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Post by d on Apr 21, 2008 21:26:29 GMT -4
E Lansing is 2 hours closer to TC than Detroit. 3.5 vs 5.5 hours. But this is a train transfer. There also seems to be a several hour layover.
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Post by d on Apr 21, 2008 22:05:10 GMT -4
You can fly one way from Boston to Flint for $159. $311 round trip. Flint is just a 3 hour drive.
Train Worcester/Albany/Toledo/E Lansing $101 Leave 1:03 pm arrive 9:55 am. E Lansing 3.5 hour drive.
Train Worcester to Albany $18. $130 per car. 14 hour drive. About $50 each.
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Post by punkybruster on Apr 22, 2008 2:28:51 GMT -4
I guess before we proceed we need to know two things:
What is Pat Braasch's plan for the trip? How many people plan to come on the trip?
If Pat Braasch plans to attend and there are four or fewer other travelers, the best plan is to take the train to Albany and drive to Traverse City.
If Pat Braasch does not plan to attend, it makes sense to fly from Boston to Flint. The number of travelers makes no difference.
If the number of travelers exceeds Pat's driving capacity, then some (or all) people will need to travel by train to Michigan. The best route at that point seems to be to East Lansing.
Other possibilities include up to four people taking the train to Albany, and driving the rest of the way while others fly from Boston to Flint.
I think we can ask D to only make a maximum of one cross-Michigan trip. Everyone would need to be together, arrive at places close to each other at the same time, or have some people in travelling by their own car (as in the Pat Braasch scenario). I.E. a combination of Detroit and Flint pickups would only work if the Flint people could be picked up on the way to or home from Detroit.
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Post by boorules60 on Apr 22, 2008 13:00:59 GMT -4
The Official Proposal
This is the official proposal for the summer road trip to Michigan from May 18th to May 25th. Please let me know by next Sunday April 27th:
A) if you plan on attending and B) which of the following options for travel works best for you
If you do not respond by the 27th, you may still attend by you are completely on your own for arranging traveling, and your opinions will not be taken into consideration in our plans.
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There are several possible situations that I can see for methods of travel that I can see for part "B"
1) If you wish to attend Pat Braasch's graduation/party on May 17th you may do so and then Pat can take up to 3 other people in his car to Traverse City. This may involve an overnight depending on what time people feel like leaving Troy on the 18th. The arrival date would be sometime on the 19th. This party would then leave on the 24th in Pat's car OR Ben and Tim's car and return home on the 25th. This is the cheapest option ($130 round trip) but involves the most travel-hours.
2) If you wish to attend Pat Braasch's graduation/party on May 17th and Pat is unable to drive, then whoever attends would leave Troy on the 18th on the Albany train and arrive in East Lansing early on the 19th. This option would require that D pick people up at the train station there and get to TC via D's car. Because Ben and Tim will be driving back, we could bring whoever choses to the train station on the 24th to return home on the 25th. This option would be about $200 round trip.
3) If you do not wish to attend Braasch's graduation/party on May 17th but still prefer the train to driving, whoever choses this option may purchase tickets from the Worcester train station to arrive in East Lansing early on the 19th. The remainder of this scenario would follow that of option 2, at about $200 round trip.
4) If you do not wish to attend Braasch's graduation/party on May 17th but would prefer flying to the train or to driving, then you may fly from Boston to Flint on either the 18th or the 19th. You may have a bit of a layover and/or be required to wait for a while since D can only make one trip to get from Flint to TC. The remainder of this scenario would follow that of option 2 only it would require a trip to the airport rather than the train station. This option is the most expensive ($350 round trip) but requires the fewest travel hours.
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Again, please let me know if you plan on attending, and which of the 4 scenarios is most preferable to you. We will then work out the specifics of the trip and the timing of the car/train/plane trips when we get to it.
So for starters, I will be attending (A) and would prefer (1) if Pat can drive and (2) if he cannot.
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cyrus
Junior Member
Posts: 10
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Post by cyrus on Apr 22, 2008 15:45:38 GMT -4
I plan on attending my graduation. NSA still has not replied, although it should not make a difference ultimately. For now, plan on my being able to go. I will start to come up with contingency plans for what happens if I get an early date. Given that doesn't happen, I'd be happy to take my car.
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Post by punkybruster on Apr 22, 2008 16:40:37 GMT -4
I will be attending and I would prefer (1) if Pat can drive and (2) if he cannot.
We must consider the transportation from (and possibly to) the Albany-Rensselaer train station to Pat's apartment. Is there a shuttle bus if Pat is tied down with graduation obligations?
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cyrus
Junior Member
Posts: 10
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Post by cyrus on Apr 22, 2008 16:46:50 GMT -4
Depending on the number of you, I may be able to rope a family member into picking people up. There's no easy bus route.
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Post by pcups on Apr 22, 2008 20:29:02 GMT -4
Sorry Guys, It looks like I am out of this one. I've already got a got a job set up starting May 15th and I wouldn't want to jeopardize that. I also have to get every hour of work in because I am going to buy a new trumpet soon and if I will still wanna go on Jon's poorly planned rafting trip, it means more work! I wish I could go . But my official answer is: No
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Post by rabidrepublican1 on Apr 22, 2008 20:42:09 GMT -4
After a lengthy debate with my parents...the answer was hell no! Sorry! I wish I could come.
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cyrus
Junior Member
Posts: 10
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Post by cyrus on Apr 22, 2008 20:53:53 GMT -4
Although I am saddened by the above two negative responses, I have confirmed with my family that someone will be more than happy to pick people up at the train station on the day of my graduation party (in light of the fact that it would be weird for me to leave to do it.)
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Post by Jake P. on Apr 23, 2008 1:32:38 GMT -4
I plan on attending (A)[Provided I can get time off from work] and would prefer options (1) and (2). Options (3) and (4) are a bit on the pricey side.
Disclaimer: I retain the right NOT to attend because of any reason not specified above.
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Post by punkybruster on Apr 23, 2008 20:31:07 GMT -4
work?
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Post by pcups on Apr 24, 2008 11:23:39 GMT -4
lol
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Post by boorules60 on Apr 24, 2008 17:38:15 GMT -4
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Post by punkybruster on May 2, 2008 20:43:16 GMT -4
I went to research train tickets, but I observed the following statement:
On Sunday through Wednesday of each week* through June 18, Trains 448 and 449 will be canceled and motorcoach service will be provided between Boston South Station, Framingham, Worcester, Springfield, Pittsfield and Albany-Rensselaer.
So if you don't mind taking the bus they've scheduled, let's go with that.
Drive to Springfield: 2 hours 7 mins Bus from Springfield: 2:20 pm - 5:35 pm (3h 15m) Total Time: 5h 22m Price/ticket: $13
Drive to Worcester: 1 hour 14 mins Bus from Worcester: 1:03 pm - 5:35 pm (4h 32m) Total Time: 5hr 46m Price/ticket: $18
Drive to Framingham: 1 hour 21 mins Bus from Framingham: 12:33 pm - 5:35 pm (5h 2m) Total Time: 6hr 23m Price/ticket: $20
Drive to Boston South Station: 1 hour 19 mins Bus from Boston: 12noon - 5:35pm (5h 35m) Total Time: 6h 54m Price/ticket: $22
It appears to me that the last three options are basically the same driving time for the person who drops us off, but Worcester saves us a lot of time. Springfield saves us a little time, but doubles the time (a grueling 4 hrs) for the person dropping us off.
If the bus is detestable, there are train runs from massachusetts to albany, but they cost about $100.
My vote goes we get dropped off at Worcester and take the bus to albany-rensselaer.
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