74 replies to this topic

[Medessec]

Well, Jackson recently expressed his interest in having all of us go on a road trip somewhere in our cars, because his older sister did that with her friends. I had also thought about organizing a sort of graduation road trip as well awhile back, and I'd love for something like this to happen.

Of course-now would be a good time to plan it all out, and I have a number of destinations that I think we'd want to visit. Here's some I have in mind:
-Reno, NV
-Las Vegas, NV
-Austin, NV(abandoned mining town, small tourist site)
-maybe Tahoe(but Jackson says he's been annoyed with the countless times he's gone, and he really doesn't feel bothered to go)
-maybe visit an Abandoned Airfield? There's several.
-Yellowstone National Park
-Bonneville, Utah
-maybe visit Jesse. If we feel like it.
-Grand Canyon?

It would be a damn long road trip, but we can seriously shorten the distance by narrowing destinations down.

Also-for sure me and Jackson really want to do this-but we were looking to have Me, Kian, Jackson, and Scott for sure be on board, and a few others we would probably invite, such as Ryan, Matt Planesi, Jackson's friend Desmond, and a few more that I can't recall. The trip I would think to be around a week long-and most of the nights we'd either: sleep in a hotel or sleep in or on the cars. It'd be mostly about having a good amount of fun and bonding, for the last summer we have until we may end up moving around California as we go to different colleges, or move away.

I also recalled Ash and a few of the Brits wanted to visit the US again, and I figured we could somehow accommodate if we can coordinate it well enough, perhaps we can have them fly to San Fran and spend a few days with me or Kian in Elk Grove before we set off, go on the road trip with us, and then maybe fly out from Denver, or Texas, or some other destination farther east. Or the other way around- but I'd like to see them come on the trip.

[frogg]

On a semi-related note, my mom said that she has given up on having a "quiet summer", which means the brits are more than welcome to come and spend a few weeks with us again, if they desire. Just suggest a date and I'll ask my mom if that date works (which it probably will, we don't really have much planned yet)

So, I guess this means they could come here for a week, road trip/whatever, come back for a bit, go back to Britain. (if they want to, of course)

[Medessec]

I think it'd be cool if they flew over here-and I think it'd also be a good idea for us to pitch in a little bit for the air-fare this time, because they were cutting it close financially last time, and now we're asking them to come again.

We'd have to work it out with them though, but I'd be more than happy for them to come again. I would also like to see us going to the UK at some point in the near future. My dad said not this summer, because we've kinda sorted my money after buying the car in a way that I can only pay through 2 years of college, and the rest we're putting in... the stock market. :\

Anyways, I think the road trip is an excellent idea, and it'd have to happen in June or August, because July I'm going to Hawaii.

What I thought was that if the Brits came-they'd hang in EG for a few days, then we'd go on the road trip, which would take about a week.

[Tinytimrob]

A number of important things I would like to cover here. Advance Note: This is extremely hypothetical

I would love to come visit you guys again this summer, but in order to make a second consecutive trip financially viable (and barely, at that), it would *have* to be in JUNE (because June flights are less populated due to being _before_ the summer started, so currently about $500 cheaper) and I would *have* to stop for a lot longer (so that I could spend a lot of time with you guys in order to make the cost more appropriate to the amount of time spent). I would have to come for about 4-5 weeks... which is a hell of a long time.

My term finishes on Friday 25th May, which is also the date of my last coursework hand-in according to the university intranet. That also seems to be about the time you finish. Based on all this, I would end up departing for SFO on Monday 4 June and then probably leave at some point during the week commencing Monday 2 July. (Testing the cost of this, it would be about £535, versus last year's £800 flight, assuming I were to book the flight in Jan or early Feb when the plane was still fairly unpopulated).

The issue then is that hardly anyone except me will be able to visit you in June (which is why the Tour of California was in July). I'm also not sure that anyone would be comfortable with me being in the US for such a long time (because it would work out around 10% of the whole year) and that includes me, since I'm not sure I would find visiting the US on my own for 30-35 days appealing.

