SE Florida GTG April 8th & 9th - DPChallenge Forums

03/30/2006 10:05:29 PM · #51

Originally posted by hsteg:

Man, that aint south florida. come down to FTL or MIA. haha

We (my son and I) are from Miami and making the drive up there.

We wouldn't miss a GTG only 3 1/2 hours away!

Edit to add: By the way, where in South Florida are you? We are in Kendall.

Message edited by author 2006-03-30 22:07:11.

03/30/2006 10:44:02 PM · #52

I will be there. As long as I am not the only one camping then I will need a camp site. Let me know what you need from me for the reservation. If no one else is camping then I will get a hotel.

Can't wait to meet you all.

Wayne

03/30/2006 10:47:56 PM · #53

Originally posted by wmprkg:

The last I heard, Sickdog and Crystal were camping, too. All I need is a confirmation the day before and I will go Saturday am and get your site (they don't take reservations).

Are you going to kayak? And if so, how many kayaks will you need?

03/30/2006 10:51:31 PM · #54

I've decided not to camp this time. I love camping, but I am rushing to finish a our current job before I leave. The morning after the GTG, Chris departs Miami for Dallas to visit his mother, and I am off to the Dominican Republic. Camping would be a little too much considering what I've got on my plate already.

I sent an email to The Ferndale Lodge ( //www.ferndalelodge.com ) to request reservations. It's right on the Indian River and looks like a nice "mom and pop" kind of place.

03/30/2006 10:54:04 PM · #55

Ferndale Lodge is really cool, but they are booked up:( They suggested the Penwood Lodge as an alternative.

03/30/2006 10:57:54 PM · #56

Oh.

03/30/2006 11:00:16 PM · #57

Just one Kayak. The wife can't come.

03/30/2006 11:00:27 PM · #58

Yeah, things are filling up fast because of spring break. The last I checked, Penwood had a few rooms left. Let me know if you have problems and I'll check around some more. There's a few B&Bs that are right by the lagoon too.

03/30/2006 11:14:23 PM · #59

I keep clicking on the link for Penwood, but keep getting redirected to a generic site for all of Florida's hotels.

The B&B's sound like an interesting option. I am getting concerned enough now to just take almost whatever is available.

My sister and her family drove down a couple of days ago to go on a cruise from Miami. They got a late start after work and school and half way through their trip they started looking for a hotel around Lake City. They didn't find a room until they were almost to Orlando.

03/30/2006 11:43:12 PM · #60

Roxanne,

What other hotels can you recommend? I might just get a hotel. I'd like to stay close to everyone else. Thanks!

Wayne

03/30/2006 11:46:43 PM · #61

wmprkg: I'm STILL searching the internet, with no luck.

03/30/2006 11:53:47 PM · #62

Originally posted by yakatme:

wmprkg: I'm STILL searching the internet, with no luck.

I'd like to get a hotel near Roxanne's house but I'm not sure where that is to look. There are hotels in the Vero Beach area (Googled Vero beach Lodging) but I don't know how close they are.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

03/31/2006 09:48:30 AM · #63

Robert & Wayne,

I sent you emails about the Pennwood. They only had 2 rooms left.

Anybody else need a room? I can work on it today. It will be too late before long.

sickdog

Sony DSC-F828

04/01/2006 12:15:19 PM · #64

Originally posted by greatandsmall:

Originally posted by wmprkg:
I will be there. As long as I am not the only one camping then I will need a camp site. Let me know what you need from me for the reservation. If no one else is camping then I will get a hotel.

Can't wait to meet you all.

Wayne

The last I heard, Sickdog and Crystal were camping, too. All I need is a confirmation the day before and I will go Saturday am and get your site (they don't take reservations).

Are you going to kayak? And if so, how many kayaks will you need?

we're not sure at this point about getting there. the only greyhounds we can catch will have us on the road for all of saturday morning and all of sunday afternoon coming back. we really want to come but we dont dont want to inconvenience anyones itinerary and we dont have any other way of getting there.

chris

Message edited by author 2006-04-01 12:15:58.

ArpeggioAngel

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

04/03/2006 11:24:42 AM · #65

I hate to say it, but now I don't know if I am going to be able to make it either. I really want to see ORCA and meet everyone, but this paycheck just wasn't quite what I thought it was going to be and I ended up with more bills that I anticipated. I don't mind the drive out, but it is going to cost me quite a bit in gas alone. I am going to revisit my finances this week and see what I can do. If I do have to graciously back out of this trip, I will keep my eyes open for any future GTG's. I do want to profusely apologize to everyone as well.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

04/03/2006 11:34:33 AM · #66

I'm so sad that everyone can't make it:(

Just remember that you are all welcome to come down anytime. We can do mini GTGs on short notice.

