New Jersey Meet Up

[i_am_socket]

Hopatcong State Park looks nice, and Allamuchy is only a little further down 80, but I don't know about the parking situation there. Anyone want to start throwing out availability dates?

[metroschultz]

I'm good any time except the last two weekends in July.
Going to the Second Annual EcoModder Palooza in Beautiful downtown Ashtabula Ohio.

[Wonderboy]

Availability: I don't expect to be unavailable

Meeting place:
I looked a little more into the park situation, and it looks like an entrance fee is required to get into Hopatcong. Luckily there are several more parks nearby, of which I'd consider using two: Stephens State Park, and Schooley's Mountain County Park.
Stephens State Park
Schooley's Mountain County Park

I would chance it for getting a pavilion to use in case of rain (just show up and hope no one is using it), but that's just me - they can be reserved. Those two parks are close enough from each other (~8mi) that we could go to the other if one were occupied.

Although it is farther from the highway, I am leaning toward Schooley's because it looks like a more interesting, more "naturely" park. Though when push comes to shove, it's still in the middle of New Jersey.

[i_am_socket]

Yeah, end of July - beginning of August I'll be on my honeymoon; unless you want to meet up in St. Lucia? ;-) June is fairly open for me except for a triathlon one Sunday.

[McTimson]

I didn't even see this thread...

I'm definitely willing to make a road trip to NJ for this. I'm free any weekend after May 15th, and I'm coming from the same area as Wonderboy, so I think middle NJ is the farthest south I'd go.

[Wonderboy]

Here is another option if we wanted to be able to go out to eat without much of a fuss:

Morris County Park Commission Tourne County Park

This park is pretty large and encompasses a few other parks (which also includes reservable picnic shelters. Nearby Denville is home to a restaurant (Cafe Metro) of coincidentally appropriate nomenclature, and in-coincidentally appropriate fare that would accommodate the more "picky" eaters among us (including myself), but not ward off the sensitive stomached or ethnic-cuisine-wary.

I don't necessarily advocate for this, just something else to brainstorm about. I would personally lean more toward a potluck thing, but that would indeed raise the question of who can or is willing to eat what... Are we willing to take that into consideration? Food and the circumstances by which it arrives at the table is a huge part of me and my life, and it may not be as big of a consideration to someone else, so I'm willing to put that aside for this, as it's a forum/meet up about ecomodding, and how prominent food's role is in this will be up to how everyone else feels.

In general I think we should have a poll about where and when this will happen - starting that now will give plenty of time for people who don't log on every day to give their input and find out about the event.

[SVOboy]

As for me, I am free anytime but mid may until mid july

[SVOboy]

So guys, when're we doing it!?

[Wonderboy]

I'd wager to guess that late july would be best for everyone based on what people have said in this thread and the fact that many students (I'm not one of them) are still busy in early may. I still think we should have a poll on this.

[SVOboy]

Eh, let's forgo a poll and say late July. That will give everyone time to get their acts together.