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Western Regional 03 - The Final Plan

avking

SM 2003
Full Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2003
Messages
1,297
Location
Buellton, CA
Attendees:

CONFIRMED & READY TO GO
AVKING (1) + Moab (Room Reserved)
CAHIKR (2) + Moab (Room Reserved)
Teksavy (1) + Moab (Room Reserved)
SoCalCindy (5) + Moab (Room Reserved)
HQ (4) (Room Reserved)
UtahAV (?) (Room Reserved)

REALLY HOPING TO GO
Ducksface


Important Facts:

Sunrise is aprox. 7:00AM
Sunset is between 6:45PM & 7:00PM
Temp at resort will be highs in the 50?s and lows in the 30?s
Zion temps will be as much as 20 degrees higher
Bryce temps slightly higher than resort
Moab temps will be highs in the 70?s and lows in the 40?s


Itinerary

Sat, Oct 11 (Day): Meet at the Ontario Airport Marriott. We will be departing the parking lot promptly at 6:45AM. Please arrive with a full tank of gas. We will start on 15N heading to Las Vegas. Baker, about 140 miles into the trip, will be our first bathroom / rest stop. We will make this a quick stop at a service station we can find near the highway. Then back on 15N, all the way to Las Vegas. We will stop at the In N Out Burger off Tropicana for fuel, food and rest. We should arrive at the In N Out Burger off Tropicana around 10:15 or 10:30. We will depart the In N Out Burger off Tropicana at Noon, or sooner, if everyone is ready. Jump back on 15N for 85 miles to Saint George, Utah, where we will stop for bathroom / fuel / rest stop. Then the final 85 mile leg of the day to the Pinewoods Resort where we should arrive sometime between 4:00 and 5:00PM. (http://www.pinewoodsresort.com/Accomodations.htm)

Sat, Oct 11 (Night): The Saturday evening meal will be in the resort restaurant. This is not a formal group dinner, so go when you want. We can plan something informal when we get to the resort. You also have the option of cooking in your room, or going to a restaurant in town. There are three restaurants near the resort; you can contact the resort for details and directions.

Sun, Oct 12 (Day): Breakfast is on your own, but informal GTG?s will most likely occur naturally. Your two best choices are cooking in your room or the resort restaurant. We will meet in the parking lot for a 7:30PM departure to Zion National Park. The cruise to Zion will take about 1 hour. We are not planning any official events inside the park, but many ideas will kicked around as this thread grows. If you plan on doing something in particular, post it and see who might like to join you. When we arrive at the park, we will pick a meet time and location for the cruise back to the resort. You always have the option of leaving sooner or staying later. The park shuttle bus system will probably still be operating and mandatory, but we will not know for sure until we arrive. They do not have a set date they stop for the season.

Sun, Oct 12 (Night): We are going to have a group dinner at the resort restaurant. Start migrating to the restaurant around 6:30PM and I will reserve a 7:30 seating for all of us. This will give everyone plenty of time to get back from Zion and cleanup before dinner.

Mon, Oct 13 (Day): Breakfast is on your own, but informal GTG?s will most likely occur naturally. Your two best choices are cooking in your room or the resort restaurant. We will meet in the parking lot for a 7:30PM departure to Bryce Canyon National Park. The cruise to Bryce will take about 1 hour. We are not planning any official events inside the park, but many ideas will kicked around as this thread grows. If you plan on doing something in particular, post it and see who might like to join you. When we arrive at the park, we will pick a meet time and location for the cruise back to the resort. You always have the option of leaving sooner or staying later. The park shuttle bus system will be closed by now, and you will be able to drive to your destinations inside the park.

Mon, Oct 13 (Night): We can try and have a BBQ this night, if the weather is nice and we all feel up to it. If not, dinner is on your own or in small groups. The resort restaurant is closed, so you will need to cook, BBQ or find a restaurant in town. I think we just play this night by ear and see what develops.

Tue, Oct 14 (Day): Breakfast is on your own, but informal GTG?s will most likely occur naturally. Your two best choices are cooking in your room or the resort restaurant. No formal activities planned for this day. I left this day open for everyone to explore. Some plan on going to the Grand Canyon (4 Hours R/T). Other locations to explore are Cedar Breaks National Monument, Grand Staircase National Monument, ghost towns, 4x4 in the AVs or on ATVs. You can also go hiking, fishing or mountain bike right from the resort.

Tue, Oct 14 (Night): Dinner on your own or in small groups. The resort restaurant is closed, so you will need to cook or find a restaurant in town.

