Jimmy,   
      
   JA> DS>   There are several reasons I decided to treat myself to   
   JA> DS> the Huntsville Hamfest this year:   
      
   JA>I need to look into this... Almost went to Huntsville last   
   JA>month for a day of miniatures gaming, but it's a long drive   
   JA>even for me (and I'm closer than you are). But if 'the wife   
   JA>and I' can make a day of it...   
      
     I can't handle the long drive, but the bus was the better pricing   
   alternative...especially considering what the airlines wanted for a fare. At   
   the airport, the TSA will grope you at the checkpoint for free, and may even   
   give a free colonoscopy. :P   
      
     I think there are several departures, but I picked the one leaving Little   
   Rock around 1am August 19, arriving in Memphis shortly before 5am, with a   
   short layover. Then, the next stop is Jackson (pick up and dropoff only), with   
   an arrival in Nashville a bit after 9am. Then I think I have a layover until   
   around 11:30am, before I board the new bus to Huntsville, arriving there   
   around 2:15pm.   
      
     The return trip has me leaving Huntsville just before 10am on August 22,   
   arriving in Nashville around 1pm. Then, after a layover, I think I leave   
   Nashville around 4pm, getting into Memphis around 9pm, and back into Little   
   Rock just after 12am Tuesday.   
      
     I am GUESSING on the times, because the itinerary doesn't show it. This is   
   obviously assuming that the bus is on time in each direction.   
      
     From what I understand, the bus station in Huntsville is less than a mile   
   from the Von Braun Convention Center, where the hamfest will be held...and the   
   Embassy Suites hotel is adjacent to that. I'm going to stay Friday night,   
   Saturday night, and Sunday night. The main hamfest activities are during the   
   day Saturday and Sunday...but, especially on Saturday. There will be   
   hospitality suites at the Embassy Suites hotel. They haven't announced the   
   hamfest price yet, and it may be a few more weeks before the website is   
   updated, but it's still about 4 1/2 months away.   
      
     Travel wise for you (and your wife, if she makes the trip), if you decide to   
   take the bus, is to board at either Memphis or Jackson. There are other   
   departure times, but I wanted to get to Huntsville while it was still   
   daylight. Greyhound's website I'm sure has further details on schedules,   
   pricing, etc. Mine cost more because it was the "80% refundable ticket". A   
   non-refundable ticket would've been cheaper, but if I had to cancel   
      
   JA>I guess I'll know more after we go to Memphis in a couple   
   JA>of weeks...   
      
     Freefest is next weekend, April 9. I am hoping to go...especially if I can   
   ride with someone from the area, and buy their gas for them. I really don't   
   want to make the drive myself. Of course, if weather is an issue, all bets are   
   off.   
      
   JA> DS> 3) There are a lot of vendors there, although I likely will   
   JA> DS> spend more on prize tickets and food.   
      
   JA>LOL   
      
     If I win a nice prize, I could sell it (since I can't have RF gear), and I   
   could use the money to pay some bills, or maybe make a trip to the Shreveport   
   hamfest in early August. Last year, I went to that one, taking Amtrak for a 5   
   hour train ride from Little Rock, Arkansas to Longview, Texas...then I took   
   the Thruway Bus for an hour ride to the dropoff point at the Shreveport   
   airport. The hotel where I stayed was under 2 miles away, so they provided   
   courtesy shuttle service.   
      
   JA> DS> 8) On the way over and back, I change buses in Nashville,   
   JA> DS> Tennessee; where I have some family (aunts, uncles, and   
   JA> DS> cousins). So, they'll come down to the station during my 90   
   JA> DS> minute layover.   
      
   JA>That's cool! :-)   
      
     I so rarely get to see family anymore, but keep in contact with several of   
   them on Facebook.   
      
   (Continued to next message)   
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