Roadtrip to TBEX '09

On Twitter and here I've half jokingly throw out the idea of roadtripping to TBEX '09 from the general Seattle area as a means to save money. And then Kelly Goodman shot back an excellent idea!

What about throwing 3 or 4 travel bloggers in a car/truck (one would have to video as well) and live blog the whole way, each from his/her own perspective. Maybe pick up some others on the way. It'd be a good way to build up to the event and would be in the spirit of TBEX!

Loose estimate depending on which vehicle we drive would be something like 3,500 miles round trip which would be close to $140/per person for fuel. Maybe take 4 days, 3 if pushed, 5 if we have time. See some sites, have some fun, live life!

I'm not sure what my schedule is like for summer right now, but I'm 70% in. Who else would consider it?? I'd suggest getting a soap company to sponsor us.

Tags: '09, TBEX, roadtrip

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Permalink Reply by Kim Mance, Founder of TBEX on February 25, 2009 at 6:58am

OMG, now I wish I lived in Seattle instead of Chicago so I could join you...awesome idea!

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Permalink Reply by Alex Berger on February 25, 2009 at 10:39am

Damn! That sounds awesome. I really wish I was able to make it....and not down in Scottsdale, AZ lol!

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Permalink Reply by Peter West Carey on February 25, 2009 at 2:43pm

Alex, I'd come down to pick you up, but after looking at the mileage to get to Overland Expo in Prescott, AZ in April, I realized it's just as far to drive down there as it is to drive to Chicago!

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Permalink Reply by Kara Williams on February 25, 2009 at 11:02am

This is BRILLIANT! I hope it happens. Would love to follow you guys!

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Permalink Reply by Laura E. Lincks on February 25, 2009 at 11:24am

I'm with Kim! I wish I were a left-coaster so I could join you! Sounds like a great idea!

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Permalink Reply by Nerd's Eye View on February 25, 2009 at 8:05pm

THAT sounds super fun. I have to be in Chicago a few days earlier, but maybe I can find a way to join on the drive home? I'm a sturdy camper and have a clean driving record. :)

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Permalink Reply by Kelly Goodman on February 26, 2009 at 10:49am

At first I thought you were nuts for wanting to do a road trip of epic proportions, but after some thought I think it's really a stellar idea. I might be up for a road trip (although, Austin probably couldn't swing that much time away from the day job.) I'd love to do the cross country drive again, in SUMMER without almost drifting off into a snow drift on the side of the road in Wyoming and see a little more than Walmarts and cows.

Hey, these guys got Alka Selzer to sponsor them on a roadtrip to drive around the country, eat, and make silly videos about it. It can't be that difficult. I vote for a VW bus.

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Permalink Reply by Peter West Carey on February 26, 2009 at 5:13pm

Another thought to make it more 'live'; I use a GPS tracking device from SPOT (http://findmespot.com) and in the past it's worked great from Oregon to Nepal to Peru. It sends off an email to a predefined list, which for me also includes Ping.fm. My Ping.fm email account then fires off the message to anything, in my case, Facebook and Twitter. So with one press of a button on the device, my location (complete with link to a Google Map) can be tweeted from just about anywhere, and certainly from 100% of the lower 48.

Plus there is also a tracking feature with Google Map where it'll plot your location every 10 minutes and display it here. There isn't anything on that page because it just shows the last 7 days worth. While I trekked in Nepal, my family (especially 7 year old daughter) liked checking in. I'm sure it could be useful somehow.

Any way, that's my rant for the moment.

Kelly. A bus would be cool, but we DO want to make it there. ;) I've got a Suburban that seats 8. That'd bring down the cost to $80 a person roundtrip! :)

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Permalink Reply by Peter West Carey on February 27, 2009 at 3:06pm

And the roadtrip is 90% ON!! Just got done negotiating summer plans and I have plenty of time before TBEX to get there. I will most likely be picking up my 7 year old daughter in Chicago for the return trip, leaving on the 28-30th. Not sure on that aspect as we might come back through Canada. For those not wanting to take the leisurely route back, one way tickets on the 29th of July ORD-SEA are only $125 on JetBlue right now. That's cheaper than driving and far less bugs! PS, my daughter is the most awesomest roadtripper with about 15,000 miles under her belt and a fun kid to boot!

I'm going to start another thread on things to do and see along the way. Linda (minnemom here and on twitter) offered up accommodations in Minnesota and pointed out the Largest Ball Of Twine In Minnesota is nearby as well as the SPAM Museum. And if you've never heard the Weird Al song 'The Biggest Ball of Twine In Minnesota' which chronicles a family's roadtrip to visit this mecca of string.....our roadtrip will be EXACTLY like that! Don't suggest attractions or accommodations here, I'll start another thread.

Kim and Maren are also looking into sponsorship for the trip but you have to be willing to do some video taping, shower or no shower.

Tentative leave date would be the 18th or 19th of July but is negotiable.

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Permalink Reply by Peter West Carey on March 23, 2009 at 12:24am

Things are starting to shape up. I have my schedule a bit more in place and if anyone would like to join me, I'd love the company. Looking today, a one way flight home from ORD-SEA on the 27th of July is all of $118.

Kim has mentioned a possible stop in Vail Pass, CO so we might head that way. It's still up in the air. And if someone needs to get to BlogHer, we can step things up a bit. I'm thinking of taking advantage of recently signing up with Couchsurfing.com as a means to keep costs low, low, low. Or camping.

And to get myself back in the roadtrip fever, I'm heading down to San Francisco on Wednesday from Seattle to deliver a car. I'll be in town thursday night and leave Saturday morning. I love being on the open road!

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Permalink Reply by Nerd's Eye View on March 24, 2009 at 9:20am

Peter, I'm 90% sure I'm in. Really.

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Permalink Reply by Nellie on March 25, 2009 at 1:10am

Damn I dig roadtrips. Too bad I'm at the other end of the world. From Asia to Chicago- that's lk 20hrs of flight. Oh bt I'll be in Cali this summer! let's see if i get the time! it'll be nice to meet all of u :)