I just wanted to add to this thread that the date of the Arlington picnic is Saturday, June 7th.

Ken, you're definitely on the right track.

Patrick in http://www.westcoastfieros.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3424&PN=1 - This thread : wrote: I heard from a little birdy today that Jet City Fieros will again be having their annual picnic at the same airport in Arlington this year. It will be held on Saturday, June 7th. From what I understand, they're going to have all the Fieros parked in closer proximity to where the tents and food are set up this time. I think that's a good idea. There's always been quite a separation at previous Arlington picnics, with the cars (and the people looking at them) way off by themselves. I'm hoping this year we can take a more interesting route to Arlington. Heck, we can get really inventive and take different routes going down and coming back! We're driving sporty little cars. No need to take a boring route designed for transport trucks. Let's make the drive there and back a fun part of the total experience.

I'm hoping it might soon be possible to again upload images directly into our posts so that we can show a few different options on maps with various routes. (Yes, I know we can link to images uploaded to Photobucket or wherever, but that's quite a nuisance.)

Damien... Colby... are you able to resurrect this very useful forum function/feature?

redwilley wrote: Was a time and location set up at the last meeting, or are still waiting for a new route?

We were too busy filling up on $3 Teen Burgers to discuss Arlington.

Now's the time to suggest our options for an interesting route. 

beken wrote: Might I suggest a slightly different more scenic route. Take the Sumas crossing at Abbotsford and drive via highway 9.

I believe this is the route that Ken is suggesting.

A variation of this route is to start a bit further west, crossing the border at Aldergrove, go south on Hannegan Road, and then travel east along Lake Whatcom to get onto HWY 9. (To see this in Google Maps, click https://maps.google.ca/maps?saddr=WA-539+S&daddr=48.9472825,-122.4853028+to:48.9462056,-122.449499+to:48.67917,-122.3001317+to:48.5795483,-122.2242985+to:48.4834993,-122.2429687+to:Arlington,+WA,+United+States&hl=en&ll=48.709088,-121.959229&spn=1.319451,3.172302&sll=48.716337,-122.365036&sspn=0.080754,0.198269&geocode=FW-u6wIdtgaz-A%3BFVLg6gIdygWz-Cm5wQ8vu7eFVDGDr4DQ2Ciwhw%3BFR3c6gIdpZGz-CkZzbt6AreFVDEkdDjypgg5KQ%3BFQLJ5gIdHdm1-ClRijDk3QmFVDEyaDrUYKvbYw%3BFdxD5QIdVgG3-Cn5dYB9KQyFVDHcLmryRYQohg%3BFavM4wIdaLi2-CkdKzum1RKFVDEAh1y2KIT07A%3BFTh03wIdqoS4-CkNNLTweUmFVDHV8Yag0ROKtA&oq=arl&mra=mrv&via=1,2,3,4,5&t=m&z=9 - HERE .)

Other suggestions are welcome. Heck, we can go down one way and come back another.

Fieroman88 wrote: Aldergrove doesn't open till 8AM.

Ah, good point!

Fieroman88 wrote: Our best bet would be to meet at Tim Hortons at 152 and #10 and leave promptly at 6:30 crossing at the Truck Crossing at 176. Once across we can head over toward Lynden via "H" street and continue down from there. Suggestions?

Sounds fine to me.

Other suggestions are welcome, especially from anyone familiar with the roads in Washington State.

Okay, this event is now less than a week away.

We need some feedback on the route.

Heck, we need to know who's planning to go!

The only people I know for sure are myself, Maureen, Glenn, and Charles (whom will join us as we pass through Bellingham).

I know Colby wants to go, but it's questionable that his Fiero will be back together in time.

Who else is planning to participate?

Don't be shy... speak up.

Jim85GT wrote: I would vote for the route starting at Langley.

Okay Jim, thanks for your "vote".

So do you plan to go to Arlington no matter what... with or without a Fiero to drive?

I just got home after being out all day. I've got a route mapped out here which I'll post tonight. It's actually quite amazing what can be done with Google Maps.

I've taken a few suggestions into consideration and come up with the following route.

One question I have though, is why do we meet at that particular Tim Horton's on 152nd St and #10 Hwy? I don't know what directions other people are coming from, but it's a long slow drive going south on 152nd with a ton of stop lights to get to that particular Tim's. And it's not even directly on the way to the Pacific Hwy border crossing. People from east of 176th need to drive too far west to get to it. May I suggest we meet instead at the Tim Horton's at 17695 64th Avenue which is one block off of Pacific Hwy.

Whether someone is coming from the direction of Vancouver or Abbotsford, they just take the 176th St exit off the freeway, go directly south to this Tim Horton's, and then as a group we go directly south to the Pacific Hwy border crossing.

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EDIT: We will be meeting at the original location...

