There have been topics posted about a "super-meet" and whatnot. Blah, blah, blah... What about a meet designed to cater just to meet people from the UMW from states that don't always make it to Chicago or Milwaukee? I don't mean to shove Michigan out of the picture here, as MI people are certainly welcome. But to have a meet in a location that would be nearly equidistant from several major cities within an hour of total drive time of each other to the destination would make for a pretty good meet I think.

States that I think should have focus here are Minnesota and Iowa. Wisconsin and Illinois would make it four states, and if anyone from Michigan chose to make the drive, that would make it a five-state representation from the UMW, which would make a pretty cool dynamic to the meet.

I don't know of any good places just west of the Mississippi river (perhaps someone could help out here), but Wyalusing State Park in Wisconsin, to me would be an Ideal location. It's going to be a haul for everyone (about 3-4 hours one way) from Minneapolis/St Paul, Milwaukee, Chicago, Des Moines, and Appleton....Madison would get a break.

The scenery is great as the park sits right at the top of a bluff looking over the convergence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers. It's just south of Prairie Du Chine. That is about 30 miles south of the Minnesota border, just east of the Iowa border, about 30 miles north of the Illinois border. There is camping at the park and hotels in the city for those who may wish to spend the night.

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/parks/...sing/album.html

This is just an exploratory thread. If this seems viable (people willing to NOT be a hobbit, and explore the great beyond outside city limits with their cars, and ride in them for hours to say hi), then I would move forward to the next step.

Please let me know what your thoughts are on this positive or negative. If anyone has an alternate location, please post it up and a link. BUT you must keep in mind that the location must be fairly equidistant to a good number of major cities from the focus states. Yes, I'm aware that the distance is already stretching it pretty far. But it allows for a large swath of land to be covered.

Mountain-man.

 

Paul i think this is a great idea. My only suggestion is that you pick a day and go with it. Summer schedules are filling up pretty fast. For something of this size people need time to request timeoff/plan to the chosen date. The location and surrounding locations of WI are perfect i think as far as scenery , space to park , and over all comfort of area..

Also for a 3-4 drive will this be a weekend event?

 

We could make it a Sat/Sun two day event...

Picking a day/weekend is kind of tough, but it would likely be in August. I would have to plan around the Fresh-Water tour that Aquatic is planning. Otherwise, I could make it early September. We could narrow it down from there.

Remember, this is an exploratory thread.

If it seems viable, then I will post up a new thread.

 

We need some input from Iowa and Minnesota owners!

 

So I'm to take this lack of interest as a total lack of interest and scrap the idea altogether? Or be a rebel and post it up anyway?

 

Sounds like a good idea to me!

 

I'm planing on early September, and to have this as a two day Sat/Sun meet for convenience. I may also try to get in touch with some vendors for possible raffle stuff... I don't want to get too far ahead of myself here though.

I'll need to look at my own schedule as well as the local S2Ki track/meet schedule.

The other possibility is to have this during the fall color season. The vistas from the bluffs should provide some amazing scenery.

 

iowa member chiming in

im in for a sat/sun meet. my gf and i have been wanting to do a nice scenic weekend trip. like said above though i will need notice in advance to plan accordingly. as ive got a few track days planned.

 

hopefully we can get a good turn out. it would be nice to have a sectional group like some of the more S populated states. s2ki tshirts or decals representing the midwest.

 

Currently exploring September 4th-5th, 11th-12th for descent weather, and October 16th-17th, 23rd-24th for fall colors, but cooler temps.