Bonus Parks Work

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Clandestine LD Rally Group : One Thread

I've been labeling all the NHP NMP NHS's I can find in all the surrounding states from Lexington. I figure as we find time we can visit them and determine hours of operations, stamp availability and/or some non-changing aspect to question on a bonus.

Here's a thought:

Tell me what you guys think. Visit ALL the NHP and memorials in Washington DC, and just the NHPs in Philladelphia PA (including Valley Forge) for a huge bonus award (TBD). The pay-off is the draw on this idea. The caveat is that you must also visit Chincateague Island and Hampton, VA. This assures at least 14:30 hours of riding time.

I'm going to map out a quick route to get to the memorials through DC, and another for PA, and then do it some Saturday to see how long it actually takes to collect the boni. SA6 says it takes 4:40 hrs to get to Valley Forge from Lexington, placing a rider there around 10:30-11am. Get the stamp and 30 min later they are in Philly.

There are 5 NP's in Philly. Figuring an avg stop time of 15 min each that get's a rider on their way to DC by at most 12:55pm. It takes roughly 2 hours to get to DC from Philly (not including Gas Receipt and Toll Stops).

There are 3 NHS' in WDC. So if the rider gets to DC by 3:30pm, there should be plenty of time to get the stamps (by 5pm?, that's 1.5 hrs for 3 stops). There are another 11 memorials to visit with an average stop time of 15 min (parking, walking, traffic, etc (3:50 hrs total). Assuming the rider starts the memorial gathering by nlt 5pm, they could be on their way out to Chincateague by 8:50pm. It takes roughly 8 hours to travel from DC to Lexington via Hampton down the peninsula, not including stops.

A well planned ride and light traffic would allow a rider to pick up state boni in VA,WVA,MD,PA,NJ and DE, plus Chincateauge and Hampton, or 8 extra stops at 3 minutes each (24~30min). So, the rider could be back by nlt 5:30am. Depending on the way they plan and ride, they could pick up a bonus or two along the way.

This is obviously a pre-determined ride. I thinks some people may want to do it, simply because the mileage is low enough (around 1000) for a big pay-off, and it's already planned ahead of time. They just ride and get.

Just a thought. Welcome your opinions.

-- Todd Peer (Todd.b.peer@wcom.com), November 23, 1999

Answers

Further comments on National Parks

Todd, do you have Fodor's "The Complete Guide to America's National Parks: The Official Visitor's Guide to All 376 National Parks" ??

It's a pretty good book with a descriptive listing of what is availible at the park, contact phone numbers, directions from major roadways, brief background history, etc. Most of the information can be found on the NPS web pages, but I find it very handy to have the book, I can easily flip through the different parks, and the maps are pretty decent too. Just some food for thought.

However, it doesn't seem to be complete (this is the 10th edition, might be out of date) When I was in Philly recently, we went to the Ben Franklin center (don't remember the exact name) but it's not in this book. But it was all National Park Rangers working there. I'll have to take a look in the most recent version.

Louis

-- Louis Caplan (nighthawk700@yahoo.com), November 23, 1999.


RE: Rurther comments on National Parks

No I don't have Fodor's. I do have a Wash DC area hikers and parks guide though.

I have been using www.nps.org in combination with the NPS Passport to target parks. I figured these particular parks fell more in line with the IBA Parks thing.

I was suggesting riding through Philly and DC to the actual Park/Memorial, get stamped and or play like I am answering a question, just to see how long it actually takes.

-- Todd Peer (todd.b.peer@wcom.com), November 24, 1999.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