2022 OFest Caravan

2022 Ofest Caravan Information and Schedule

Day 1 -Saturday September 24- Departure from BMW of Lincoln, NE at 8:00am

The dealership is 1 block off I-80 at the 27^th St. Exit which is exit 403.

Sunrise in Lincoln, NE is 0715 Central Time

Destination is Silverthorne/Dillon Colorado exit 205 – 552mi. – approx. 8hrs with a Sunset of 7:00pm MDT

Estimated local arrival time is 5:00pm Mountain Time with –1hr time change from Central Time to Mountain Time. (Includes 2 hours stopped for gas, food and points of interest stops)

Colorado is a tourist based economy so hotels are a bit more expensive, especially weekend dates.  Here are a few to check with that seemed reasonably priced. You are responsible for booking your own rooms, they don’t offer group discounts.  All the hotels, gas and food locations listed are less than 3 blocks off the interstate route.  Super 8 by Wyndham-$110, Comfort Suites-$130.  Food– Arby’s, McDonalds, Chipotle, Wendy’s, Dunkin’, Starbucks, Einstein Bros. Bagels and other sit down restaurants.  Gas– Shell, Exxon, Sinclair, Phillips 66, Conoco.

Day 2 – Sunday September 25 – Departure from Silverthorne/Dillon at 8:00am

Sunrise in Silverthorne/Dillon is 0655 Mountain Time

Destination is Cedar City, Utah exit 59 – 513mi. – approx. 7.5hrs with a Sunset of 7:24pm MDT

Estimated local arrival time is 5:30pm Mountain Time with no time changes.   (Includes 2 hours stopped for gas, food and points of interest stops)

Hotels were much more affordable in Utah.  Here are a few that I found: Americas Best Value-$57, Motel 6- $59, Super 8-$47, Quality Inn-$47,  Ramada Inn-$83.  You are responsible for booking you own rooms.  All of the above Hotels are within 3 blocks of the interstate route as well as the places below.   Food – Arby’s,  DQ, Denny’s, McDonalds, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, Subway, KFC, Burger King, Jimmy Johns.  Gas – Shell, Conoco, Chevron, Phillips 66 and The Spot Free Car Wash.

Day 3 – Monday September 26 – Departure from Cedar City Utah at 8:00am

Sunrise in Cedar City Utah is 0724 Mountain Time

Destination is La Quinta Resort, Palm Springs California – 471mi. – approx. 7.0hrs with a sunset of 6:30pm PT

Estimated local arrival time is 4:00pm Pacific Time with –1hr time change from Mountain Time to Pacific Time. (Includes 2 hours stopped for gas, food and points of interest stops)

On this final leg, we will be travelling across vast expanses of dry arid and hot desert before and after Las Vegas.  The high desert is not a place to break down or get caught without extra water bottles or snacks.  Please plan for this accordingly as you can become dehydrated and not realize it.  It is 175 miles to  Las Vegas, NV  and we should arrive before lunch, so this will be an early gas stop before we head across the Mohave Desert for the final 200mi. to Palm Springs.  According to the National Weather Service, the temps in September could be 83deg to 92deg but only 12% chance of cloud cover with low humidity.

NOTES –

If you have a personal FRS radio, please bring it and extra batteries as these are very helpful for group communication.   We will operate on Channel 13.  Why 13, what is the 13^th letter in the alphabet…….

Additional stops for scenic lookouts and photo opportunities are fine but will affect arrival times.

The first day and the last day we gain an hour of travel time due to time changes in our favor.

I estimate that we will NOT be driving in the dark at any time unless we extend our stopping time.  Each of these legs should get us to the hotel before dinner allowing some down time to relax, clean and gas cars etc..

Hotel prices the first night in Colorado reflect seasonal pricing and cannot be avoided in this area at this time of year.  The second stop in Utah resulted in Hotel prices that were much lower than the first night whereby offsetting some of the overall cost.

Some of the vehicles in the caravan have limited range so fill-ups at 250mi intervals will be required.

There is a possibility we will be picking up other club members along the route, and is encouraged, but the caravan must remain on pace so the responsibility of those joining will be to meet along the route and coordinate ETA’s at specific locations with Jeff Gomon or Dave Brighton.  Phone numbers are below.

The hotel names only are provided, and there are other choices, but is the responsibility of the individual to make their own reservation ASAP, but cancellations are usually possible up to the day before check-in.  FYI, these hotels are NOT meant to be luxurious or 5 star accommodations in any way.  We are stopping for a few hours of sleep and a shower and back on the road so price and guest reviews were the decision makers.  Anyone can choose another hotel if they like and rejoin the group in the morning for departure.   I searched Hotels.com and entered Silverthorne, CO and then Cedar City, UT to find rates and availability.

Group meals are not planned, but open to discussion.

Speeds will be no more than GPS verified 9 mph above the posted limit and no shenanigans would be appreciated.

The goal is to not draw attention of law enforcement to our group and have a fun and safe trip!

*We will provide a #hashtag to the group to share pictures with everyone as we progress.

Jeff Gomon – 402-613-6914 cell Email – jeffgomon@gmail.com

Dave Brighton – 515-570-5549 Email – dwbrighton@gmail.com