2004 Reunion Caravan

THE  CARAVAN  FROM  CAJUN  LAND  TO  ACADIAN
 
Though the caravan will be made up of several members of Acadian Genealogy Society, The Society is not sponsoring the caravan. Nor is the caravan being put together by a Travel Agency. It's just a group of Cajuns from Louisiana, who will be heading to Nova Scotia for the CMA 2004, but may end up in California. If you do not want to make the trip alone, and you are traveling in the same direction at the same time as the caravan, we'll be glad to see you, and we'll welcome you with open arms. The caravan will not be responsible for anything that happens to you on the trip. You will be responsible for your own expenses, including but not limited to overnight accommodations, fuel, and meals. Everything that could be thought of in preparing for this trip has been done, or so we think. Remember, we are just simple Cajuns on this caravan just like the rest of you, and we want everyone to have a safe and fun trip. But be prepared for life's little bumps, because nothing ever goes just as it was planned.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

If you would like to meet up with the caravan at any point on the way to Nova Scotia, contact acadiangenealogy@cox.net   or 225.744.4253. Let us know where you will meet up with the caravan, and how far your motorhome or vehicle can travel on a full tank of fuel. When you join up with the caravan, we would like to have your cell phone number to have some type of contact with you on the road.
 
Remember, you do not have to be in a motorhome to travel with the caravan. The caravan will stop approximately every 200 miles to stretch their legs and give those who are not in a motorhome a chance to fuel up and grab something to eat. The stops will try to be scheduled at locations such as TA, Pilot, Flying J, etc. They will be places where everything can be done at one location, such as fuel up with diesel or gas, eat, and use the restroom. The caravan will not be stopping at Interstate "Rest Areas" or
"Welcome Centers".
 

The following are web sites to the towns the caravan will be stopping in. If you wish to make arrangements for overnight stay, you should be able to find a place here.
 
Fort Payne, AL:   http://www.fortpayne.com
Harrisonburg, VA: http://www.hrchamber.com
Manchester, CT: http://www.manchesterchamber.com
Houlton, ME: http://www.greaterhoulton.com
 
If you have any trouble getting to these web sites, type in the town / chamber of commerce. Or, go to any search engine and look for hotels in the city the caravan will be stopping in.
 
If you're driving a motorhome and do not want to dry camp, you will have to make arrangements at a campground. If you're  driving a motorhome and you don't mind dry camping, contact us and we'll let you know where to go.
 
If you plan to cross a ferry from the mainland to Nova Scotia, go to one of these web sites for ferry information:
 
Cat Ferry: http://www.catferry.com
NFL Ferry: http://www.nfl-bay.com
Scotia Prince: http://www.scotiaprince.ws  

The following driving directions are from AAA and FMCA and will be followed as closely as possible. From Baton Rouge to Church Point - Clare is approximately 2450 miles and will take approximately 40 hours in driving time. If you are planning to meet at the starting point of the caravan, and are coming from out of town or out of state, make your schedule plans to be at the starting point on time.
 
DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
 
July 26 / Day 1:
Beginning in Baton Rouge, LA on I-12 East at Exit #10 at the Truck Stop. Leaving at 9:00 am sharp, the caravan will head East on I-12 and connect with I-59 North in Slidell, LA. The caravan will continue on I-59 North until arriving in Fort Payne, Alabama.
Miles traveled - approximately 500
 
July 27 / Day 2:
The caravan will leave Fort Payne, AL at 9:00 am sharp heading North on I-59 and connecting with I-24, then with I-75 North in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Continuing on I-75 North to Knoxville, TN and connecting with I-40, then with I-81 North. Continuing on I-81 North, traveling through Tennessee and Virginia until arriving in Harrisonburg, VA.
Miles traveled - approximately 500
 
July 28 / Day 3:
The caravan will take one of two routes on this day. Route 1 was given by AAA. Route 2 was given by someone who often drives to Canada to see relatives. The caravan members will decide before it leaves Harrisonburg, VA which way it will take. If you are traveling with the caravan, then you will have a voice on which route to take. Regardless of the route the caravan takes, it will not effect where the caravan will makes its overnight stops.
 
Route 1. The caravan will leave Harrisonburg, VA at 9:00 am sharp heading North on I-81 until connecting with I-66 East in Strasburg, VA. Continuing on I-66 until the Washington, D.C. area and connecting with the I-495 North Loop, then connecting with I-95 on the other side. Continuing on I-95 North until the Baltimore, Maryland area and connecting with the I-695 Loop
(Right), then reconnecting with I-95 on the other side, and continue on I-95 North through Maryland and Delaware. Entering New Jersey and connecting with and continuing on the New Jersey Turnpike, until connecting with the Garden State Parkway near Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Continuing on the Garden State Parkway until connecting with I-287 East, then with I-684, then with I-84 East. This will have taken us through New Jersey, part of New York, and into Connecticut, where the caravan will stop in Manchester, CT.
Miles traveled - approximately 500
 
Route 2. The caravan will leave Harrisonburg, VA at 9:00 am sharp heading North on I-81 through part of West Virginia, Maryland and into Pennsylvania and connection with I-84 East near Scranton, PA., via a short jump on I-380. Continuing on I-84 East through part of New York and into Connecticut, where the caravan will stop in Manchester., CT
Miles traveled - approximately 500
 
July 29 / Day 4:
The caravan will leave Manchester, CT at 9:00 sharp heading East on I-84 and enter Massachusetts until connecting with I-290, then connecting with I-495. Continuing through Massachusetts until connecting with I-95 North near the Massachusetts/New Hampshire state line. Continuing through part of New Hampshire, into and through Maine on I-95 North until arriving in Houlton, Maine. This will be the last stop in the US before crossing the border.
Miles traveled: approximately 425
 
For those of you who will be crossing the ferry from the mainland to  Nova Scotia, you will be getting off of I-95, and will not continue to Houlton, ME with the rest of the caravan.

July 30 / Day 5:
The caravan will leave Houlton, ME at 9:00 am sharp heading toward the border and connecting with Hwy 2 East (Right). Continuing on Hwy 2 through New Brunswick and until entering Nova Scotia, where Hwy 2 changes into Hwy 104. Continuing on Hwy 104 until connecting with Hwy 102 near Truro, N.S., then continuing on Hwy 102 until connecting with Hwy 14 near Milford, N.S., then continuing on Hwy 14 until connecting with Hwy 101 and head West. The caravan will continue on Hwy 101 until arriving in Church Point - Clare for the Opening Ceremonies.
Miles traveled - depends on where you broke off from the caravan. But you made it to Nova Scotia.
 
Individuals may have already broken off from the caravan once in Nova Scotia, depending on what reunion you are attending and where the reunions are located. If you will be traveling back home with the caravan. Make sure you are at the location that follows, or let us know where you will meet back up with the caravan on it's way out of Nova Scotia on August 16th.

August 15:
The caravan will meet up in Grand Pre, N.S. for the Closing Ceremonies.
 
August 16:
The caravan will leave Grand Pre, N.S. at 9:00 am sharp and head back in a
similar way it came.
 
Pass this on to anyone you feel may be interested in traveling in a group,
instead of going the trip alone.