Hobby Kingdom Goes to Gen Con 2007
Thursday, Day 1: 11am 12:30pm 1pm 1:53pm to 12:30am
With much to do around the office before our departure (it’s not easy being El Presidente and Vice Presidente) we set a very reasonable departure time of 11am. Unfortunately I didn’t arrive IN the office until 11:15, so the departure was rescheduled several times to a much more reasonable 1:53pm.
Our trusty Google Map directions in hand, we bravely set forth for the unknown world of Indianapolis for Gen Con.
Google told us the 807km trip would take 8hrs. Pshaw! I quite expertly calculated if we traveled at an average speed of 140km/hr we would arrive within exactly 5hrs 46m and 27 seconds (as our friend Data would say).
Unfortunately Google withheld telling us about the severe backup on the Sarnia customs bridge, or the surly border agent who didn’t know what a “Gen Con” was. Integrated news/map/web search engine? I don’t think so!
Several hours later, somewhere north of Lansing, we searched for the mysterious exit 97. Exit 101, exit 99… 98… 95. 95?! Where is exit 97?!? Unfortunately the highway was under construction for 8 miles so we had to travel to exit 82 before we could double back and look for the missing 97. Traveling in the opposite direction did not reveal the elusive exit 97. This was clearly not a problem based on angle or vantage point.
Traveling once again in the original direction we again passed exit 101… 99… 98… 95. No exit 97. With no additional information to go on, we figured Google screwed us over again just like at the border crossing. We kept traveling in our westward direction hoping to take an alternate route.
Amazingly enough, our highway merged in with another highway and low and behold the exit numbers began in the 90’s again. Like a beacon shaped like a holy grail, exit 97 providentially revealed itself before our pilgrim eyes. We shouldn’t have doubted. All gamers know to trust the computer. The computer is our friend.
Many many MANY hours later we arrived in Indianapolis. We knew we were close to the RCA Dome and the hotel when we spotted (I personally have 7 ranks in Spot, never mind the +2 for Alex helping) several gamers walking around the streets, backpacks heavy laden, magic cards poking out of every pocket and orifice.
Weary from traveling, we checked into our inn. It is a very humble abode: The Downtown Marriott.
These facilities will do.
A quick jaunt up these stairs brings us to the convention center.
As soon as we walked into the grand entrance with the double rounded staircases, polished brass, and mahogany fixtures, Alex said “Don’t tell my wife where we stayed, she’ll kill me for not bringing her.” The beauty of the moment was further disrupted by several disheveled gamers sitting in the lobby playing World of Warcraft on the free hotel Wi-Fi.
I wonder how many gamers are sleeping in their cars tonight. Probably in the low hundreds.
The first leg of the trip complete, we managed to check into our rooms around 12:30am. Our minds drifted off into sleep, dreaming of the wonders to behold us tomorrow at Gen Con.