Another issue is that I wanted to try PPSE again this summer, taking a more direct approach (I will discuss this at a later date when I'm actually ready). But that would totally conflict with any such trip that might occur. The reason I dropped out last year was because I had very little motivation by the end of the first week (since I was getting nowhere, and was preparing to go on the tour, and that would mean cancelling PPSE regardless of success or failure). I'm pretty sure I will be able to stop in my room for the entire summer this year (rather than going home for blob months) which means I would have around 4 months to work on it uninterrupted.

Yet another issue is that I don't plan on having a "Brits and US go to random places together for blob weeks" style holiday every year, because that is an unobtainable goal; if I were to visit you guys this summer it would only reinforce the idea that it's actually an obtainable goal, which is something I don't want.

So yeah, that's just some food for thought when you're planning out this trip.

[Medessec]

I'd actually wouldn't mind this happening-and in fact I think we should consider this when planning this out. I'd really like to see Robert come back again.

But again I'd like to contribute a bit more financially than just paying for gas and the occasional soda. And we'd have to start planning this out now. And having web-meetings again!

I have to go now as I am packing for Winter Camp, but I hope this develops a lot more by the time I get back.

[frogg]

I don't know about the contributing financially idea. Remember that my family is paying for food, water, electicity, housing, for a few people staying for awhile, it can add up.

[BadmanAsh]

Im more than up for it but i must say, here we go again...

[Tinytimrob]

Right now it is unlikely I will participate (due to the numerous issues previously mentioned) but I guess we will have to see.

[BadmanAsh]

I addition to the points above, due to the Olympics any international travel from the UK in July would be impossible anyway.

[jesanfafon]

False. From UK = no problem. Airlines are desperate to get outbound flights. To UK - $$$$, right?

Utah is great in the Summer. I wouldn't suggest coming all the way out here unless you really want to go backpacking/hiking/you're mormon/you care about railroad history/you're en route to Idaho

[Medessec]

Alright. Well... I understand on the points you've mentioned Rob. It's quite a busy summer for us as well, as we're kind of looking for jobs and going off to college. And I also understand that it's really not in the cards for you to stay, especially that long. Indeed, we can wait awhile, and if something ever does open up, and you have a change of thought, then you can come. After speaking with my parents, they'd actually look into having you stay here if you wanted to stay that long.

As for contributing financially-I suppose if Robert were to stay that long, or if Ash and any of the other guys decided to stay for an extended period, it would add up and become a huge factor in the finances of the trip, but I really think otherwise we should pitch in or do something more than we did last time, but I dunno. That's just how I feel, and it's up to you.

Right now it's likely we'll do the Road Trip in June, and if not, August, so you can take July out of the picture. Jackson's going to be doing some traveling during July, so July can't happen on our end either. Again, we need to start coming up with something solid soon if we want this to happen.

As for Utah-we do have a number of destinations we want to visit and if it does come close enough to your location, we really wouldn't mind spending the night with you Jesse or staying in your town for a bit, and we hopefully won't mind the Mormons much. We probably won't stay long, just one whole night at the most, so unless there is any spectacular sights around where you live, we probably will just chill with yeh.

[MDC]

Quote

The issue then is that hardly anyone except me will be able to visit you in June (which is why the Tour of California was in July). I'm also not sure that anyone would be comfortable with me being in the US for such a long time (because it would work out around 10% of the whole year) and that includes me, since I'm not sure I would find visiting the US on my own for 30-35 days appealing.

This would be suitable for me indeed.

[BadmanAsh]

jesanfafon, on Monday 16 January 2012, 04:30:38 PM, said:

False. From UK = no problem. Airlines are desperate to get outbound flights. To UK - $$$$, right?

You mean ££££, not $$$$ what i actually meant is that basically it would be easier to not try to leave the UK surrounding the olymics for several annoying reasons but its better to just not bother.

[frogg]

Medessec, on Tuesday 17 January 2012, 01:54:50 AM, said:

As for contributing financially-I suppose if Robert were to stay that long, or if Ash and any of the other guys decided to stay for an extended period, it would add up and become a huge factor in the finances of the trip, but I really think otherwise we should pitch in or do something more than we did last time, but I dunno. That's just how I feel, and it's up to you.

I am not giving money for someone to be a tourist, no matter how good friends we are! That is ridiculous. No one does that.