Wed, Oct 15 (Day): We will depart the hotel at 7:30AM for the 290 mile / 5hour drive to Moab. There are lots of interesting places to stop along the way to stretch your legs and enjoy the scenery. With any luck, we will arrive in Moab by early afternoon, with plenty of time for some sightseeing, mountain biking or hiking. I plan on scouting the Lions Back in preparation for my Thursday trip up it.

Wed, Oct 15 (Night): The group will meet back at the hotel at 7:00PM and find a place we can all get dinner. We will be staying at the Gonzo Inn (http://www.gonzoinn.com/index.htm) Wednesday and Thursday nights.

Thu, Oct 16 (Day): We have a million choices in Moab and I am going to leave it to the discussions that follow, to decide what we do. I will post some options and prices in a little while.

Thu, Oct 16 (Night): The group will meet back at the hotel at 7:00PM and find a place we can all get dinner.

Fri, Oct 17 (Day & Night): Another day to explore the Moab. The group will meet back at the hotel for a 1:00PM departure to the San Juan Inn located in Mexican Hat, UT (http://www.sanjuaninn.net), our hotel for the night. We have a side trip planned along the way to Natural Arches National Monument. All reservations are taken care of and the room rate is $65.

Sat, Oct 18 (Day & Night): We will have breakfast as a group, at 7:30AM. Our goal for today is to make it to Kingman, AZ. During the morning hours, we are going to take the scenic route through Monument Valley. Brian has several side trips planned to keep us occupied. Our hotel is the Best Western in Kingman. All reservations are taken care of and the room rate is $70.

Sun, Oct 19: Go home.


Lodging

Pinewoods Resort (http://www.pinewoodsresort.com)
121 Duck Creek Ridge Road
Duck Creek Village, Utah 84762
435-682-2512
Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday

The Gonzo Inn (http://www.gonzoinn.com/index.htm)
100 W 200 S
Moab, UT 84532
435-259-2515
Wednesday & Thursday

San Juan Inn (http://www.sanjuaninn.net/)
Mexican Hat, UT
Friday

Best Western (www.bestwestern.com)
Kingman, AZ
Saturday
 
The Moab & Richfield reservations are all made and ready to go. The cancellation policy is by 6:00PM day of arrival, so I will just leave them in my name. Everyone can check in and provide their own credit card when we arrive.

At the Gonzo Inn, I have one suite for CAHIKR & AVKING, one suite for TEKSAVY & LOCKOUT and one suite for SOCALCINDY & WIND4POWER. I have one more room I will keep if someone else comes and needs it. The rooms are $285 for two nights, tax included.

At the Days Inn I have a room for each of us and the cost is $50 for the night.

We still need a hotel around Vegas and I am looking for suggestions. I would prefer something out of the city to make it an easy in and out. It also needs to allow Moose.

Thanks.
 
For the Vegas stopover, I think the In N Out Burger off Tropicana might just work.
086m.GIF

It is one block west of the interstate, has outside dining tables and is very visible. (It has a gigantic sign)
086s.GIF


BTW did you know that there is a secret In N Out Menu
http://www.zenlemur.com/innout.shtml

There are plenty of other food choices and gasoline stations in the vicinity. There are at least 3 gas stations (Chevron, Arco, Union), 4 fast food places (Burger King, Jack in the Box, Tacos, KFC), 2 supermarkets and about 6 casinos (Orleans, Trop, Excal, New York, MGM Luxor) within a mile radius.

Most of us should be able to make it to Vegas on one tank but if you need to gas up between Ontario and Vegas, I would avoid Baker at all cost. Barstow is a much better bet (and a lot cheaper). I usually stop at the Flying J off Lenwood Rd (South of Barstow). It is a large facility with plenty of clean restrooms and gas is very reasonable. http://www.flyingj.com/fuel/gasoline_CF.cfm
(Gas is quite a bit cheaper in Utah ;)
 
I only picked Baker because of distance. If Barstow is a better stop, then that works. I just wanted to give people time to get the morning coffee through the system. I don't think we will make it from Ontario to Vegas without a bathroom stop.
 
I got a reply from Jack (SnowFall) former SoCal'r who lives in Las Vegas now and he would like to meet us for lunch...
He had a couple suggestions... and here is one...
"Something combining some fun and reasonable time might be to get off on Sahara and go to the Main Street Station. It's not far off the highway and it's not involved in the traffic of the Strip. Count on a $4.99 lunch buffet!"

