X-Message-Number: 24503 Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2004 19:44:18 -0700 Subject: Planning info/recon trip to Scottsdale and Nederland -- please help! From: Kennita Watson <> Hello, all -- I am in the process of planning a trip for the last week or so of September (see timing-reasoning below) to see Alcor headquarters and the site of next year's Frozen Dead Guy Days. I want to try all the common modes of transportation. My current plan is to take Amtrak from San Jose to Denver, a plane from Denver to Phoenix, and Greyhound from Phoenix back to San Jose (see mode-reasoning below). The three legs of the trip should run me about $300. I haven't made any reservations yet, but I need to soon in order to lock in ticket prices. If anyone out there is interested in traveling with me for part or all of my itinerary, get in touch with me ASAP and let's see what we can work out. When that part is done, I'll set up accommodations. I hope to be able to stay with someone local at least part of the time. Anyone who lives around Phoenix/Scottsdale or Denver/Boulder/Nederland who would be willing to put me up for a few nights, also please get in touch with me ASAP. Who knows, we might even be able to get some people together for dinner some evening! Cheers, Kennita <timing-reasoning> The end of September is no longer the height of the Summer heat, and it's too early for snow pretty much everywhere. Also, it's near the peak time for pretty autumn leaves (the thing I miss most about areas that have winter) in the vicinity of Denver/Nederland. Oh yes, and it misses all the major holiday weekends, so people are less likely to have other plans, and discount fares don't sell out quite as fast. </timing-reasoning> <mode-reasoning> I've never been on a train, and I want to see how I like it, and SJC-DEN is the longest leg. Besides, PHX is a horrible city for Amtrak. Taking a plane instead of Greyhound from PHX to SJC saves me (assuming 2 hours of dealing with airport foofaraw) about 11 hours for about an extra $60, whereas taking a plane from DEN to PHX saves me about 17 hours for about $80. I'm going in this direction because I want to be able to discuss Nederland with anyone at Alcor who will listen. </mode-reasoning> Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=24503