After more than a year of planning and anticipation, the Great Slow Travel Gathering 2008 is now only 80 DAYS away. From the activity and talk on the Gathering Forum, it's obvious the excitement is really building as we approach that first weekend in April.
The Gathering planning team is busy finalizing arrangements for the three big events: the kickoff party at the Gingerbread House on Friday night; Fun at the Fort (Old Fort Jackson) on Saturday night; and Sunday brunch at Vic's on the River. The $175 registration fee covers food, drink and entertainment at these three events, including transportation by trolley to and from the Fort.
We have a growing list of prizes that will be distributed in welcome bags and through a door prize drawing. Thanks so much to the members and classified advertisers who have donated these wonderful gifts! We have three fabulous grand prizes! There will be other surprises at the Gathering too.
As we've tried to share in our weekly Countdown posts, Savannah is a city rich with culture and history. A variety of small group activities are being organized for the weekend, and more are likely to develop over the next few weeks. Check the Gathering Forum on a regular basis to see what's happening or see the complete list here. Post on individual threads to express your interest. Anyone is welcome to initiate a small group activity.
As of January 8, 94 people had registered to attend the Gathering. The list is posted here. (Note: if you have registered but your name is not on this list, we haven't received your registration fee yet. Please take care of this as soon as possible to confirm your spot! See info on where to send it here.)
Our group includes members from all over North America: many long-time Slow Travel members, newer members, and guests. Slow Travel founder Pauline Kenny and her husband Steve will be there, along with several moderators (Shannon, Kim, Roz, and kaydee). This will be a great opportunity to visit with old friends, meet others in person for the first time, and make new friends who share a love of travel.
It's definitely not too late to be part of the Gathering! Everyone is welcome, but you must first be a registered member of the message board. Members are posting about airfares to Savannah, and there are also many posts on the Gathering Forum about accommodations. Learn more about registration, then post and let us all know you're coming!
Full payment for the Gathering is due on or before February 1, 2008. Let us know if you have any questions.
See in you in Savannah for the Great Slow Travel Gathering - April 4, 5, and 6, 2008!
I need to let everyone know something else about the Gathering!
We've been very fortunate to have two unexpected financial sponsors. They have each made a meaningful financial contribution that will enable us to do some special things during the Gathering that weren't part of our original plans.
One of our contributors is Internet Brands, the owner of the Slow Travel website. We really thank them for their enthusiastic support of this first Gathering of our Slow Travel community.
The other contributor asked to be anonymous, so we can't tell you anything more. But a special thanks also to that Mystery Benefactor for their interest in making this a truly wonderful weekend.
80 more sleeps! Just 80 more sleeps...can you believe it? I've completely avoided using that groddie dancing chicken, but for this occasion, I think it's warranted.
It seems like a few weeks ago that we were voting on which city to meet for our gathering, and here it is, almost time to get down south! I don't know about the rest of y'all, but I'm stoked, completely.
My passport is finally here. My accommodations are reserved. MY suitcase is actually sitting in the guest room, waiting to be packed! My flight is booked, in Business class with FF miles, for goodness sake! It's a long, long day's journey from here to Savannah, I'll be travelling kitty-corner across the continent from north-west to south-east, so I'll be more than happy to have the comfort of my business class seat. I'm hoping that it will save me from flight exhaustion!
How's everyone else feeling? A little excited, perhaps?
“This suspense is terrible. I hope it will last.” ~ Oscar Wilde Brenda
My thanks again to the Gathering committee. You have done a fantastic job of organizing this! Can't believe it is less than 80 days now.
Should we put Slow Travel luggage tags on our purses, or wear a Slow Travel sticker or have some way of identifying each other, for those of us who are going a few days early?
I think this is a great idea. In 2004, we brushed shoulders with Wendy and Rob at La Bodega in Volpaia and didn't know it until we returned and Wendy saw my post on the Italy forum.
Should we put Slow Travel luggage tags on our purses, or wear a Slow Travel sticker or have some way of identifying each other, for those of us who are going a few days early?
I'm not a huge fan of stickers . . . We do have a slowtravel luggage tag on each piece of luggage and on our backpack that we lug around with us when we're our walking.
Jerry
The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see. ~G.K. Chesterton
Thats a really good idea, to have some kind of id, even while we are all there, I am sure we won't always recognize each other, if we are just out and about. Like pins with a slow travel logo, or baseball caps or t-shirts. Are the slow travel luggage tags still available. I would love to get one or two of them?
Originally posted by SandraK: Thats a really good idea, to have some kind of id, even while we are all there, I am sure we won't always recognize each other, if we are just out and about. Like pins with a slow travel logo, or baseball caps or t-shirts. Are the slow travel luggage tags still available. I would love to get one or two of them?
Sandra
Cafe Press use to sell the Slow Travel stuff, maybe you can contact them and see if they will still make the luggagetags. Back when they were advertising on here I bought a tote bag and luggage stickers from them. Pauline sent me nametags when I paid my premium membership a couple of years ago. J.
Should we put Slow Travel luggage tags on our purses, or wear a Slow Travel sticker or have some way of identifying each other, for those of us who are going a few days early?
That is a part of the fun... "I think I know you but..." And then you meet someone who knows everything about you. I think we should all wear our feather boas! See y'all in Savannah!
Should we put Slow Travel luggage tags on our purses, or wear a Slow Travel sticker or have some way of identifying each other, for those of us who are going a few days early?
That is a part of the fun... "I think I know you but..." And then you meet someone who knows everything about you.
I'll wear mine if you wear yours! I think we should all wear our feather boas! See y'all in Savannah!
Posts: 327 | Location: Mississippi | Registered: 31 October 2004
Hmmm...I'll be in NO for the first weekend of Carnival next weekend, and hitting up the bead store for last minute supplies. How about MG beads in a certain color? I certainly won't mind picking up a few packs and bringing them. That would be an easy identifier, and not to girly for the guys to wear I could mail them ahead to those who request and bring the rest for handout there.
Since I don't really have any prize-worthy donations, that can be my contribution!! I'll just need to know in the next few days so I can pick up some cool looking special beads!
Anne
Posts: 191 | Location: Louisiana | Registered: 01 May 2005
Kendall, you're certainly close enough to make it for the parades...boas are required attire there I'm riding in Metairie, in Napoleon, Sat Feb 2, float 19, sidewalk side...hold up a sign and I'll throw lots to you!
And by the way, MY boa has blinky lights (that's how we flash at Mardi Gras, Metairie style!)
Anne
Posts: 191 | Location: Louisiana | Registered: 01 May 2005
Wendy, Count me in, for sure! Jen just posted a thread about this, so I'm signing up. My flight out the next day is at an ungodly early hour, so I'll pack on Sunday sometime and then hang with y'all for the evening!
I also posted earlier about booking those gorgeous Classic Caddy Tours and we now have a full caddy going on a tour of the area, Bonaventure, Tybee, Wilmington...the owner has been fantastic to work with, so if anyone is looking for something like this, give him a call! Classic Caddy Tours is the best website I've seen in ages...sit behind the wheel of the caddy, turn on the radio and choose your favorite '50's music, slide the keys into the ignition and drive!
"Friends are family you choose for yourself." ~ Author Unknown Brenda
Hi, I am staying over Sun eve and leaving Mon around noon. I would love to join in the fun for Sun night. That Jazz'd really looks fun !! I really wish I had booked a few more days, just to enjoy the city more, time is going to go by so fast.
Slow Travel Talk 
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That Jazz'd really looks fun !! I really wish I had booked a few more days, just to enjoy the city more, time is going 
to go by so fast. 