 
SoCalCindy said:
I got a reply from Jack (SnowFall) former SoCal'r who lives in Las Vegas now and he would like to meet us for lunch...
He had a couple suggestions... and here is one...Main Street Station. [/i]

That is one casino I have never been too. I think it is located downtown. Do you have any info on parking. It gets a bit tough down there and most of the downtown casinos have parking structures. Lifted AV's might have a hard time in some of them.
 
hq said:
That is one casino I have never been too. I think it is located downtown. Do you have any info on parking. It gets a bit tough down there and most of the downtown casinos have parking structures. Lifted AV's might have a hard time in some of them.
I can ask him... but your idea of In & Out is just fine with me. (y)
 
I have found a few activities in Moab I am considering. I will probably do just one of them, just have not decided which one yet.

4 Hour Hummer Tour for $89
http://www.highpointhummer.com/Highpoint/Moab/hummer/hummer.html

Half day Jetboat tour for $58
http://www.adrift.net/daily.html

Rent a modified Jeep for 4x4 or take a tour. I like this one. I may rent the jeep to do some more serious offroading than I am comfortable doing in the AV.
http://farabeeadventures.tripod.com/id21.htm

 
SoCalCindy said:
I can ask him... but your idea of In & Out is just fine with me. (y)

I think that will make a nice spot to meet (parking should not be an issue). Everyone has a choice of eats (several nice buffets in the area) and it can accomodate moose as well.
 
Sounds like a fantastic trip, and there is a very good chance you won't be visited by any cougars this time!

Sorry I can't make it.

Thanks for all you hard work, AvKing!

 
in Moab area, make sure to see dead horse point monument and also there is a great italian restaurant in the middle of town on the corner. They have a great antipasti salad. lots of fun places.

we go twice a year as we are only 3.5 hours away in SLC

Now that we just got a new WBH AV we will have to break it in!

=====

The Fu!
 
the_fu said:
in Moab area, make sure to see dead horse point monument and also there is a great italian restaurant in the middle of town on the corner. They have a great antipasti salad. lots of fun places.

we go twice a year as we are only 3.5 hours away in SLC

Now that we just got a new WBH AV we will have to break it in!

=====

The Fu!

Does this mean you will be joining us?
 
joehavasu said:
So where are we going to stop and eat in Vegas...?, :E:

My last suggestion was to depart from the In N Out on Industrial Road / Tropicana / I 15 in Vegas.

We have an estimated arrival time into Vegas at 10:15 - 10:30 am.

That location has a choice of several fast food or buffets + gas stations.

I would suggest that people can pick their choice of eating spots and gas station and meet back in the parking lot around noon for departure around 12:15 or so.

 
With the help of Brian & HQ, we have finished tweaking the plan. Changes as follows:

1. We are meeting at the In & Out off Tropicana in Las Vegas. Easy to get in and out of. Directions can be found further up this thread.

2. Changed the route home from Moab. We are now staying Friday in Mexican Hat. Driving the Monument Valley through AZ on Saturday and spending Saturday night in Kingman AZ.

All the details have been updated in the original post of this thread.

Is anyone going to meet us in Vegas? If we are not expecting you, we probably will not wait for you, so speak up here.

Is the Ontario Airport Marriott an ok meet location for the So Cal folks. It looked like a central location on the map. It is also where Ed & I are staying Friday night.

Anyone who wants to get a real early start has the chance. Brian is leaving around 2:00AM from So Cal and is going to be at Zion by 10:00AM. If you are interested, PM him directly.

I still have the following members listed as maybe. Can you update us on the odds you will make it. We are holding rooms for you, but need to cancel them soon. They are on my CC. Thanks

Ducksface
RIKrotorhead
DavesterD
Ghostwheel
Steelheadchaser
 
avking said:
With the help of Brian & HQ, we have finished tweaking the plan. Changes as follows:

1. We are meeting at the In & Out off Tropicana in Las Vegas. Easy to get in and out of. Directions can be found further up this thread.

2. Changed the route home from Moab. We are now staying Friday in Mexican Hat. Driving the Monument Valley through AZ on Saturday and spending Saturday night in Kingman AZ.

All the details have been updated in the original post of this thread.

Is anyone going to meet us in Vegas? If we are not expecting you, we probably will not wait for you, so speak up here.

You may want to post this on the other boards as well since some people may have gave up on this one because of the time or cost.

There is plenty of flexibility for folks to join us for a portion of this trip.

Any So Cal members want to cruise to Vegas? - Join us in Ontario Saturday AM.

