One Gallon Challenge - Boston, MA - 8/16/12

[brucepick]

Originally Posted by JethroBodine

I'm going to try to make it. Still haven't heard about the meeting places yet.

You can start in Greenfield or Plymouth, MA. You get to choose!

[JethroBodine]

Where? Town Hall, maybe? It ends in City Hall Plaza in Boston.

[rmay635703]

I would probably push the car on the flat and drive up hills

[dannyrich]

Hey guys here's one of the routes you could take from Greenfield

When the Rally starts, Thursday at 11 AM, leave the Miles Street
parking lot, and turn right on Main Street and, after a few blocks, turn
left on High Street, which is Route 2A. Follow 2A North and turn right,
(East) on Route 2. Hooray!
We're in the country!
At Exit 15, head South on Route 122
At Barre, head East on Route 62. This road may test your
suspension...
After Sterling, you need to get up to route 117 heading
East. Here's one way: Go North on Route 12. When you hit
Interstate 190, go north on it to the next exit, Exit 7, and go East
on Route 117. Follow 117 just into Waltham when you cross
Interstate 95. Stop! Your odometer may read about 90 miles at this point.
Here you have a bunch of choices: There's a Mobil on the left. You
could top up on fuel, note your miles travelled, load onto
your trailer, and head for Boston. Whew!
Or you could continue the 17 remaining miles to City Hall Plaza in
Boston, and fill up near there. But fueling there is tricky. You have a
gas-but-no-diesel gas-station at the 7-11 on Milk St. just
before Gov. Center, and gas and diesel at the Mobil on Friend St.
just after Gov. Center. But driving in Boston, looking for gas is
pretty crazy! If you're traveling with fuel in a jerrycan in your
tow vehicle, you could drive right to the Plaza and fill up yourself. But
to get an accurate MPG in a super efficient car, you need very exact
measurement. really hundredths of a gallon.
Wether on a trailer or in eco-car itself, here's how to proceed to the
Plaza. Take a deep breath...Head South on Interstate 95 (the old route 128
beltway), which is signposted right at that junction on Rt 117 in Waltham,
and once on 95 South, in just a few miles head East on the Mass Pike.
Continue past the Cambridge exit, then be careful to stay left at a
confusing exit while in a dark underpass,
and then eventually exit left onto Interstate 93 North. You're
heading for Government Center.
Once you're on 93 North, stay right and get off at the Gov. Ctr exit,
turning left onto North Street, which soon dead ends into Congress St. At
this point, you're facing the big cement facade of City Hall. Turn Left on
Congress St, and then bear immediately
right, keeping the big Plaza on your right, and enter the Plaza,
clearing with the attendants, who will be expecting you. Offload your
vehicle if it's on a trailer, and park it right in the center of things,
where you see One Gallon Challenge's banner.

[JethroBodine]

Thanks Danny. Much appreciated. I'm going to try to go, if my car is ready. Hopefully I can give some of the other specialty cars a run for their money.

I'll see if I can pinpoint things with pictures. We love pics around here. Might even try a scouting run.

Thanks again. Hope to see you there.

Ken

Edit- Looks like Miles St is a short dead-end street about 1km East of Exit 26 off I-91, on the right as you are heading East. I like easy to find starting points.

[JethroBodine]

Figured out the route listed above on Google maps and am trying the link out;

Miles St, Greenfield, MA 01301 to City Hall Plaza, Boston, MA 02203 - Google Maps

I put the Bear Hill Rd. Mobile station as destination B as I think this is what Danny was talking about as a possible fill point.

NeilBlanchard, aren't you from Maynard? I noticed the route goes right by there.

[brucepick]

Danny, thx for the great write up. I'm still considering doing this event. Could be excellent.

Any word on how long we would stay at the Boston location before heading home?

[brucepick]

I plan to be there. The day will be a good workout for my new deep cycle battery installed last weekend. Car should now have a cruise range of three hours plus, with alternator unplugged and headlights on.

Headlights might not matter in the One Gallon Chalenge, but I might need them driving home afterwards!

[JethroBodine]

&@#XXX%$! I just figured out this is on a Thursday. I'd have to leave Boston an hour before I got there to pick up my son. I could come down for the start. Good short trip to test 'er out.

[brucepick]

Originally Posted by JethroBodine

&@#XXX%$! I just figured out this is on a Thursday. I'd have to leave Boston an hour before I got there to pick up my son. I could come down for the start. Good short trip to test 'er out.

Shucks, I thought we'd drive this thing together. Well maybe you'll be able to be at the start. You've been strong in this thread from early on, and much thanks is due for your help here.

blownb310 most recently wrote that he might come to spectate (this post), so it looks like I'm the only EcoModder driving.

Anyone else??? Come on!