mentions the cats to the hotels. It may be worth calling him to ask which hotels are pet friendly, as he gave me some generalities as to where the cheap ones are.

[vvalkyri.livejournal.com]

Seems Dad doesn't really know which are pet friendly; they usually go the whole way in one day, so it's been a while and I don't think he actually asks. I found this on the net, though. If you drill down to price availability you can see that a AAA card is of great use in prices...

Also this one.



the 2A in Jersey that he's talking about is off 295 not the turnpike.

[fairion.livejournal.com]

Me! Me! Me! I desperately want to see you. And I am even along the 95 corridor at this point. I can't transcribe phone posts or I would volunteer to be point person. I have another box of clothes for you. Will you be in a position where you might be able to accept them on Sat or will the car be too full?

[geminigirl]

Yay. I'm not sure whether we'll do Foo in MD or NoVa, but I'll make sure you're informed.

Not sure about the state of the car until we pack it. Would you be able to ship it if I couldn't? (I could probably pay for the shipping if necessary.)

[fairion.livejournal.com]

Since we are all the way down in Woodbridge - NoVA would be much better than MD but we will make it either way. I would prefer not to ship it but I was going to until I saw your post tonight. It is currently in a medium size box but I can easily repackage into different shapes if that will help it fit.

Daggynabbit!

[maxdwolf.livejournal.com]

I was planning to drive up to the BiBare Beach Bash this coming Sat.. Hmmm...*pulls out meta scales*

[dindin.livejournal.com]

Am reading and will be where is chosen.

[geminigirl]

Will you need transport to/from nearby metro stops? We won't be able to provide, but I may be able to hook you up.

[dindin.livejournal.com]

Depends where we go. I know where the La Madeline in Rockville is; that's walkable. I know there's an IHOP in Ballston, that's walkable (not sure where else there's an IHOP).

[geminigirl]

I think the place that makes the most sense for us is Rockville, because it keeps us on the best path to the highway, unless we decide to stay around Tysons, where the other one is. (The LM there is the right by the mall, on the same side as LL Bean, I think.)

[dindin.livejournal.com]

Tysons is significantly further/harder for me. Just saying.

[geminigirl]

And Rockville probably makes more sense for us, but we'll sort it out when I have a better idea of who might/might not come.

[dindin.livejournal.com]

'kay.

[vvalkyri.livejournal.com]

Doesn't make much difference to me, but I'm surprised you're figuring Rockville to be easier than Tysons, though I guess it's not too far from the Beltway either way. First assumption was that you'd choose a place near Springfield (not that I know where) so as to knock most of an hour off the 2nd two thirds of your trip.

Does Madeline actually /do/ breakfast?