Rendezvous 2005-2007

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05-15-2005, 07:02 PM
Mark Sedenquist

Rendezvous 2005-2007

A RoadTrip Rendezvous is defined as taking roadtrips that share one element: their itineraries converge at a set location in North America for a day or two. Participants meet, share a meal or two, and do something interesting together. The "something" might be anything from a music festival to a duck race -- North America is a big, fabulously diverse continent.

So we are thinking about where in North America we should go next. Greenland is technically in North America -- but the logistics of getting there are a bit tough. So that only leaves about a million other choices. Do you have any ideas as to where, when and why?

An important consideration -- the first RoadTrip Rendezvous was more-or-less by invitation only but from here on out -- they are open to anyone who wants to join us...

Mark
05-16-2005, 03:31 PM
Robert Schaller

Ideas for future RoadTrip Rendezvous

Just to get the thought processes churning...

1. The Iowa State Fair (reputedly one of the nation's best)

2. The Hot Air Balloon Festival in Albuquerque

3. Bonneville Salt Flats (for speed record attempts)

4. The Silver Classic Challenge (volunteer course workers at this road race event in Nevada)

5. A barbecue or chili cook-off in Texas

6. New Orleans for Mardi Gras

7. 4th of July in the nation's capital
05-16-2005, 06:02 PM
Mark Sedenquist

The Arch!

Quote:

7. 4th of July in the nation's capital

All great suggestions -- I would vote for 4th of July on the banks of the Mississippi under the St. Louis Arch. I was there one year -- pretty great event. A couple of F-15s actually flew through the arch, if my memory is intact.

Mark
05-16-2005, 07:51 PM
Robert Schaller

And centrally located as well! Sounds good to me!
05-17-2005, 07:38 AM
Mark Sedenquist

KSR for RTA's 10th Anniversary

Sneak Peak: For the Glory!

There is a good chance that the May, 2006 Rendezvous will find the RTA roadtrippers in Ferndale, California as part of the running of the Kinetic Sculpture Race.

Mark
05-18-2005, 10:52 AM
Gerald Thurman

Looks like fun to me.
05-18-2005, 11:04 AM
Gerald Thurman

Excellent ideas... Another potential roadtrip is the
Crazy Horse Volksmarch
05-18-2005, 11:21 AM
Mark Sedenquist

Now that sounds cool!

An amazing photo on that site. Are you going this year?

That first week in June, Megan and I will be driving scenic routes in Colorado and not able to make it. But maybe June, 2006 or 2007.

Mark
05-18-2005, 04:50 PM
Chuck C

Quote:

Originally Posted by Editor

There is a good chance that the May, 2006 Rendezvous will find the RTA roadtrippers in Ferndale, California as part of the running of the Kinetic Sculpture Race.

Ah, I doubt I'll be able to make that one. Actually, it's likely that I'll be roadtripping out to the west coast in 2006, but that'll be timed to be out there for a specific event and will probably be in August 2006. And I only have so many vacation days each year!

I'd like to add the Mackinac Bridge Walk (click the "annual bridge walk" link for details, and there's pictures of it behind the "photo gallery" link) as a potential RoadTrip Rendezvous.

Edit: Though I've never been, I've wanted to go to the Gilroy Garlic Festival ever since I heard about it.
05-18-2005, 04:56 PM
Quebec Gen

