The road to Marscon (part 1)

My wife and I have been talking about her and my daughter going to the Bloomington, MN Holiday Inn Select on the first weekend of March to join me at the Marscon sci-fi convention which features comedy music performed by artists who travel from both coasts and points in between.

In the past when my wife would go, she would fly since it would be quicker for her and not that much more expensive than driving. With taking the kid, that would double the airfare cost without considering the luggage fees airlines now charge.

Last night before we went to sleep, my wife stated she could drive. Though it would save $200 over two air fares, I am hesitant to let her do that and really don't want to give up 60 hours of my con experience time to drive them myself since I would not get to the con until Friday at 6PM and would have to leave the con Sunday at noon to get my kid home at a decent time so she can go to school on Monday. note: When I ride with my friends, the con starts when we leave my house and ends when we return. It is not the same riding with my wife and daughter.

Why am I hesitant to let my wife drive to the con with only the kid? Look up my entries titled Family Circus Style Driving. A week ago Saturday, it took her two hours to get home from Glenview, twenty miles away.

This is the route of the almost 400 mile trip from my house to Marscon which I have driven the past 4 years and have taken to the twin cities about 30 times since 1990:



I will need to put together a guide for my wife for the trip.