But yeah June would work. How would you consider arriving early June and leaving 2-3 weeks later? That would work fine if you were gonna stay at my house part of the time

[Medessec]

They mentioned that they couldn't do June or something... but I'd like to do June or early July, because most of July I'll be spending time with family, and I'll be in Hawaii. August would work if all else fails.

I think everyone needs to throw out dates that won't work-so we can just work around those. I can't do most of July, or the first week out of School because I'll be wanting to relax.

[BadmanAsh]

Well I can hopefully do June workload dependant, thats best for me as Im busy all summer, plus BIRTHDAY ON 21st!

[Medessec]

WHOA. That'd be epic if we could time it so that we could celebrate your birthday on the road trip. We could go to a burger joint or something.

[BadmanAsh]

One thing I have just found out is that i have my final maths exam on the 14th.

[Medessec]

Oh dear. Perhaps-you could leave after that or something? I dunno. Again-everyone, plz shout up dates and times they'll be open during the summer to do this.

It doesn't look like we'll be tripping to Yellowstone, unless someone speaks up and wants to go. It's a very long drive, and from what I've been told, it's a boring drive there.

I've had a brainwave: Because we won't particularly make it a priority to go far east, we can just start out south, and go through southern Cali, perhaps drive through LA, maybe even San Diego. Those that'd be interested can cross the border to Mexico, and from there we'd head northeast to Vegas, and then the Grand Canyon. From there, we could go further east if anyone's interested in the south, but I'd rather just head up to the Bonneville Salt Flats from there, then after visiting the Salt Flats, start heading home through Nevada.

That's just an absolute base for our trip-we could add destinations or decide to go the other way around(head east first). Also-here's a list of people who I think are interested in going:

-Trevor S()
-Kian B
-Jackson P
-Scott G
-Matt P
-Matt E
-Ash L
-Martin C

Now, I just have Hawaii this summer, and I might get a job in late August. It sounds like Kian might be able to take the Outback if he goes-but I think we'd need to do something about helping him to pay for gas. I have no idea what Kian's doing this summer that might get in the way... I'm sure he is doing something with relatives or whatev. Jackson said he has something going on-but that June might work. Scott, I have no idea, I don't even know if he wants to come. Matt P is our local Mormon, he's a bit younger than us but he's pretty cool, I'd like for him to come but he'd have to square things away with his parents, I think if we host a house party for us to meet up and talk about the trip and planning it out, and maybe a web meeting with Ash and whoever else wanted to come, we could invite Matt's parents and it would improve his chances of being able to come with us. Matt E is our adolescent magician, and he's pretty cool, and after speaking with him about it he seemed very interested in going. He said June would work, and he also said he'd be able to bring his Toyota along, which gets good gas mileage and is also a 4-door.

We need to start planning this now if we want it to happen, and I think we should do that house party thing.

[BadmanAsh]

Hmm, I like. I dunno weather I could resist the temptation of turning a Mormon into an atheist. I'm not quite as innocent as some people give me credit for...

[Medessec]

That reminds me: Do you guys want to visit Jesse?

Well... nvm. I still need to talk about it with my parents, and in hopefully a little under a month I can organize a web-chat/party/meeting at someone's house where we can all meet up and bring parents, so we can discuss the trip and where exactly we'd like to go, and if it's even a possibility that Ash and Martin(or any other Brits) can come along. We can web-chat with you guys.

[schsomething]

I can't come because I don't have le essence de man
>

[schsomething]

I'm so jealous x)

[frogg]

NO GIRLS ON THE TRIP
jesse and ash, your names are feminine enough, I'm afraid you can't come either.

[BadmanAsh]

Allow you fam.

[Medessec]

Allow you fam.=?

That's another reason we'd like for you to come: We would like(well, at least I would) a British ghetto term consultant.

[The Mod Guru]

Trevor you forgot me on that list, I'm most likely able to go, and provde a vehicle and gas money. I'm bloody awesome like that.