Brainstorming - Eastern suggestions
Here are a few more special and strange events...Some are huge happenings and some are just small towns festivals. I don't know what most of them are worth though :
1. Jazz Fest - Montreal, QC (Jun-Aug) : www.montrealjazzfest.com[/size
2. Winter Carnival - Quebec City, QC (Feb) : www.carnaval.qc.ca/
3. Roadkill Cook-Off - Marlington, WV (Sep)
4. Giant Omelette Celebration - Abbeville, LA (Nov)
5. Rotten Sneaker Contest - Montpelier, VT (Mar)
6. Big Whopper Liar's Contest - New Harmony, IN (Sep)
7. 24 Hour Marriage Marathon - NYC, NY (Feb)
8. Elvis Week - Memphis, TN (Aug) : www.elvis-presley.com
9. Divers Cite - Montreal, QC (Jul) : www.diverscite.org/anglais/
10. New France Festival - Quebec City, QC (Jun) : www.nouvellefrance.qc.ca
11. World's Largest Disco - Buffalo, NY (around Thanksgiving) :www.worldslargestdisco.com
12. Soap Box Derby - Akron, OH (Aug) : www.aasbd.org
13. Summer Redneck Games, East Dublin, GA (Jul) : www.wqzy.com
14. Art Car Parade - Houston, TX (Apr) : www.orangeshow.org
15. Hollerin' Contest - Spivey's Corner, NC (Jun) :
16. Gasparilla Pirate Festival - Tampa, FL (Feb)
17. Quiet Festival - Ocean City, NJ (Nov)
18. Bean Fest and Outhouse Race - Mountain View, AR (Oct)
19. Mermaid Parade, Cooney Island, Brooklyn, NY (Jun)
20. Pickle Fest - Atkins, AR (May)
21. New Year's Eve Party - Time Square, NYC, NY
22. Baxley Tree Festival (chainsaw carving, lumberjack show) - Baxley, GA (Apr)
23. Weird Contest Week - Ocean City, NJ (Aug)
24. Turkey Testicle Fest - Byron, IL (Oct)
25. Jack Kerouac Fest - Lowell, MA (Oct)
26. Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest - Cooney Island, Brooklyn, NY (Jul)
27. Hands on a Hard Body Contest - Longview, TX (Sep)
28. Canine Frisbee Disc World Finals - Washington, DC (Sep) : www.ashleywhippet.com
29. Dollywood Harvest Festival - Memphis, TN (Oct) : www.dollywood.com
30. Middle of Nowhere Celebration - Ainsworth, NE (Jun)
Personally, I'd really love to attend Mardi Gras in New Orleans and the St. Louis' Arch suggestion sounds fun to me but the 4th of July is not a holiday in Canada:o((

Gen
05-18-2005, 05:48 PM
Mark Sedenquist

Quite a list!

Gen,

Where and how did you amass this list?

Weird Contest Week - Ocean City, NJ (Aug) This sounds intriguing!
05-18-2005, 06:01 PM
Mark Sedenquist

Gilroy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck_C

I'd like to add the Mackinac Bridge Walk (click the "annual bridge walk" link for details, and there's pictures of it behind the "photo gallery" link) as a potential RoadTrip Rendezvous.
Edit: Though I've never been, I've wanted to go to the Gilroy Garlic Festival ever since I heard about it.

Everytime I drive through Gilroy, the aroma of roasting garlic permeates every part of my vehicle. Yes, that is an interesting idea. And close to Monterey and Santa Cruz and etc. I like the suggestion.

Mark
05-19-2005, 07:13 PM
Mark Sedenquist

The Butter Cow Lady

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moderator Bob

Just to get the thought processes churning...
1. The Iowa State Fair (reputedly one of the nation's best)

Well, I've been doing some checking -- and one of the things we could check out would be the annual Butter Cow scupture. The orginal sculptures were created by Norma "Duffy" Lyon and required 500 to 600 lbs of butter. I think the last one she created was the da Vinci's The Last Supper I know that doesn't sound very cow-like, but that much butter is..... interesting.

We also could just drive to some memorable ketchy things like the world's largest coffee pot and coffee cup water towers in Stanton, Iowa. My bet could be on visiting the Ice Cream Capital of the World. Did you know that the Blue Bunny ice cream company produces over 100 million gallons every year?

Mark
05-19-2005, 07:25 PM
Quebec Gen

Ice cream capital

Ice Cream? Yummy! Now you're talking! I'm in! When are you planning to go there?

Gen

Ps - ok they make lots of ice cream but certainly not the best! Ben & Jerry RULES!!
05-20-2005, 01:44 PM
Gerald Thurman

Crazy Horse Volkswalk

Quote:

Originally Posted by Editor

An amazing photo on that site. Are you going this year?

No, I'm not. I did it a few years ago when I just happened to be in the Black Hills at the time of the hike. I stayed at a cabin at a KOA campground that was not far from the Crazy Horse Monument.
05-21-2005, 11:00 AM
Mark Sedenquist

In the interests of science....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gen

Ice Cream? Yummy! Now you're talking! I'm in! When are you planning to go there?

I must admit, I had never noticed the Blue Bunny brand until recently. I bought some "Tin Can" flavor in the interests of science or journalist fervor or something. Although, OK, the flavor does not have the creaminess of a Dryers or even Ben & Jerry, but it will do in a pinch... Mark
05-27-2005, 08:43 PM
RoadTripper Brad

Although these aren't increadibly interesting events, they are quite fun!
- Washington State Apple Blossom Festival- Wenatchee, Washington
- Ridge 2 River Relay - Wenatchee, Washington (occurs in spring, about the same time the Apple Blossom festival kicks off)
- The Estrella War - Phoenix, Arizona (HUZZAH! Scadians know quite well of THIS SCA Event!
- Octoberfest- Leavenworth, Washington (Brautwurst anyone?)