Fieroman88 wrote: Tim Hortons at 152 and #10

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Here's what the map of the entire route looks like.

We'll be meeting Charles at location D, which is at a store/deli right beside the road.

I should also mention that just before we get to the airfield, there is shopping for picnic supplies available at Safeway and/or Haggen where we turn off #9 Hwy onto 204th St NE. (Close to location E on the map.)

To see what I was looking at with Google Maps while working this out, click https://maps.google.ca/maps?saddr=17695+64th+Avenue,+Surrey+BC&daddr=Truck+Route+to:H+Street+Rd+to:48.9472825,-122.4853028+to:48.9462056,-122.449499+to:Lake+Whatcom+Blvd+to:48.67917,-122.3001317+to:48.4834993,-122.2429687+to:WA-9+S+to:188th+St+NE&hl=en&sll=48.711495,-122.315083&sspn=0.020615,0.049567&geocode=FR9_7QIdaz6v-CnnJjvucdCFVDG1mAqVacGwAA%3BFS-d6wIdxTav-A%3BFUSU6wIdggOz-A%3BFVLg6gIdygWz-Cm5wQ8vu7eFVDGDr4DQ2Ciwhw%3BFR3c6gIdpZGz-CkZzbt6AreFVDEkdDjypgg5KQ%3BFZtF5wIdwmK1-A%3BFQLJ5gIdHdm1-ClRijDk3QmFVDEyaDrUYKvbYw%3BFavM4wIdaLi2-CkdKzum1RKFVDEAh1y2KIT07A%3BFXUu3wIdjXW4-A%3BFXv33gIdxuy3-A&mra=ls&via=3,4,6,7&t=m&z=9 - HERE . Once you're there you can zoom in on the map, etc.

And to print out the exact route (with street names, directions, etc), click https://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=17695+64th+Avenue,+Surrey+BC&daddr=Truck+Route+to:H+Street+Rd+to:48.9472825,-122.4853028+to:48.9462056,-122.449499+to:Lake+Whatcom+Blvd+to:48.67917,-122.3001317+to:48.4834993,-122.2429687+to:WA-9+S+to:188th+St+NE&geocode=FR9_7QIdaz6v-CnnJjvucdCFVDG1mAqVacGwAA%3BFS-d6wIdxTav-A%3BFUSU6wIdggOz-A%3BFVLg6gIdygWz-Cm5wQ8vu7eFVDGDr4DQ2Ciwhw%3BFR3c6gIdpZGz-CkZzbt6AreFVDEkdDjypgg5KQ%3BFZtF5wIdwmK1-A%3BFQLJ5gIdHdm1-ClRijDk3QmFVDEyaDrUYKvbYw%3BFavM4wIdaLi2-CkdKzum1RKFVDEAh1y2KIT07A%3BFXUu3wIdjXW4-A%3BFXv33gIdxuy3-A&sll=48.711495,-122.315083&sspn=0.020615,0.049567&vpsrc=0&hl=en&mra=ls&via=3,4,6,7&ie=UTF8&t=m&z=9&layer=c&ei=ZIePU9DJGKmXwQGMtoDoAg&pw=2 - HERE .

And while you're on that page, you can even see the same thing along with a whole bunch of images of the various roads by clicking on "Street View" (top left corner). Google Maps is great!

Feedback? Questions?

Cheese wrote: I'm still open to heading down there as a passenger.

Colby, if you wish to be the official navigator (seriously), you can come with me.

Will you be driving the Caddy to the TimHo's we're meeting at? I'm not picking you up in Abbotsford.

I've made a minor change to the map (and the links) posted above to include where we'll be meeting Charles. (Location D.)

Fieroman88 wrote: Too late to change the meet place. Would possibly cause kaos.

Kaos? With whom?

Looks like we have a maximum of five people meeting to cross the border together... Maureen, Jim, Colby, you and me. Charles is meeting us in Bellingham.

The only person who might not be aware of possibly changing the meeting location as of tonight is Jim. I'll volunteer to contact him.

Seriously though, are you aware of anyone else who's expecting to go with us to Arlington who hasn't posted in this thread?

If you honestly believe changing the meeting location is going to cause some kind of problem, we can meet at the old place... but please re-consider the suggested Tim Horton's one block off of 176th.

Capt Fiero wrote: I can't go as I am not allowed into the US right now.

Dave, you need to quit getting into bar fights down there.

Capt Fiero wrote: ...the reason not to change it right now, is because no one knows who MIGHT show up.

An asteroid MIGHT conceivably show up as well.

Capt Fiero wrote: We used to always get a 1/2 dozen cars show up that had not said they were coming, and some that we had never even seen or heard from before. They just read it marked it on their calendar and showed up.

It ain't 1999 any longer.

Capt Fiero wrote: I think changing it for next year would be a GREAT idea.

I think it was a GREAT idea for this year.

