Hi Vi's~~

I will begin working on our 1-year Bandiversary Blow-Out today. We've decided on gathering at a cabin/house on Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland from a Friday - Monday in April.

Step 1 = Who is coming?

Once I have an initial interest number, then I can check for a house to hold us all. They have houses that sleep up to 25 or so (w/indoor pools & other fun amenities!).

So simply post your name & in a day or so I'll tally them up & begin the house hunt, which will then result in our dates & specific location & cost per person.

I'll start!: MICHELLE! = 1

Hmmm... good point, Judy! How much can cottage cheese, blueberries & splenda cost for 20 or so gals??

By the sounds of this group on any given weekend... we may spend more on "adult beverages" than food, anyway! :nervous

Hmmm... good point, Judy! How much can cottage cheese, blueberries & splenda cost for 20 or so gals??

By the sounds of this group on any given weekend... we may spend more on "adult beverages" than food, anyway! :nervous

Then I'll get off really cheap. Crystal Light doesn't cost that much!!!

I found the link and copied this from the website... airport

Washington, DC/Northern VA 170 Miles (3 hours) - Follow Interstate 70-West to Hancock, Maryland. Then take Interstate 68 West through Cumberland. About 25 miles past Cumberland, Take exit 14A and onto Route 219 South. Take Route 219 South approximately 13 miles. Turn right onto Visitors Center

Drive which is just after the Railey Realty building with a red awning and flags. Railey Mtn. Lake Vacations is directly in front of you. Check in is at the rear of the building.

Baltimore, MD 190 Miles (3 hours) - Follow Interstate 70-West to Hancock, Maryland. Then take Interstate 68 West through Cumberland. About 25 miles past Cumberland, Take exit 14A and onto Route 219 South. Take Route 219 South approximately 13 miles. Turn right onto Visitors Center Drive which is just after the Railey Realty building with a red awning and flags. Railey Mtn. Lake Vacations is directly in front of you. Check in is at the rear of the building.

Pittsburgh, PA 96 Miles (2 hours) - From (East Side) take PA Turnpike East. Take New Stanton Exit to Rt. 119 South to Rt. 40 East to Rt. 219 South for 13 miles. Turn right onto Visitors Center Drive. From (West Side) take I-79 South to Morgantown, I-68 to Friendsville, Rt. 42 South to Rt. 219 South. Proceed 1 mile. Turn right onto Visitors Center Drive which is just after the Railey Realty building with a red awning and flags. Railey Mtn. Lake Vacations is directly in front of you. Check in is at the rear of the building.

Philadelphia, PA 290 Miles (5 hours) - Take I-95 South into Maryland. Exit onto I-695 towards I-70 West in Towson, MD. Merge on I-70 West and follow to Hancock, Maryland (Or follow alternate Harrisburg, PA directions below). Exit onto I-68 West. Exit onto Route 219 South at exit 14A and follow 13 miles. Turn right onto Visitors Center Drive which is just after the Railey Realty building with a red awning and flags. Railey Mtn. Lake Vacations is directly in front of you. Check in is at the rear of the building.

Harrisburg, PA 183 Miles (3 1/2 hours) - Take I-81 South into Maryland and exit on I-70 West. Exit onto I-68 West in Hancock, MD. Exit onto Route 219 South at exit 14A and proceed 13 miles south. Turn right onto Visitors Center Drive which is just after the Railey Realty building with a red awning and flags. Railey Mtn. Lake Vacations is directly in front of you. Check in is at the rear of the building.

Richmond, VA 234 Miles (4 hours) - Take I-95 North towards Washington DC Merge on I-495 North/Capital Beltway. Exit on I-270 North towards Frederick, MD. Merge on I-70 West and proceed to Hancock, MD. Exit onto I-68 West and follow to Route 219 South at exit 14A and follow 13 miles to our office. Turn right onto Visitors Center Drive which is just after the Railey Realty building with a red awning and flags. Railey Mtn. Lake Vacations is directly in front of you. Check in is at the rear of the building.

Cleveland, OH 215 Miles (4 hours) - Take I-480 East and exit onto I-80 East (Ohio Turnpike). Merge onto I-76 East (Ohio Turnpike) and follow it until it turns into the PA Turnpike. Take Exit 1 on the PA Turnpike and follow PA 60 East to I-79 South. Follow I-79 South to Morgantown, WV. Merge onto I-68 East. Exit Route 42 South in Friendsville, MD. Proceed approximately 8 miles until it dead ends into Route 219. Turn right on Route 219 South. Proceed 1 mile and turn right onto Visitors Center Drive which is just after the Railey Realty building with a red awning and flags. Railey Mtn. Lake Vacations is directly in front of you. Check in is at the rear of the building.

Columbus, OH 240 Miles (4 hours) - Follow I-70 East all the way until Washington, PA. Merge on I-79 South and follow all the way until Morgantown, WV. Merge on I-68 East. Exit off I-68 East at Route 42 South in Friendsville, MD. Proceed approximately 8 miles south until it dead ends into Route 219. Turn right on Route 219 South and proceed 1 mile. Turn right onto Visitors Center Drive which is just after the Railey Realty building with a red awning and flags. Railey Mtn. Lake Vacations is directly in front of you. Check in is at the rear of the building.

Cincinnati, OH 342 Miles (5 1/2 hours) - Take I-71 North towards Columbus, OH. Take I-270 East and merge onto I-70 East. Follow I-70 East all the way until Washington, PA. Merge on I-79 South and follow all the way until Morgantown, WV. Merge on I-68 East. Exit off I-68 East at Route 42 South in Friendsville, MD. Proceed approximately 8 miles south until it dead ends into Route 219. Turn right on Route 219 South and proceed 1 mile. Turn right onto Visitors Center Drive which is just after the Railey Realty building with a red awning and flags. Railey Mtn. Lake Vacations is directly in front of you. Check in is at the rear of the building.

