Bloomington, IN <-> Pittsburgh, PA, possible stops along the way
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Hi! I'm planning to drive from Bloomington IN to Pittsburgh PA, probably Thursday morning and Sunday night but that's somewhat flexible. I'd be happy to go a bit off the path to pick someone up, although I'd rather avoid multi-hour diversions. I have a minivan so if you're like me and always overpack for this sort of thing, or have to bring some giant pile of stuff, not a problem. I usually do music on long road trips but I also enjoy conversation; if you don't stop me, I will probably just keep talking the entire time. If you want to see if I'd be entertaining to talk to, you can look at those little links for blogs and such, I guess. Please respond either here or via email and we can work things out... In theory the van fits seven but unless everyone's only bringing one bag we'll probably want to cap at 5. Thanks! -r. |
I wouldn't mind leaving afternoon instead of evening, but if the schedule is like last year's, I'll be waiting in line at 2 or 3 PM to collect and pay for art from the art show, and that kinda sets a minimum time I need to be there. 
This year's schedule isn't up yet but last year it started at 2. Assuming I got in line at 1 to leave as soon as possible, that means that we'd probably hit Bloomington by 11, depending on whether there's anyone else in the car, you'd probably get home a little before 2 AM. You might be better served by crashing on our guest bed and then driving back in the morning?
Con programming mostly ended last year between 3 and 5 (other than closing ceremonies) so you wouldn't miss much, but it would make Monday a little dicey. (Personally, I have to be awake for a telephone meeting at 10:30 AM on Monday, but other than that...
I hope this can work for you, but if not, I hope you can find something that does!
Hmm, yeah, I guess it would be nice to be able to bid on Art Show stuff if I wanted to...
Problem is I have school starting on Monday, so as much as I appreciate the offer of crashing at your place I'd have to push on that night!
I'm going to see if anyone's interested in a rideshare if I drove out and was returning earlier on the 27th. If not, I might take you up on it and just... drink lots of caffeine the next day or something XD
Sounds good, let me know... I'm definitely going either way. In the unlikely event that it looks like the van's going to fill I'll drop you a line.
^^ I'm live near where you might past ^^ my town And I still lack a ride to and from the con Please get a hold of me
I'd love to get a ride! I too am from Illinois, and would probably get to Bloomington by bus or train maybe. Do you still have a spot open in your van?
Hi Crimsonred, there's still room, especially if I can meet you in Bloomington (easiest for me) or at the Greyhound station in Indianapolis early Thursday morning (already picking someone else up there, most likely). If that works for you, drop me a private message and we'll figure out details? That would make four-maybe-five so we're getting _close_ to full but no one has scads of luggage yet so we may have a bit more room still.
Hmmm, I'm leaning towards doing this now XD
But I do rather have scads of stuff I'd take 
How much room would there be??
A lot of it is fluffy at least and theoretically stuffable if I leave it loose (gonna be sleeping on the floor, bringing blankets & pillows)
Silvergrin, it's a 1997 ford Aerostar, so there are a few options:
* Four people, take out the back seat, tons of room
* Five people, take out the middle seat, tons of room
* Five people, cram stuff into the side back seat, plenty of room
* Seven people, everyone sits with their stuff, big things go in the back
Right now we're at four or five, so depending on the size of your stuff, we can figure out one of the middle options. I have some preference for options 1 or 3 based on it being hard to talk to people in the wayback from the front, and getting bored if I'm not talking to people, but even people in the back beats driving alone. I'll probably have two suitcases because I am a habitual overpacker, but that's still not that bad. I moved everything I owned from Boston to LA in this thing in 2004, we'll make your stuff fit!
I'm actually in the same boat as Silvergrin, so I'd probably have a backpack, my computer bag, a sleeping bag, and maybe a pillow. Other than that though, I think I'll be going without. And if I do meet you, it would be great if I could get picked up from Indianapolis, As I'd have to take a bus there anyway ^^;;
If you can be at the Indy greyhound station at around 8 AM on Thursday that'd be nigh-ideal. If you can only get there the day before, hoosierride.com will at least get you down here which is presumably a more comfortable place to wait. Or you might be able to hitch with Silvergrin, though I certainly can't make binding offers on anyone else's behalf. 
Oop, I meant, I can give Crimsonred a ride from Champaign to your place if he can make it Champaign.
Ya, a ride shouldn't be a problem provided timing works out.
Care to email me at silvergrin at gmail ? Easier to work out specifics on timing and I'll give you my cell phone number and stuff. :B
That would be great, thanks Silvergrin! Yeah, this all sounds pretty great, the only thing I need to know is when you'll be leaving in the morning Silver.
If it's easier for y'all to show up at my place on Wednesday night, that's fine too; it may be easier than leaving at 5 in the morning or something ridiculous.
Thanks for the offer! Unfortunately I'll probably be doing a lot of last-minute con prep and will probably want to do something like stay up all night, leave at 5am in the morning, and then snooze once I get in your car XD
... then again, most of the stuff I could likely do just as easily at your place. Hrum. Either way?
... I was wondering if we could meet up with you in the indianapolis area instead of bloomington - that's an hour off the transit time for me, which would be nice on the drive back mostly XP
But I don't know if that would be along your way or where a good place to park would be!
Indy's basically on the way and I'm happy to pick you up there --- I just don't know where to park, unfortunately, I'm new to the area. But if you find somewhere, especially but not only along the highway, I'm happy to meet you there.
Absolutely fantastic! And yeah, an easy freeway stop would be ideal -- I'll do some research :B
It's all up to Silver, I'm good with anything XD
I'm also going from Bloomington, IN to Pittsburgh. If you get too many requests for rides along that route, feel free to direct anyone my way, I can fit 3 in my small SUV, as long as they're okay with my schedule so far as coming and going basically being inflexible - I'm committed to leaving mid-morningish Thursday from Bloomington and won't be in any shape to leave AC until late-morningish Monday.
I think right now we are happily full but not overfull, but I will keep that in mind and let you know if anything comes up! Also, you're in Bloomington? Hi!
My ride out of Dayton, OH just canceled going to AC, and I'm trying to find a few new options since I don't want to screw the guys I'm rooming with out of my share of the room.
Is there room for a ride from anyone here still?
I'm right smack dab in the middle of Dayton, not too far from I-75 and Route 35 (which you can take to 675 to move east and still get back to I-70.
I can pay a share of the gas money and pack light.
edit: lol I typed west instead of east
Barring an air schedule catastrophe (which might actually happen, I'm waiting for a phone call :\ ) my van's full, but you might ask BlueCanary, who has a similar schedule (and is elsewhere in this thread).
I'm quite interested, but I would want to leave EARLY sunday, at the latest. Do you suppose that is possible?
I'm in Illinois and would drive to where you are to start out
Thanks!