Thats about all that I can come up with off the top of my head.
Brad M.
05-27-2005, 09:44 PM
Mark Sedenquist

Leavenworth and Icicle Canyon

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cascadia4-brad m

- Octoberfest- Leavenworth, Washington (Brautwurst anyone?)

All good suggestions --- along with the concept of chasing a hurricane!

Mark
05-29-2005, 02:40 PM
PNW Judy

More Washington ideas

Procession of the Species: http://www.procession.org/index.php
Very cool, fun, and funky festival in Olympia, WA in April

Fremont Fair in Seattle, WA: http://www.fremontfair.org/
Celebrate the summer solstice with nude bicyclists and other crazy stuff

Omak Stampede & Suicide Race: http://www.omakstampede.org/index.htm
The rodeo is fun, the race is exciting, and the Indian Encampment is amazing.

Makah Days: http://www.makah.com/makahdays.htm
In addition to a fantastic Native Americann festival, you can enjoy the beautiful Olympia Peninsula there and back including the Olympic Rainforest, a trek out to Cape Flattery on the Makah reservation to go to the farthest west/fartest north point in the continental US, and enjoy a fantastic museum with artifacts from a Makah village at Lake Ozaette that are about 1,000 years old.

Just a few ideas off the top of my head.
06-10-2005, 09:35 PM
RoadTripper Brad

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judy

Fremont Fair in Seattle, WA: --
Celebrate the summer solstice with nude bicyclists and other crazy stuff

Omak Stampede & Suicide Race: --
The rodeo is fun, the race is exciting, and the Indian Encampment is amazing.

Makah Days: --

Very interesting ideas... although I'd personally skip the Fremont Fair's nude bicyclists...

The Omak Stampede and Sucicde Race is a big event, but I don't think it will last much longer. Last I heard it was on the list to be phased out by the Colville Tribes as an event.

The Makah days are also a treat... I never have gone, but when I was up in Cascadia I did want to go to that.

Just a suggestion... why don't we set up our own event somewhere? Or a Caravan through some part of the country as a rendezvous? I can imagine now 20 or 50 cars in a line down the highway all marked with some sort of RTA Rendezvous Roadtrip mark. (and listening to the music I'm listening to {Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers} is making me want to get back on the road.)

And speaking of Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers... perhaps a rendezvous in ol' Mexico (Rocky Point, Sonora) for RCTP's big October Concert at the Cantina??? I hope to be going with my brother from Texas (who gave me the option of going on my own free will or going by force).

-Brad M.

P.S. - Mark, you guys really need your own TV show... on the Travel Channel or something!
06-10-2005, 11:23 PM
Mark Sedenquist

Caravan?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cascadia4-brad m

Just a suggestion... why don't we set up our own event somewhere? Or a Caravan through some part of the country as a rendezvous? I can imagine now 20 or 50 cars in a line down the highway all marked with some sort of RTA Rendezvous Roadtrip mark. (and listening to the music I'm listening to {Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers} is making me want to get back on the road.)

We had a small version of a caravan in Wyoming -- and it will probably be a part of the next one. But the point of a rendezvous is that we all meet in one or two places (as part of a bunch of individual roadtrips) .
But it is an idea worth considering.

Quote:

you guys really need your own TV show... on the Travel Channel or something!

Been there -- done that (sorta) that is more work than I really want to do again. Maybe you should do one?
11-28-2005, 07:59 PM
wanabewest

arch rendezvous

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moderator Bob

And centrally located as well! Sounds good to me!

I live in st louis and have attended many 4th julys at the arch, Its against the law to fly through the arch, although we all think it would be cool. Dint happen. I'm not trying to be a party poop but it always rains here on the 4th and is very humid that time of year. how about the burning man festival, so we can share our boon docking skills. Ive never been
11-28-2005, 10:40 PM
Mark Sedenquist

Hmmmmm

Quote:

Originally Posted by wanabewest

I live in st louis and have attended many 4th julys at the arch, Its against the law to fly through the arch, although we all think it would be cool. Dint happen. I'm not trying to be a party poop but it always rains here on the 4th and is very humid that time of year. how about the burning man festival, so we can share our boon docking skills. Ive never been

I have spent a couple of 4ths under the Arch -- I still think that is a great venue for fireworks et al. And I am not convinced that it didn't happen at least once.

mark
12-02-2005, 10:07 AM
PNW Judy

I just want to second Brad's idea of a caravan for a portion of the trip. I have enjoyed numerous roadtrips with my car club with anywhere from 5-50 cars traveling together. 50 is too much for a long trip but fun for short distances. But about a dozen cars traveling together is a hoot, talking via CB or FRS.

We could plan meeting place about a day or 1/2 day from the final destination and, at least, caravan together that last day. Just a thought.