20th Anniversary of the Iowa Rally....

[jaybgood]

Did he make it and Rally length of celebration

Ugg,
Mike VanBuskirk was the driver. He works for VPW and this was a rare occacssion as the VPW crew are usually busy making us all happy keeping things running somewhat smooth during the Rally. Unfortunately he could not make it over the crest of the hill with all 4 wheels

Clint ,
You say they may make the event ONLY two weeks!!!!
I'm believe I'm already booked at Mike and Bonnies for at least the usual four weeks I like to spend with the VPW crew. Oh well Fairfield and the local towns have alot to offer and have always made me feel very welcome.

[pieter]

the rally's in June right?

You don't need to remind me... :)

[Clint Dixon]

Clint ,
You say they may make the event ONLY two weeks!!!!
I'm believe I'm already booked at Mike and Bonnies for at least the usual four weeks I like to spend with the VPW crew. Oh well Fairfield and the local towns have alot to offer and have always made me feel very welcome.

Jay, if you spent any more time there, they would have to appoint you to a seat on the board of directors! :p

[74w300uteline]

any railroad men out there? Iowa locals?

Drove to VT and WVA ralleys and had a blast. Iowa is a bit far, my copilot Molly (11) has suggested that we take an "old fashioned" train with a sleeper compartment to Iowa. Do these trains still exist or do we just sleep in our seats?Are there any theme hotels there ;wild west, pioneer, frontier type, that kids from the NY metro area would enjoy.

[Gordon Maney]

Drove to VT and WVA ralleys and had a blast. Iowa is a bit far, my copilot Molly (11) has suggested that we take an "old fashioned" train with a sleeper compartment to Iowa. Do these trains still exist or do we just sleep in our seats?Are there any theme hotels there ;wild west, pioneer, frontier type, that kids from the NY metro area would enjoy.

I am unsure, but let me try to find out....

[Clint Dixon]

Drove to VT and WVA ralleys and had a blast. Iowa is a bit far, my copilot Molly (11) has suggested that we take an "old fashioned" train with a sleeper compartment to Iowa. Do these trains still exist or do we just sleep in our seats?Are there any theme hotels there ;wild west, pioneer, frontier type, that kids from the NY metro area would enjoy.

I am not sure of the sleeping arrangements, but Amtrak stops at a town not far from Fairfield. I will alert Todd Somers who should have the information for you. Also, this is not exactly a theme hotel, but there is the Midwest Old Threshers Museum in Mt. Pleasant, only about 25 miles from Fairfield. This is a big draw even for those of us living here in the Midwest.

[Gordon Maney]

I am not sure of the sleeping arrangements, but Amtrak stops at a town not far from Fairfield. I will alert Todd Somers who should have the information for you. Also, this is not exactly a theme hotel, but there is the Midwest Old Threshers Museum in Mt. Pleasant, only about 25 miles from Fairfield. This is a big draw even for those of us living here in the Midwest.

Thank you, Clint....

[Jeff in N.Tx.]

Get on the Amtrak website, and check out their routes and schedules. I ride Amtrak across country once or twice a year, just for fun. You will likely have to go to Chicago and change trains there. not sure how close to Fairfield you can get, but, I was thinking one of the trains either goes through there, or a town not too far from there.
The schedules mean very little when it comes to arrival times. If you have to change trains, give yourself an 8 - 12 hour layover window to be safe.
Accomodations vary from train to train. Most long distance trains will have sleeper cars. They have a family bedroom that will sleep about 6, I think. With the sleeper reservations, all your meals are included, and the food is good, You have access to the shower in your sleeper car, and there are restrooms in the sleeper that are much cleaner than in the coach. THe bedrooms have seating that folds down at night into real beds, althought the beds are a little narrow. THe dining car attendant will come through the sleeper and take your reservation for seating in the diner in the evening. During the day, you may want to spread out by walking to the lounge car with the big windows.
Riding coach is about like riding and trying to sleep on a Grayhound bus, except you can walk to the lounge car for scenery viewing, movies, and food. If you go coach, take a LOT of money for food. The food is very pricey.
Personally, If I am on Amtrak overnight, I will not go coach. The upgrade to sleeper is well worth the cost.
If you are getting a rent car, or taxi at the end of your trip, remember to keep the folks updated on your arrival, as you may be on time, or you may be 5 or 6 hours late. you never know. Cell phones come in handy here.
All in all, a train trip is a lot of fun, relaxing, and fun, if you plan ahead for possible schedule delays.
Jeff

[Jill Stearnes]

If you take Amtrak out of Chicago, you need to get on the California Zephyr. It goes into Fairfield, but does not stop. I take this train to my brothers in Omaha, NE. I catch it out of Galesburg, IL. The train stops in Burlington, and Mt. Pleasant, IA. Mt. Pleasant is the closest.

You will need to probalby schedule someone to come and pick you up. The last town I think you actually leave from someones house. LOL just joking but that is what it looks like. No car rentals.

This route does have sleeper cars. It leaves out of Chicago around 2:00. The schdule says you would be in Ottumwa at 7:00. But again, don't count on the schedules be correct. What I have found out is that it is usually on time going from Chicago - Omaha, but never coming back.

Good luck!!

Jill

[Ugg013]

Hi:

Here's a thought too. Maybe we set up a ride board, and maybe convoys. It's always good to have another vehicle travelin with ya, and like if someone wants to go without a vehicle, they can get to a given place and hitch a ride???? Just a thought.

Later
Ugg

[74w300uteline]

adventure in a journey?

Thanks to all for your feedback.Seems like Molly's idea is turning out to be a winner.We will allow extra time as suggested for our trip ,a day or two of missed school is nothing compared to the experience of getting away from NYC. As with our other Power Wagon rally adventures the copilot gets valuable geography lessons, math lessons, calculate mileage and estimate time/speed, read and FOLD maps.Exposing kids to rural America and less "metropolitan materialistic" values is an investment in their future.The questions/ comments generated during these trips range from "I thought America was overpopulated?" to, Why are there more stars out here?The caliber of the people involved in this hobby/ obsession are the good examples I want my kids to see. Special thanks to Ken See VT. and Dave Horvath W VA.
See yall in Iowa
Andrew "wish I wuz a country boy" Connelly

[Longhunter7]

Convoy and Ride Board

Ugg,

I like the idea of the convoy and ride board idea! I am planning on making it, if the Lord is willing and the creeks don't rise!

I need to rent/borrow a trailer and schedule the time off.

Is there a place to get motel and campground information?

[Gordon Maney]

What is a ride board? If it is a forum, then..... we have one right here. I set up this Iowa rally forum for that purpose.

[Jeff in N.Tx.]

I would probably get off the train in Ottumwa if I were planning to ride Amtrak to the rally from your location. Plenty of rent cars available there, as well as motels if you need one. Plus, Fairfield is only about a 30 or 40 minute drive from Ottumwa.
Jeff

[Longhunter7]

Ride Board?

Gordon,

I assumed that you would have a place on the Forum, just for this purpose.

It is good that there is this much interest, this early!