Midwest Meetup!

[Lube]

Well I'll definitely be at the meet, as my bf and I will be hosting an evening get-together Friday or Saturday!

Kevbo, whether I make Eau Claire or not on Thursday depends on my job. I'll try hard to make it!

 

[Lawnmowerman]

Unfortunately, the money I was counting on for the meet will not be in place prior to it, and I have other bills that need to be taken care of before something like this .

I was really looking forward to my bf and I coming to the meet, but I guess it'll have to be the next one.

 

[kevbo]

Well, if I win the lottery before the meet, I'll pay for all of y'alls way up here...

 

[frankfrank]

Although my Partner and I have HUGE commitments we should attend to this summer back in the Upper Peninsula, we've now made the decision that a (potential) career for me is more important.

So at this point, I don't see us making the meetup.

I was really looking forward to my bf and I coming to the meet, but I guess it'll have to be the next one.

Where's the "pulling-one's-hair-out" smiley, now that I need it?

Darn, two of the people I was really looking forward to meeting (no, I mean 3 or possibly 4 - as meeting the mates would have been just as much a treat as well, even though they may not be in JUB). Fortunately there are still many others coming.

Yooper, I'll send you a PM. (Now, what you DO with the Prime Minister is entirely up to YOU, lol.)

I think it will be a great meet, and especially for those who may be within a few hours of driving, please consider going. Chances to get to a JUB meet may be rare, and they're a lot of fun!

And, no, being around a lot of like-minded guys doesn't mean that things turn into lots of sex and orgies. If that's what JUB meets were all about, I wouldn't be making much effort at all to get to them.

 

[swerve]

Kevbo, whether I make Eau Claire or not on Thursday depends on my job. I'll try hard to make it!

I'm SURE that KEVBO will MAKE SURE that you DON'T have to be worrying about going to work on Friday...





p.s. YAY -- Transpogue is BACK!!!

 

[NineOfClubs]

Sadly, I won't be in Minneapolis.

Unexpected expenses and a surprising income tax situation rule out a trip east.

I'm hoping to hear all about the Meet, which I'm sure will be too much fun.

 

[LilBit]

I haven't reserved my hotel room yet. If most of you are staying in the same hotel, then I'll probably try to get a room at that hotel or one nearby. Who's already booked their rooms, and where are you staying?

And in case it turns out that everyone's spread out around the city, does anyone have suggestions as to hotels?

Also, I'll probably be flying in on Thursday and leaving Monday afternoon/evening, so if anyone's in town those days, let me know, and we could hang out.

 

[hungrybrownbear]

*Sigh*

I can't make it either

 

[ChickenGuy]

I'm sad that NineOfClubs and hungrybrownbear aren't going to be there.

I haven't reserved my hotel room yet. If most of you are staying in the same hotel, then I'll probably try to get a room at that hotel or one nearby. Who's already booked their rooms, and where are you staying?

We're not all going to be staying at the same place?

I had thought that once the number of people was confirmed, that kevbo or darkflower would be booking a large hotel for us, which we would then all pay for.

Erm, should I book my stay somewhere in Minneapolis by myself?

And will I be arranging my own transport to and from the places we're visiting?

I was imagining a 'tour group' scenario, where stuff was arranged for us.

Also, while I'm here, do any of you know the best way to get from Duluth to Eau Claire? Bus or train? Can you give me a name or website of a bus/train company to check times of arrival/departure?

I'll need to do the same for going from Minneapolis back to Duluth as well.

Any chance of an hour-by-hour itinerary for the weekend?

Thanks for clearing all this up for me.



P.S. At what point should I begin to worry about volcanic ash clouds?

Seriously, I'm supposed to fly out in just over a week's time, and this thing is still causing flight chaos over here. And I have four flights to catch in a four-day period, three of them originating in Britain.

Better wish me luck.

*crosses fingers*

 

[omminc]

Also, while I'm here, do any of you know the best way to get from Duluth to Eau Claire? Bus or train? Can you give me a name or website of a bus/train company to check times of arrival/departure?

I'll need to do the same for going from Minneapolis back to Duluth as well.
*

The best way is Greyhound/Jefferson Bus Lines. Both are bus services. Jefferson is cheaper, and to be honest, a lot more comfortable. Both can be accessed from here for booking, but for cheaper Jefferson tickets you have to go here.

There are no trains that stop in Eau Claire that are passenger trains.

