Possible Itineraries

[nikimcbee]

maybe when we get a solid number, we could do a bulk reservation on priceline or something like that?

[nikimcbee]

@ August, What is there to se at the Bunker Hill Battlefield? Is it big? I might to that on an extra day(?) How easy is it to get around between New Haven and Boston? Meaning, what's the traffic like, travel times?

[August]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

@ August, What is there to se at the Bunker Hill Battlefield?

The monument is pretty much all there is to see there. Sadly the battlefield itself has been long since turned into neighborhoods.

Is it big?

The Bunker Hill Monument, made entirely of granite taken from a quarry in Quincy, MA, stands 221 feet tall and has 294 steps.

I might to that on an extra day(?) How easy is it to get around between New Haven and Boston? Meaning, what's the traffic like, travel times?

I'd say that you could see all there is to see at the site in an hour or so. Getting from New Haven to Boston though is at least a 2+ hour trip and that's on the weekend. Add weekday traffic into the mix and you'll be spending your whole day in the car.

But if we're staying in Boston Thursday night like I expect we will, it'll be a very quick and easy side trip.

[August]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

maybe when we get a solid number, we could do a bulk reservation on priceline or something like that?

That's what I was thinking too.

[Subnuts]

I've thought about the Albacore a little bit, and I'm thinking that it should probably be dropped from the itinerary altogether. I can see getting excited about touring the Nautilus, Constitution, Massachusetts, Hiddensee or doing that nuke boat tour that Neal has on his "want list." But creating a great big transportation problem, and cramming a four or five hour side-trip to New Hampshire to see the world's first entirely round submarine, seems like an unnecessary hassle to an itinerary that's already overjammed. I wouldn't hesitate to visit the Albacore if I was in the neighborhood, but I can see why most of the Subsim crowd would be perfectly happy with the "big three" stops.

Perhaps this whole thing wouldn't feel like a giant military operation if I'd stop using the 24-hour clock if my ideas.

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by Subnuts

I've thought about the Albacore a little bit, and I'm thinking that it should probably be dropped from the itinerary altogether. I can see getting excited about touring the Nautilus, Constitution, Massachusetts, Hiddensee or doing that nuke boat tour that Neal has on his "want list." But creating a great big transportation problem, and cramming a four or five hour side-trip to New Hampshire to see the world's first entirely round submarine, seems like an unnecessary hassle to an itinerary that's already overjammed. I wouldn't hesitate to visit the Albacore if I was in the neighborhood, but I can see why most of the Subsim crowd would be perfectly happy with the "big three" stops.

Perhaps this whole thing wouldn't feel like a giant military operation if I'd stop using the 24-hour clock if my ideas.

roger that! I forget how much time we spent at the Texas. I think we should keep the list simple, for the sanity of the hosts. Plus, you'd be surprised how much time we spend just "socializing".

[August]

The Albacore is doable depending on when you make the run up there. On the weekend it is only about an hour away from Boston, on a weekday however you're talking 2+ hours each way.

[Subnuts]

Originally Posted by August

The Albacore is doable depending on when you make the run up there. On the weekend it is only about an hour away from Boston, on a weekday however you're talking 2+ hours each way.

The way I'm thinking, there are still a few ways the Albacore might be doable as a side trip, like U-995 was in 2009:
1. Anyone not interested in sightseeing in Boston on Sunday could take a side-trip to Portsmouth. This isn't a problem if we do a five-day meet, but there's still a three hour trip back to New London if it's four days.
2. If we do a 5-day meet, which begins and ends in Boston, we could take a trip to Portsmouth early on Monday morning. Big problem here might be the how much energy and enthusiasm we have left (I'm probably underestimating everyone here, though!), and the amount of traffic.
3. Anyone who arrives a day early could take a trip to Portsmouth if they want.
4. We could skip the Salem altogether, and free up a few hours, seeing as every proposed itinerary already includes two destroyers, two submarines, two PT boats, a battleship, an 18th century frigate, and three museums already. We're all serious naval buffs here, but I seriously wonder how many old warships we can ogle in four or five days!

My internet access will be a little limited these next few days, but I'll try to keep up to date with the latest developments.

[August]

Originally Posted by Subnuts

2. If we do a 5-day meet, which begins and ends in Boston, we could take a trip to Portsmouth early on Monday morning. Big problem here might be the how much energy and enthusiasm we have left (I'm probably underestimating everyone here, though!), and the amount of traffic.

Week day Boston area traffic is infamous, especially around commute times (07:30-09:30 / 15:00-19:00). The best time to go up there would be on a weekend day.