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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi everybody.....</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> In regards to
the upcoming weekend event on Long Island, June 3-4. I just wanted to
give you our results of the "fact finding mission" to CT yesterday. What a
great day we had both weather-wise and productivity-wise. Here we've
been saying right along we'll take the ferry from Bridgeport and cross to Port
Jefferson, Long Island. Well after taking this 'dry run' on Monday
with Peter Roca and Dick Daniels, the unanimous opinion was a no-brainer; we
should sail from New London and cross to Orient Point, LI. Several
reasons for this decision which in no way says this is the way everyone will
go. Some may still want to cross from Bridgeport; still others may
wish to forgo the ferry crossings and make the drive all the way around through
NYC and on to LI that way. </FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2>Let me
explain our observations from Monday's trip that led us to mutually agree we
should cross from New London as there are pros and cons.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Lets start
with Bridgeport. We met at my house and left shortly after
9:00AM. Our first stop was in Sturbridge at the Cracker Barrel
Restaurant for breakfast. Peter was keeping a record of time and
mileage involved. We headed west on I-84 to Hartford then south on
I91 headed to New Haven. It was noted as we passed by the Meriden, CT rest
area where we would make a "bathroom break" on the actual caravan
day. Next stop was the Bridgeport Ferry. The first thing
I noticed in Bridgeport was how poorly it was marked to exit I-95 for the
ferry. Next thing I knew we were in Fairfield and had missed the
ferry exit. (This mistake alone made it a good reason for making the dry
run so I wouldn't have done this with 10 cars following me.) Besides
poor exit markings for the Bridgeport Ferry, the type of maniacal drivers, heavy
traffic and urbanized area in which I was driving put me ill at
ease. It's the cityscape, industrial, urban area of CT that I ran
into around Wallingford CT on I-91 southbound into New Haven, where I-91 merges
with I-95, all the way to Bridgeport and pretty much continues right into
NYC. The area in Bridgeport where the ferry terminal is located is
very old and nasty looking, however the actual terminal itself was quite clean
and the staff was pleasant and helpful. Upon leaving the
property, I couldn't wait to get back on I-95 northbound which involved a number
of sharp rights and lefts with traffic lights where we would apt to become
separated in a caravan. The major concern I had that led me to
suggest to Peter and Dick that we drive up to New London to check that LI ferry
crossing terminal was a safety issue. Like I said, this is a highly
urbanized, high speed stretch of roadway. I would fear for the safety
of my fellow club members and families/guests if anyone experienced a mechanical
breakdown or even a flat tire in this particular section. I didn't
have any problem myself but I was driving "Big Red", my trusty 12 year old
Caddy. I put myself in the position of the member who just takes
his/her car out for leisurely drives. This roadway would
<EM>shell-shock</EM> them. Let me make one point clear; there is nothing
wrong with the Bridgeport/Port Clinton ferry itself. In fact I might
have taken it. I'm thinking of the big picture here and the safety
of my fellow members is the most important issue to me.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Now here
is what out observations were with the ferry terminal in New London.
As we headed north-east from Bridgeport through New Haven, I never felt really
at ease driving until I got to Branford when we left the heavily urbanized area
of CT and it became more scenic. The weather couldn't have been
nicer as we headed for New London. Again as we approached New London I
made one wrong judgment call and exited onto Frontage Road which included all
local streets. Just after making the exit onto Frontage Road we saw
the sign on I-95 that the ferry terminal would have been the next highway
exit. When I was able to find a ramp back on to I-95, I was beyond the
exit I wanted and there were no more exits before crossing over the "Twin
Bridges" into Groton where we had to exit and reverse direction, back over the
"Twin Bridges" where we find the southbound exit number for the Ferry differed
from the northbound exit number. We followed the signs into downtown
New London which was much more pleasant than the seedy area in
Bridgeport. After another "missed" turn, (I was probably laughing at
another Peter Roca story) we pull onto the New London/Orient Point Ferry
Terminal. Again, like in Bridgeport, the staff was pleasant and very
helpful. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Now that we
had all our information we weighed our decisions. With a map in
hand, the lady in the Terminal information desk showed us where on Long Island
each ferry docked. Yes, the Bridgeport ferry docked considerably
closer to our 1st day destination of Hicksville but the drive to that ferry was
stressful and could be potentially dangerous if anyone broke down
enroute. The drive to New London is much shorter with NO stress and
the members can arrive easily via I-95 to New London or from Exit 10 on the MA
Pike, (Auburn) taking I-395 south to CT route 32 south directly to the ferry
terminal. The crossing costs are almost identical. The
crossing times leaving both terminals is on the hour. The time to
make the crossing is approx. 1 hour 15 minutes from Bridgeport and 1 hour 20
minutes from New London. There will be roughly a 2+ hour drive from
Orient Point, Long Island to the Econo-Lodge in Hicksville. The
choice is, according to the <EM>info lady,</EM> a drive through the beautiful
wine area of the north coast of LI on secondary highway. The only
light traffic would be from the vehicles exiting the ferry, as Orient Point is
at the tip of the northeast "fork" of the island, still not as far out as
Montauk. There are a number of restaurants there as
well. <STRONG>OR </STRONG>We have the option driving down the
CT coast to Bridgeport.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> My thoughts
(for what they're worth) is that this is the first time most of us have ever
been on Long Island, (and maybe their last.) I'd like to get
everyone there and home safely and come away from this weekend with fond
memories. I don't want them to be recalling the nasty drive
down. After all, this isn't a race to Hicksville on June 3rd; the car show
isn't until Sunday morning, June 4th at the beautiful Old Westbury
Gardens. We may be driving about an hour longer overall to get there but
it will be a slower paced, more scenic drive along the Long Island coast and
relaxing and fun is what the theme of this weekend is all about. For
Peter, Dick and myself, the decision was a
no-brainer<STRONG>!!</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> I do have
literature from both Terminals to pass out at the Wed. night
meeting. Like I said, the final decision is up to the individual but
getting there quicker......why? Slow down and <EM>enjoy the
ride</EM>.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> We left the
terminal in New London and within a minute I could have been on the ramp heading
up I-95 towards RI and MA but I chose to head north on route 32 past the Coast
Guard Academy for a few miles where route 32 blends onto I-395N that's a
beautiful rural interstate that takes you directly to exit 10 on the MA Tpk. in
Auburn. We made one stop for a tasty, late lunch at "Zip's Diner" in
Dayville, CT. and one last stop for fuel as the flashing <FONT
color=#ff0000>"<EM>E</EM>"</FONT> on the dash made me think I wouldn't make
it the 2 more exits to my house in Milford. I appreciate the input
from my travel buddies, Peter and Dick and I feel we made a good, non-bias
decision for both the safety and enjoyment of the members of the club who
plan on joining in on this event.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> The
reservations for the ferry for our group will be made on April 15th. (This
was suggested by the info lady.) We would like a firm
commitment by that date if you plan on joining us on this
weekend. The Pre-reg forms for the LICA show on June 4th should
be into John Wingle by that date as the club is paying for the
Registrations for this show and john will make out 1 check from our club,
mailing in all the Pre-Reg forms with it. With a ferry reservation made,
you have a guaranteed ticket. Send no money now. You'll pay at
the terminal office when you come in to pick up your ticket at your reserved
departure time on June 3rd. If you need a Pre-Reg application for the 6/4
car show, call me.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> That's about
it. We did our best. If you have any further questions, please
contact me. <STRONG><EM> Ray B.
<HR>
</EM></STRONG></FONT></DIV>
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