Any Vegas or AZ members want to join us for a cruise up to Utah? Join us in Vegas Saturday Afternoon.

Any Utah members interested in joining us on Sun, Mon, Tues, etc?

We should also get a show of hands of those planning to leave with the group from Ontario. We have not made definite plans yet but we will either meet in Ontario or at the In N Out in Vegas at noon.
 
Started programming the route into the Pioneer GPS today. Looks like a total of 1,829 miles, not including any side trips, back and forth to hotels and parks, or offroading. I bet we are going to do well over 2,000 miles on this one.
 
Guys... I need to apologize to all of you... I regret to say that I can not make this GTG :C: I had a bit of an accident on Sunday (not in my Av) I was playing hockey, and took a cheap shot to the head by a forearm. I ended up with a hairline fracture in both my tailbone (I guess you could say I busted my a$$) and ankle, and a minor concussion. The worse part about it is I can't sit and I can't stand for any period of time.

I feel really bad about giving such short notice on this. Robert please let me know if I should cancel my room, or hold it a few days and hope someone else will be going so they can transfer it.
 
Lockout said:
Guys... I need to apologize to all of you... I regret to say that I can not make this GTG :C: I had a bit of an accident on Sunday (not in my Av) I was playing hockey, and took a cheap shot to the head by a forearm. I ended up with a hairline fracture in both my tailbone (I guess you could say I busted my a$$) and ankle, and a minor concussion. The worse part about it is I can't sit and I can't stand for any period of time.

I feel really bad about giving such short notice on this. Robert please let me know if I should cancel my room, or hold it a few days and hope someone else will be going so they can transfer it.

Sorry to hear it. Go ahead and cancel your room at Pinewoods right away. I will cancel the rooms in the other cities. To bad you can't make it. Get better and see you next time.
 
My wife works saturdays so we are going to see if we can hook up with you in Kingman after she get off work. We will not be able to leave Phoenix until about 4pm. Meeting you all there is a great reason for us to blast off to Kingman for a Saturday night Meet N Greet and then send you all off Sunday morning.

Heres to making the 18th happen for us!

T, D & TJ
 
Avking,
I have tried to come up with the time to go on this trip or to at least meet you all for a portion of it, but unfortunatly, I will be unable to make it at all. My job makes planning anything that I want to do a very shaky proposition.

Dave Dickison
 
amd1900mp said:
My wife works saturdays so we are going to see if we can hook up with you in Kingman after she get off work. We will not be able to leave Phoenix until about 4pm. Meeting you all there is a great reason for us to blast off to Kingman for a Saturday night Meet N Greet and then send you all off Sunday morning.

Heres to making the 18th happen for us!

T, D & TJ

Great. I will PM you my cell phone # so you can call when we get close.
 
Lockout said:
Guys... I need to apologize to all of you... I regret to say that I can not make this GTG :C: I had a bit of an accident on Sunday (not in my Av) I was playing hockey, and took a cheap shot to the head by a forearm. I ended up with a hairline fracture in both my tailbone (I guess you could say I busted my a$$) and ankle, and a minor concussion. The worse part about it is I can't sit and I can't stand for any period of time.

I feel really bad about giving such short notice on this. Robert please let me know if I should cancel my room, or hold it a few days and hope someone else will be going so they can transfer it.

Sorry to here about your accident. I know how tough hockey can be, having played a bit in my earlier years. Hope you get well soon, and we will see you at the next one.
 
amd1900mp said:
My wife works saturdays so we are going to see if we can hook up with you in Kingman after she get off work. We will not be able to leave Phoenix until about 4pm. Meeting you all there is a great reason for us to blast off to Kingman for a Saturday night Meet N Greet and then send you all off Sunday morning.

Heres to making the 18th happen for us!

T, D & TJ

Hope it works out for you. I was really looking forward to meeting some of our AZ. neighbors.
 
avking said:
Great. I will PM you my cell phone # so you can call when we get close.

Cool, looking forward to meeting you all. I have confimed everything with the Mrs and want to make reservations for the room in Kingman.
Which Best Western are you staying at?

Best Western A Wayfarer's Inn
928-753-6271 Toll Free: 1-800-548-5695
2815 East Andy Devine/Route 66
Kingman, AZ, 86401, USA

Best Western Kings Inn & Suites
928-753-6101 Fax: 928-753-6192
2930 East Andy Devine
Kingman, AZ, 86401, USA

I have talked to a few other azavs members and there is talk of a few others joining us for the Saturday short trek to Kingman to meet you.

Peace!
Todd
 
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