2-Day Fall Cruise October 17-18, 2009

ViperJohn

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VIRGINIA-MARYLAND REGION

2008 Fall Cruise October 17-18, 2009

The VA-MD VCA Fall Cruise will be held Saturday-Sunday, October 17-18. Join us for a two-day tour over some great roads and through some very scenic countryside. If you have a garage queen and you don’t like to put any miles on it, this excursion is not for you. We’ll be driving about 250 miles each day, and nearly all those miles will be on quality two-lane roads with a high “fun-to-drive” quotient. Our route will be similar to the route we took last year, with some variations. Everyone who participated in this event last year loved the roads and had a great time.

On the first day we will cover about 280 miles. Our route will take us in a southwest direction along the Appalachian Mountains. We have 4 different pit stops planned for refueling and restroom intermissions. We will be traveling along the Virginia/West Virginia border throughout the day. Day one will conclude at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Staunton, Virginia around 5:00 PM.

The Hotel Information is as follows:

Hampton Inn Waynesboro/ Stuarts Draft
15 Four Square Lane
Fishersville, VA 22939
(540) 213-9500
(800) 932-9061

The room rate is $159.00 per night. I have reserved 7 rooms, 8 King/2 Double. Please call the Hotel and make your reservations for Saturday September 26th. Please mention that the room is for the Viper Club to get the discounted rate. Here is a link to the hotel:



http://www.hamptoninn.com/en/hp/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=WYBSDHX


On the second day we will cover about 230 miles and we will leave the hotel at 9:00 AM. On this day we will travel northwest from Staunton to Thornwood, WV. We will then take a Northeast route into Strasburg, Virginia. The cruise will end there around 3:00 PM allowing everyone enough time to get back home.

If you do not want to participate on both days, you don't have to. You are welcome to come along for as much of the cruise as you wish. We have had attendees only participate on one day or even as little as part of the day in the past.

If you wish to participate in the Cruise, please let me know as soon as possible. You will need to make the room reservation before October 14th. After October 14th, any remaining rooms we have not booked will be released and will only be available on a first come-first serve basis. Hotel has 72-hour cancellation policy which also happens to be October 14th.
VIRGINIA-MARYLAND REGION

Fall Cruise Event Schedule

October 17-18, 2009


Official starting point will be the Shoney's Restaurant at 1359 Berryville Avenue in Winchester, VA (directions below). Plan on meeting at 8:30 AM, we will have breakfast, discuss itinerary and hand out maps. My recommended place to stay in Winchester Friday night is the Hampton Inn North, at 1204 Berryville Avenue (540-678-4000). There are two Hampton Inns in Winchester; the other one (which you don't want) is at the Apple Blossom Mall. If you cannot find a room around Winchester, please let me know. You could also stay in Frederick, MD and cruise in to Winchester with fellow Maryland members.

We will depart the Shoney's Restaurant promptly at 9:45 am. Please be sure your tank is full. We've got 255 miles to cover Saturday, with lunch scheduled around 12:30 in Harrisonburg, VA. If you gas up in Harrisonburg, you should not need to refuel until we get to Staunton. We should arrive at the Holiday Inn in Staunton around 5:00 pm. Our excursion Saturday will take us from Winchester through Wardensville WV, Baker WV, Broadway VA, Harrisonburg VA, Franklin WV, Monterey VA, Warm Springs VA and Staunton VA. I'm not sure yet where we're going to eat Saturday night; I'm working on finding a place.

Sunday morning we'll leave Staunton at 9:00 am (breakfast in the Holiday Inn dining room). The early morning departure is so that we can take on the mountain roads of US-250 with minimal traffic. Our route Sunday will cover about 210 miles and will take us from Staunton through Monterey VA, Thornwood WV, Judy Gap WV, Seneca Rocks WV, Petersburg WV, Moorefield WV, Wardensville WV and wind up in Strasburg VA around 3:00 pm. Lunch is scheduled in Petersburg WV. Those of you heading west will probably want to turn off at either Seneca Rocks or Petersburg.

Those of you who traveled with us in the past will remember the fun we had on Route 55 in eastern WV (the expressway in the middle of nowhere). I've planned this trip so that we can enjoy this road on both Saturday and Sunday. We will also include a short blast on Old Route 55. Our route Sunday is exactly the same as last year. Saturday's trip will take us on some different roads, however, and we'll tackle twisty US-33 between Harrisonburg and Franklin. (Hopefully the other traffic will cooperate.)

Directions to Shoney's Restaurant in Winchester, VA:

From the north via I-81, take exit 315. At the exit, you want to turn right onto Route 7 West toward the town of Winchester. Shoney's will be on your left immediately after you turn onto Route 7.
If you're coming on I-81 from the south, you will see Shoney's on the left side off I-81 just before you exit the interstate. On the exit ramp, stay to the right to take you onto Route 7 West. Once you cross over I-81, you will see Shoney's on the left.
If you're coming from Leesburg, Berryville or points east on Route 7, when you cross over I-81, you will see Shoney's on the left.

PM me if you have any questions.
 
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ViperJohn

ViperJohn

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All non-smoking rooms have been spoken for. There are still some smoking rooms available. Pleaase contact me for additional information.
 

jdeft1

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I sure hope the route stays a long way away from Waynesboro, VA! I swore I'd never set tires in that speed-trap again... But I'm not bitter...







OK, maybe I am bitter.... :lmao::lmao:
 
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ViperJohn

ViperJohn

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I sure hope the route stays a long way away from Waynesboro, VA! I swore I'd never set tires in that speed-trap again... But I'm not bitter...







OK, maybe I am bitter.... :lmao::lmao:

Fishersville, where the overnight hotel is near Staunton is near Waynesboro, but that's only for lodging, the cruising will be no where near it.
 
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ViperJohn

ViperJohn

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We have decided to move this event to Monday/Tuesday due to rain forecast and slight chance of snow. Since the cruise takes place up in the mountain, the chance for some snow is even greater. I can remember a few years back when we did this cruise, there was actually snow on the ground up in some of the mountains, but not on the road thank god. Most who had booked this weekend were able to play hookey and do Monday/Tuesday. Weather is suppose to be beautiful.
 

jdeft1

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Oh well, maybe next year...
Why do I bother?....
 
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jdeft1

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Perfect weather for a long cruise! I bet you guys are melting some pavement today!... Glad I could make it out for day 1 but it's back to the grindstone for me.
 

SRT Venom

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I just want to say thanks to John for organizing and leading a great Fall Cruise. The route was terrific through some of the most beautiful mountain roads in this country, the leaves were in color, and the weather perfect.
 
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ViperJohn

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Glad you guys enjoyed it. I am just thankful after all the weather postponements, we were finally able to make this event happen. Weekday traffic made this event even nicer. I plan on sending out an email to the regulars to see if we can perhaps move this to weekdays next year.
 

jdeft1

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Weekday traffic made this event even nicer. I plan on sending out an email to the regulars to see if we can perhaps move this to weekdays next year.

I certainly Agree! I can often be found in my old viper on Thursdays... with light traffic, on country roads.
 

jdeft1

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Small group but a fun day.

You must be registered for see images attach
 
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