 

[kevbo]

ChickenGuy, I don't think there are enough people getting rooms to warrant a group rate, so it's pretty much a free for all when it comes to booking a hotel.

As for transport, public transportation will suffice, I'm sure.

The best method for traveling between cities will probably be by bus. Greyhound is usually pretty reliable. - http://www.greyhound.com

And we don't really have an hour-by-hour itinerary, I think we've left the weekend pretty open ended. I like it this way because it allows us to focus more on getting to know each other and having fun with one another instead of thinking about what we're gonna do next.

 

[kevbo]

i really doubt you'll be by yourself in minneapolis that much... we do have stuff planned, and we'll be together. Just what we'll be doing together isn't set in stone.

As for the bus times, yeah, that's the downside of ground travel over here. Takes FOR-EV-ER.

 

[Lube]

Wow, ChickenGuy, hope that volcano thing clears up soon!

Too bad hungrybrownbear nineofclubs can't make it. Looking forward to LilBit!

 

[ChickenGuy]

From the info that JUbbers gave me on an HT thread, it seems that from the moment I leave home, it won't be possible for me to access JUB for the entire duration I'm away. So, I've got only three days left before I'll be unable to come onto this site, and unable to PM any of you or anything.

I wasn't anticipating this problem to arise at all. I thought I'd be able to post on this thread with my updates at some public place or somewhere. It now looks like I can't.

In light of this, I've got a couple of URGENT points that I hope you can help me with.

Erm, I know this is unusual, but I never usually use a cellphone. My dad insists that I take one along with me, which I will try to get my head round. I don't even know if it'll work in the U.S. In case I happen to get lost, or if I have any emergencies or travel problems, I was wondering if it would be OK for me to get a contact number for one of you. It would really help me to be able to speak to one of you if things go pear-shaped.

Also, can any of you tell me which hotel that you'll be staying at? I haven't booked mine yet, and it would be easier for me if I was staying at a place with other JUBbers. This meet will be a bit more difficult and stressful for me, because I'll be in a foreign country, and I'm really not used to things like this. It's not vitally important, of course, but it would just make things a bit more relaxed for me.

Thanks for any responses, guys, and sorry for being a nuisance.

 

[Lube]

I'll send you a pm with my contact info!

 

[frankfrank]

It's getting closer, and I continue to look forward to it!

As is often true, I'm hoping to turn this into part of a much larger trip.

As usual, I'm open to either sleeping on my own ("for free" - no room, comfortable van), or staying at a hotel IF sharing a room. If anybody is interested in splitting costs Fiday and Saturday nights, let me know.

I don't know if I'll manage to get to Eau Claire beforehand or not.

 

[unloadonme]

Erm, I know this is unusual, but I never usually use a cellphone. My dad insists that I take one along with me, which I will try to get my head round. I don't even know if it'll work in the U.S. |

You can't assume your mobile will work in the US, so check with your network provider before you leave to make sure. This is the link for Orange, the others will have something similar:

http://www2.orange.co.uk/servlet/Satellite?c=OUKPage&cid=1126544423015&pagename=PersonalIR

I'm sure the locals will look after you and you'll have a whale of a time.

 

[ChickenGuy]

Guys, thanks so much for all the replies - I've now got six numbers already, and that's fine - if anything happens, I'll just call International JUB Rescue!

Onto the hotels, and I was looking at all of them by highlighting them on Google Earth. There's hundreds! How to choose!

I've identified three basic areas that they're generally clustered around....

1. Central Minneapolis
2. Central St. Paul
3. Airport/MotA area

Which area should I choose? Any that is quicker for travel to/from our activities?

Then, I'll check out prices for them, and book one.

Thanks once again! I leave home on Tuesday morning!

Best cross your fingers for my flights! And keep that volcano simmered down for me!

 

[swerve]

DEFINITELY Central Minneapolis!!!



Let us know WHICH Hotel you choose -- and MAYBE that will become the CENTRAL HOTEL!!!

St. Paul is a LITTLE TOO FAR East of Minneapolis -- and the airport is WAY TOO SOUTH!!!

Good luck on your volcanic flight!!!



p.s. if any of the meet organizers disagree with me -- I defer to them...

 

[swerve]

As usual, I'm open to either sleeping on my own ("for free" - no room, comfortable van), or staying at a hotel IF sharing a room. If anybody is interested in splitting costs Fiday and Saturday nights, let me know.

Why don't you and Andrew share a room???

It would save money for BOTH of you -- AND reduce HIS stress of figuring out transportation in a foreign land!!!