verde-canyon-rr-caboose
Set aside Nov. 1st & 2nd for the upcoming trip to Cottonwood (P52) and the Verde Canyon Railroad ride.  I've been remiss sending this email until now.  Ellen Randoll has done a masterful job arranging this fly-out for EAA 1044 up at Mogollon Airpark in Heber/Overgaard.  (I'm also a member of EAA 1044.)  Since Ellen and her husband Curt are also APA members, she was happy to have us piggyback onto their EAA event.  My wife Jo and I plan to participate.  Hopefully, we'll see some of our fellow APA members there, as well.
 
Unlike in past events, please email Ellen (copying me) regarding your participation since she's arranging local transportation.
 
Things you need to quickly do are:
  1. Read Ellen's email (below).
  2. Call & make your hotel reservations (which will include the train tickets).
  3. Email Ellen ASAP (copying me)  and let her know you intend to participate.
This event is something that any aircraft - slow or fast - can manage.  From my home 'drome in Chandler (KCHD), Cottonwood (P52) is only 91 nm. away!  And, with fall weather in the higher elevations, Mother Nature is busy painting the leaves from her palette of reds and golds.  Hopefully, that brilliance will still be visible during our train ride.
 
The usual caveat...   As is the case for all of our Getaway Flights, you are PIC and responsible for all aspects of flight planning, including (but not limited to) weather, routing, and aircraft performance. The go/no-go decision is entirely yours!
 
Blue skies & tailwinds,
 
Craig
 
Craig Albright
480-776-9358 (cell)

 

Verde Canyon Railroad Weekend Getaway (www.verdecanyonrr.com)
 
When: November 1 & 2, 2014
Where: Cottonwood Airport 
Time: Meet at Cottonwood airport at 10:00 am on Saturday, Nov. 1st
Rental cars (2) - $140.04 + $10 taxi from rental to airport
1:00 pm train
 
Dinner Suggestions
Schoolhouse Restaurant (www.vvschoolhouse.com)
Pizzeria Bocce (www.boccecottonwood.com)
Hog Wild (www.azhogwild.com)
 
Best Western Cottonwood Inn – 1 night stay and 2 train tickets  (had a fairly high rating on trip advisor)
 
$203.61 – 2 coach tickets and queen room
$210.29 – 2 coach tickets and king room

 

 

 

MORE DETAILS

 

 

 

We’ll take rental cars from the airport to the hotel to leave our baggage and hopefully check in.  Then we’ll go to the railroad depot.  There is a cafe at the depot we can eat at, or snacks, wine & beer are available on the train.

 

 

 

After the magnificent train ride, we’ll go to dinner, or you can be on your own.  Rooms include free hot breakfast.

 

 

 

Some of the restaurants are in Historic Old Town, so we might want to consider them, or we can wander around before or after dinner.  (With 12 people, we might want to make a reservation somewhere to ensure that we can get in!)

 

 

 

HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO

 

  • Make your own hotel reservations, letting them know that you want the package that includes two coach tickets on the Verde Canyon Train.  (If you are 65 or older, please let them know as I believe you get a $5 discount per ticket.)  Rooms with king beds are a little more expensive than queen. 877-377-6415
  • Confirm you are coming by emailing me (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) as I need to book transportation
  • Let me know if you have any suggestions for dinner (see mine above).  Schoolhouse Restaurant is fairly expensive, so if you prefer to go somewhere else, or you have been to a Cottonwood restaurant you would recommend, let me know.  I’ve included websites for the restaurants so you can peruse at your leisure.  (We’ve eaten at Hog Wild and it was great.  I think they have about 9 tables - you order first, then sit down and they bring your food to you.  Lots of food, very casual.)
 
HOPE YOU ALL CAN MAKE IT!  If you know of anyone else who would like to go, please feel free to forward this invite.  I just need a head count to reserve the appropriate amount of rental cars.
 
If I missed any important information, please let me know.
 

 

Ellen

 

 

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