Capt Fiero wrote: Patrick, the reason we used that meet location is / was it was on 152nd and many people were coming to the club meetings at the Ricky's on 152nd.

I hate doing stuff that no longer makes any sense, but fine, I should've brought this up for discussion earlier.

Okay... everyone who's going to Arlington will meet at the original location.

Fieroman88 wrote: Tim Hortons at 152 and #10

beken wrote: Sorry Patrick, it doesn't have to make sense.

I'm beginning to get that impression.

beken wrote: ...it doesn't matter where to meet next year.

Cool. Next year I'll suggest we meet in Upper Lonsdale.

Cheese wrote: And Patrick, I'm all for changing the starting point, but next year bring it up more than just a few days before the event.

Ya ya ya... I think I've heard it enough times now.

Bring your fancy new camera. See you tomorrow.

Got home about half an hour ago. As I sit here I can feel the room moving beneath me.  No, I'm not drunk... but I'm feeling the residual effects of driving fast on twisty roads over an extended period of time (x2).

There were a few errors in navigation, but nothing serious. It added to the fun. My navigator nodded off on the way back from Arlington (can't take kids anywhere ), so that led to a couple more new back roads being discovered.

I think we all enjoyed getting off I-5 and testing out the handling of our little plastic cars on some bends. I'm already thinking about next year's trek.

Fieroman88 wrote: Many thanks to a great team effort by all.

Glenn, make sure you pass on our thanks to the rest of the Atchison clan. Good food supplied by the missus, and I admired the fact that your daughter was trying to put one of the big fold-up tents back into it's case at the end of the day all by herself.  (And thanks again for the use of the sunroof panel for a couple of weeks.)

redwilley wrote: Passed Charles and friend on i5 on way home.

Why am I not surprised? I had trouble trying to shake you on the twisties.

Okay... while this is all still fresh in my mind, I wanted to make a couple of observations/suggestions for next year's run down to Arlington.

A few things that I believe we can improve on...

I feel the Pacific Hwy border crossing has become far too busy for us to bother using, even very early in the morning. Since we need to head further east anyway, I sugggest we cross the border at Sumas. It is a much quieter crossing.

I'd like to see two gathering/meeting points. The first one would be at the Tim Horton's at 8590 200 St in Langley. People from Vancouver (me!) can get there in under 25 minutes. We then head east as a group on HWY #1 to the second Tim Horton's just before the border crossing at 1255 Sumas Way in Abbotsford. There we meet up with people from that neck of the woods (Colby, maybe even Gary in his 914/6) who have gathered to join us. The first group would just pull into the parking lot, yell at the second group to finish their coffee and donuts, and off we'd go!

Now that we're already further east, we wouldn't need to be slowed down by going through any part of Bellingham. In regards to meeting up with people such as Charles and Art, we can decide before next year where a good spot might be, perhaps somewhere around location C on the map below.

A link to the entire route on Google Maps can be found https://maps.google.ca/maps?saddr=49.159297,-122.668238&daddr=49.0835499,-122.4476271+to:49.0266211,-122.2665487+to:Unknown+road+to:48.8888594,-122.1520493+to:WA-9+S+to:48.3553185,-122.2035208+to:188th+St+NE&hl=en&sll=48.687334,-122.423401&sspn=0.660008,1.586151&geocode=FYEc7gIdMjuw-A%3BFZ307AId9Ziz-CmfpZdrZcuFVDFJ84XtDOMa-g%3BFT0W7AIdTFy2-Ckbc57J7kqEVDHm_iQ3oWl_sg%3BFTEQ7AIdw1y2-A%3BFRv86QIdjxu4-Cll8q8HNq2FVDGw_uaPkVijnQ%3BFZt-5gIdPi-3-A%3BFfbX4QIdgFK3-ClV-KD230GFVDH5S2JHhqYGuw%3BFXv33gIdxuy3-A&oq=188th+St+NE&gl=ca&mra=ls&via=1,2,4,6&t=m&z=9 - HERE .

So there we go, a head start on next year's route. It's got even more twisties. I think it would be a fun drive.

While Colby and I were driving back from Arlington, we had all kinds of time to talk. I discovered there was something that Colby, age 22, had never experienced before. I knew of a location in Bellingham where Colby could check it out for the first time.

So yessir, I took Colby all a shaking and a trembling to his first http://www.harborfreight.com/ - Harbor Freight Tools . He was like a kid in a candy store! Among other treasures, he bought a 1/2" drive torque wrench for $9.99... such a deal! No holding the boy back now.

Colby's a great kid. Definitely a chip off the old block.

Ken, any chance you can send me the original version of the second image (email address in profile) so that I can tweak it a bit and repost it? Thanks.

Ken, those images at flickr are all heavily compressed. Even the largest available image ("Original" 1280x851) is only 144 KB. Do you have a higher resolution version you could share?