New York, NY 345 Miles (6 hours) - Take I-78 West/US 22 and exit onto I-81 South. Follow 1-81 South into Maryland and exit on I-70 West. Exit onto I-68 West in Hancock, MD. Exit onto Route 219 South at exit 14A and proceed 13 miles south. Turn right onto Visitors Center Drive which is just after the Railey Realty building with a red awning and flags. Railey Mtn. Lake Vacations is directly in front of you. Check in is at the rear of the building.

Tracyk~ YOUR ASS IS GOING! I am glad you saw the error of your last statement. I was gonna go kidnap you if not.

xoxo

Thanks for posting that, Tracy. I figured we could work out all the travel logistics once we had a place to go to! (I'm nothing if not highly, annoyingly organized!!)

I was going to suggest that my house could be the rallying point for the drive West. Folks who were flying into the DC area (or driving, for instance Jen & Judy -- Judy, Gettysburg is just 30 mins from my house, I could pick you up there) could come in on Thurs if they wanted & stay here @ my house (I'm happy to pick up @ the airports, maybe we could coordinate which one?), or get a flight that lands earlyish-am on Fri so that we can leave here by 1pm-ish or so for the 4pm check-in... But as I said... we definitely have time for that level of detailed organizing. For right now...

Who else is coming to this not-to-be-missed event of a lifetime???

Pam... I had the same thought about Tracy, too. I was thinking that I could bribe Laura to give her to me for my secret santa & that'd be her gift!!

Michelle - good point, I was just reading and thinking that I can pick some gals up at the airport too. I am coming from NY and all the way down so can stop and pick up anyone along the way. Southwest has cheap flights into Baltiimore all the time, even Albany. I wouldn't mind a travel buddy - so if that is the cheapest flight that is ok too. I know they have $49-$99 specials all the time.

I am so excited..... I have a trail blazer so have lots of room.

As for price... I say for the extra $50 we need the indoor pool and fun things... but that is just my opinion... That is what I'll ask for for xmas

LOL.. you guys are so funny! I still have to break this to DH! He didn't take it so well the last time I left for a girls weekend.. he is NOT USED to a woman that would leave her man in the dust... I kind of hinted about this last week and he just laughed and shook his head.. like everyone was crazy....

So Michelle, do you have a big SUV or Van to carry a load of Violets???? I could not miss this...... I was feeling all sick and sad after I posted my NO.

No, actually... I have my "girly SUV" as dh calls it... a Toyota Highlander... seats only 5!

But in my general, over-view type thinking about the trip, I figured Jen would have her vehicle (& I was right!), + maybe someone else would be driving, or if not, maybe a vehicle could be rented at the airport... it's all good & we have plenty of time to finalize all these pesky details... the most important thing is that WE ARE GETTING TOGETHER!!!!!

(As I seem to have appointed myself lead organizer on this thing -- I'm such a control freak! -- I just want you to know that I'm already thinking up fun surprises & activities & such!!)

Oh Tracy, I can relate to your dh... I haven't even MENTIONED it to mine yet!! He won't mind a girl's weekend away, but the fact that it is with "STRANGERS OFF THE INTERNET" will put his panties in a twist!!

How do I know this?? Because when I was little Miss Low Carb Friends.com poster regular, I organized a picnic here in Frederick (see, I told you I am a control/organizer freak!) & people came from as far away as New England, Ohio, and Virginia. He would have NOTHING to do with it. Nothing. He helped me schlep the bbq stuff & food to the park, then left. He *did* let the kids come, so I guess he didn't think there were any kidnappers in the bunch, but he wouldn't acknowledge it or participate or even want to hear about it after. I guess I can kinda understand, as you always hear such freaky stuff about the Internet... but this is different... I *KNOW* each of you & trust me, you all know me... probably better than HE does in some ways.

So promise that none of you are freaky axe murderers, k?

Michelle

ROFL... nope... I am not an axe murder....

Yes, my car holds 5 total and lots of trunk room and you all know i'll be driving since I will not fly

Michelle... can you put the link to the place here? I went to pull it up and can't remember what page it was on. they go so fast. LOL

Ok..I confess. I used to be an axe murderer. But I've been reformed. Now I'm just a butter knife murderer. I think I can be trusted. I haven't attacked anyone in ohhhhhhh a week, I'm guessing.

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!! Michelle! I had planned to attend one of the LOW CARB Friends picnics!!!!!!!! ROFL

I have already been looking on AirTran and Southwest for an idea of flight prices....

DH and I already had our first money discussion about wedding expenses... I am SOOOOOOOOOOO NOT used to being questioned on where MY MONEY IS! (admitted control freak when it comes to household budget)

UNFILLS ABOUND!!!!!!!!!!!! naaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwww not really!

I can already see Michelle planning to suprise us with an EXERCISE class!............. (wouldn't it be funny to have our pics of us in purple yoga pants sweating our booties off) instead of a cute cabanna boy fetching us colorful drinks... she is going to have BILLY BANKS SHOW UP FOR SOME TYBO, or Richard Simmons and sweating to the oldies! LOL

OK.. must be the sugar rush from the recees

Tracy - you are funny today. I'll take the cabana boy... sign me up

Remember you have options where you are going to fly. I'm going to map it out later my quickest way there - I know I can swing past the city. Newark NJ airport. Hartford it only 1 1/2 hr away and a good one. I think Bradford is good too.

I'll map a couple ways and post airports that I can pass along the way.