[frogg]

Yeah anyone who isnt annoying and isnt a mooch can come by default, pretty much

Also allow you fam = allow your family, I think

[Medessec]

We would be happy to accompany you Matt-and it's definitely a plus if you want to bring your car. However: Jackson mentioned he wasn't really thinking anymore than 3 cars should go, and I'm bringing my car, Kian's bringing the Outback, Matt E wants to bring his Corolla(I'm pretty sure he's coming) and now you want to bring your Graybergmobile. So-I'll have to talk with Jackson, but again. We need to have a meeting at someone's house to organize all this. I dunno if we can do my house, but it'd help, because I'm sure my parents are a bit uneasy sending me off with several loons on a car trip by ourselves.

[BadmanAsh]

frogg, on Friday 03 February 2012, 02:12:23 AM, said:

Also allow you fam = allow your family, I think

Close but not quite,
to allow = to proceed unabaited/ ignore / disregard
you = you
fam = fam as in due to a healthy relationship, you are a sort of family member in tha crew. but you are still getting llowed off...

[Medessec]

Merh. A web meeting is in order to get anything done. We'll just have to meet at someone's house.

[cuzceb]

no love.... no love.... no love.....

[frogg]

hey everyone lets make a road trip and not invite Caleb

[cuzceb]

pretty much kian... pretty much...

[BadmanAsh]

What word from the battlefield?

[frogg]

Yeah caleb you should come too. and Ash and Martin. It might be cramped if all the people we invite come along, but that will probably not happen because a few people won't be able to go, and even if everyone is able to come we will be able to get Matthew Ernst to bring his car too.

We're thinking the trip would start June 1st and last about 8-9 days. The current planned route is here http://www.facebook....09285032453973/

[Medessec]

Caleb-I've constantly pitched to Scott that we should invite you, in fact TODAY, Scott mentioned Jackson might not be able to go because his mom is having a stroke over the trip, and Colton might not be able to go, because he might have plans. Matt E also might not be able to go depending on if he finds work around then. So I pitched it to him again that you should come.

So-the "who's going" part is really jumbled right now, but the current leave date is June 10-16. Which is a lot earlier than I expected, but I'm sure it can easily be changed.

Caleb-if you want to go, i'd get in touch with Scott and tell him you're willing to commit to the trip. And as for Martin and Ash-Scott really isn't leaving much planning room for you guys to go, but due to the fact we may not bring as many people, it's becoming more and more possible, but Scott also wants you to pay for most of your share of the trip. I'd really like for you guys to come, so I might try my best to help you guys out in paying for food, etc.

But Scott's also reduced the transportation to 2 cars, and the current destinations are: Grand Canyon, Four Corners(maybe), Arches, Highway 50, den back home again.

Scott said the figures were around $300-$400 per person, realistically. It's closer to $200 in only gas, and that isn't considering the inevitable $5 a gallon that gas might hit in the summertime.

[BadmanAsh]

Ok, Trevors date I can do, but I cant make the first week of June due to 2 maths exams. what's the current route looking like? can we go vegas? I really wanna go Vegas (in spite of your ridiculous US laws stating I could not drink or gamble, oh well. I could smoke.) But yes, whats the plan sayin?

Also is LA up for debate? I wanna go there if poss

Edited by BadmanAsh, Friday 24 February 2012, 03:55:04 PM.

[Medessec]

Scott has ruled LA and Vegas uneconomical, and most of our parents are concerned about us going there. We have to keep the trip down to about a week, and with those destinations we'd have to eliminate a few others, due to planning.

I think if you really want to go, and if it's very possible you can manage it at this point, we gotta get you in touch with Scott so you can get your two cents in. If you're coming on this trip, we'll want to hear what you want, especially now with everything all jumbled. Try and add him on Skype: Scott Gale of Elk Grove. His email's scottrgale@live.com

But yeah. I'd kinda like to go to Vegas, but I'm not so sure about LA at this point.

[frogg]

Vegas is pretty much along the way back from utah, I'm fairly sure we can go there. Jackson's mom was the one concerned about it and we aren't even sure if he can come.

also, does anyone know if Martin can come?

Edited by frogg, Saturday 25 February 2012, 01:49:01 AM.