ArpeggioAngel

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

04/03/2006 12:43:59 PM · #67

I know. I was really looking forward to this. I am due a raise at my company and thought it would be effective already....I will still recheck my finances this week to see if I might be able to pull it off. If not...I will try to come out to visit as soon as I can. I really want the opportunity to meet other DPC'ers.

Also, if anyone is ever out on my side of the state...give me a shout!

04/03/2006 05:07:42 PM · #68

I really hate to add to the drop outs but we have had a friend pass away and his service is on Saturday. I'll have to cancel too. I was really looking forward to meeting you all. Please accept my apologies, especially to Roxanne and all of her hard work.

Wayne

04/03/2006 06:47:52 PM · #69

Wayne,
So sorry about your friend. My thoughts will be with you in your time of sorrow. I was looking forward to meeting you too. We'll have to try this again soon.

Katherine,
Bummer about your raise. I'm still hoping you can come this weekend. It would also be great if you could come for a whole weekend, sometime. There's a quaint place you can stay for about $55.00 per night (Which we all know is unheard of around here.)

Chris & Crystal,
Sorry, no Amtrak stations anywhere around here. If you take the bus, I could pick you up Saturday at 12:30. You'd miss the ORCA, but would probably make everything else. I could get you back to the bus station Sunday by 3:20. We'd just have to bump the kayak launch to around 10:30 am. We might lose Grayce on the kayaks, because she can't make it until 12:30. Perhaps she'd take a raincheck, since she lives here.

Robert & Chris,
There may only be 4 to 7 of us, total. Is that enough incentive; or do you want to reschedule when more people can make it? Also, Ferndale Lodge just got a cancellation. Their efficiencies are clean and sizeable, but definitely quaint. Furnishings are a little on the "older" side. But it's on the lagoon, with a nice dock and lots of trees. Definitely a good sunrise op.

Grayce,
If it does turn out that we have to launch the kayaks earlier, would you consider taking a raincheck on the river trip? I would love to take you kayaking anytime.

Whew! Planning GTGs is hard work. Have I missed anything or anyone? I'll wait to hear from y'all as to how you would like to proceed.

Cheers,
Roxanne

04/03/2006 07:46:01 PM · #70

Soooo disappointing. To answer your questions...

I was really hoping to meet (numerous) other Dpc'ers. That was the main reason for us attending this GTG. I would consider rescheduling if it would matter. I have always had the feeling that this GTG didn't seem to have the energy that other GTG's have had. It was difficult to get it really rolling past the point of "great idea" until I nominated you to head it up (great job). I wonder if participation would really increase if it was rescheduled. This weekend is now complicated for us as well since we planned our spring break vacation departures within 6 hours of returning from this GTG. However, we would prefer to continue with the GTG this weekend unless the majority are sincerely interested in attending a rescheduled GTG.

I would prefer lodging at Ferndale now that they have an opening, but I do not know what the cancellation policy is a Pennwood, or if they even collected a deposit from my credit card. That's another consideration. Will those who reserved rooms be able to cancel them without penalty? Did anybody else actually reserve lodging?

Message edited by author 2006-04-03 19:47:56.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/03/2006 08:04:04 PM · #71

I was hoping to meet lots of other DPCers too! I'm really bummed about the fall-off. I'd really like to do it, though. Grayce has gone to a lot of trouble to get a presentation for us at ORCA.

If Chris & Crystal can get a bus, we should have at least 6 of us (plus my husband). We would finish up Saturday earlier than planned (by around 2). Sadly, we might lose Grayce for the kayak trip, but we could try to make the best of it.

The people at Ferndale believe that you may be able to cancel without penalty from Pennwood. I'd get reserve the rooms at Ferndale first and then try to cancel Pennwood. Ferndale will let you cancel. (Wow, that was a mouthful) As it stands, you are the only ones with a room. Chris and Crystal plan to camp. So far, the nights have been in the mid 60s and breezy. It should be nice enough to camp comfortably.

We can use this GTG as a test run, and do it again when more people can make it.

CreativeFlyPhoto

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

04/03/2006 08:15:24 PM · #72

if we can make it - which is still up in the air .. i'm sorry guys and gals .. we would now drive over sunday ... wont really know till last minute ... just turned out to be not a good end of the month for march and planning ... hope you all have fun who does go