[BadmanAsh]

Then perhaps I would look at seeing if i can plan myself to go to those two places independent of the road trip because i dont want to spend another £1000 odd on anything bellow my expectations. plus this will probably be the last time I visit North America for a few years (student life, plus there's a lot more world for me to see) and even when I do, it would probably not be California i visited. Martin did want to come with me this year but i havent discussed it with him for some time.

[BadmanAsh]

Medessec, on Friday 24 February 2012, 11:51:58 PM, said:

most of our parents are concerned about us going there

I say this with the utmost respect; remember, you are all ADULTS. just think about that.

[frogg]

^^^^^what I said

[Medessec]

Well, our parents feel they need to prod in our lives anyway, despite this fact. And yes, I'm sick of it, but there's not much I can do as long as I'm living with them.

Jackson's not 18 yet, so his mom has every right to be too anxious and weenied to let Jackson go. The whole point of having this many people on the trip-is so we could all watch out for each other.

As for you Ash-if you're willing to set aside that money, we'd probably arrange for your choice of destinations, because there's people on the trip who are not sure they'd be able to put in the needed amount of money. If you for sure can pay for everything(your air-fare to get over here, your share of food/gas on the trip and so on) then we'd probably have your choice of destinations in priority.

Same with Martin, hopefully he's just as determined to come, I really want to see you guys come on the trip, and at least I'm willing to go to lengths to make sure we can visit the destinations you prefer and so on. Vegas, if you guys really want to, and LA, if we can. We may only be able to cruise through LA and see the Hollywood sign, and the Hollywood streets, and maybe see a few sights. I really like the idea of destinations I had in the first place, but Scott's just trimming destinations for the sake of "economy" and "expenses", and it is kind of frustrating me. But I'd rather the trip happen in the first place, than not at all.

I'll have to talk to Scott a bit more, but from what I can see, Scott's pretty much taken over planning completely, and he wants us to stay at hotels, and youth hostels, thus making traveling time more inefficient rather than camping out or sleeping in our cars. He also wants us to keep the trip within a week, to satisfy the parents of the people going. So it is going to be a challenge to accompany this, but i'll fight to make it happen, because it's just pointless if you do our trip, and you do a separate one without us, because we couldn't do the destinations you wanted. I know due to parents, our situation and ability to do that is shaky, but I'm kinda tired and sick of "parents" always being the problem in our decision making. Sorry, that's my own spin on things, but again, I'll talk to Scott. See what we can do.

Also Ash-what days can you organize to fly in? You can probably fly in earlier than the actual trip and stay at Kian's or my house. Same for Martin.

Edited by Medessec, Saturday 25 February 2012, 11:09:59 PM.

[BadmanAsh]

well, ive saved nuff money, should easy be ale to pay for it. i can come any day after 14th june.

[Medessec]

Awesome.

Also-are you satisfied with our chosen destinations? Because if not, you could probably fly out to LA instead, and then take a train or shuttle to Vegas, then meet us up there or at the Grand Canyon. That plan would be very complex though, and if you're by yourself, it can get pretty boring regardless of the destination.

[cuzceb]

Ima goin!

[Medessec]

F*KIN EPIC

[frogg]

yeah caleb give the $90 to scott, he's in charge of finances

[Medessec]

indeed... probably best to do that soon

[MDC]

I should be able to afford it, but I need to speak with Ash to see whats happening

[frogg]

awesome. keep in mind that the date for the road trip is June 16th to 23rd

also, when do you think you'll be 100% certain you're coming? we need to make reservations for the national parks and stuff ahead of time

Edited by frogg, Wednesday 18 April 2012, 12:24:38 AM.

[MDC]

Please provide a full list of expenses including flight, then I will know

[frogg]

Gas is $80 (50 pounds) per person (assuming 8 people go, or $90 if only 7 people go)
Hotels/lodging/park entrance fees is about $100 (62 pounds) per person (again, greater cost if less people go)
Cost of food is not yet determined. I'm not sure how much that will cost. We'll hopefully buy food and make it ourselves ahead of time, but I'm not sure how often we'll find a kitchen or whatever. To be honest we're pretty disorganized when it comes to that subject

Cost of flights looks to be about $2000 online (1250 pounds). I dunno exactly, you and ash will have to figure that out yourselves.

Also, my mom would like to say that she's glad her british sons are coming. and you can arrive a week early to hang out or whatever.

[Tinytimrob]

Quote

Cost of flights looks to be about $2000 online (1250 pounds). I dunno exactly, you and ash will have to figure that out yourselves.

Your pricing is rubbish. The typical cost of a flight in June is currently 700 - 800 GBP just like last year.

Sun., 10 Jun., 2012
Depart: 10:35 London, England (LHR - Heathrow)
Arrive: 13:33 San Francisco, CA (SFO)
Travel Time: 10 hr 58 mn

Wed., 27 Jun., 2012
Depart: 12:54 San Francisco, CA (SFO)
Arrive: Thu., 28 Jun., 2012 07:10 (+1 Day) London, England (LHR - Heathrow)
Travel Time: 10 hr 16 mn

755 GBP
round trip/ person

[MDC]

Thanks Rob, will speak with Ash asap, as I really would love to come back again.

[frogg]

hey see this is why they didn't put me in charge of finances

Edited by frogg, Friday 20 April 2012, 11:34:08 PM.

[MDC]

Quote

hey see this is they didn't put me in charge of finances

Nor English

[frogg]

I have no idea what you're talking about

[Medessec]

Martin-we'll have to speak with Scott to make sure we can fully accommodate you, Scott is going to be pessimist about the change of plan, as he really wasn't expecting you to come at this point(same happened when Ash wanted in.) We can seat you in the cars, it'll just be more cramped, and Scott will whine on about costs in food and hotels going up. I'll talk to him, but I'd be really glad to see you come.

[frogg]

Scott's being a "bish" as he might say. we were planning for 8 people in the first place, matt ernst dropped out, and you are basically replacing him. He needs to get over himself

[schsomething]

Martin is just gonna have to stay with me. Sorry guys! I've stolen him

[MDC]

Yes! Yes! Yes!

[BadmanAsh]

• can we have a finalised itenarary as i still dont know exactly where the trip goes or for how long it has ended up and what sums would i be paying people?

[MDC]

BadmanAsh, on Saturday 28 April 2012, 08:39:11 AM, said:

• can we have a finalised itenarary as i still dont know exactly where the trip goes or for how long it has ended up and what sums would i be paying people?

Seconded

[frogg]

Yeah I'll ask scott abt that, and probably i will put it together since he's been organizing everything else

[Medessec]

If you guys have any further Qs about the itinerary or destinations, you can just consult Scott on the facebook group, he's on facebook a whole lot.

And I'd imagine concerning activities and even some other destinations, we'll be sort of loose, it's mostly just that we have to reach the hotels and overnight places we've reserved.

[BadmanAsh]

I went to the hospital today and received some terrible news, I wont be able to come as my knee will not have recovered sufficiently. I'm sorry everyone, for creating all this trouble but I only just found out.

[MDC]

This is unfortunate news, but this will not stop me attending!

[frogg]

dammit ash
yay martin!

[MDC]

My flight is now officially booked, paid for and confirmed, so I AM DEFINITELY COMING!!

[BadmanAsh]

As I recall there was some debate on facebook as to why I am not coming and whether other peoples opinions factored in on this, in response they did not, I will have all my dressings off by the time of the trip but if i do not ensure that this knee heals properly now i could feel the effects of it for the rest of my life, it is not an easy fix (Christ there is already now a 10 inch surgery induced gash on my beautiful knee!) Also I feel my impaired mobility would be a possible massive hindrance given the nature of the trip so yeah, thats it basically. I promise i will come visit you guys whilst im off on my travels when im next in the area. Believe me its not a decision i took lightly (I had to book a trip to Istanbul for consolation later in the year!) but eah, I will see you guys again sometime soonish.

[frogg]

ok. Thanks for explaning it, I didn't think the injury was nearly that bad

why Istanbul, of all places?

[Medessec]

doh, well... alright. We understand your decision.

It is a huge disappointment you aren't coming, but yes, we will see you again soon enough.

But yeah-it's awesome we've still got Martin.

[BadmanAsh]

frogg, on Friday 11 May 2012, 04:26:58 AM, said:

why Istanbul, of all places?

Why not?