Based on my supposed plans for AN practice ice, I will be cutting it pretty close between my practice at Griffs and my official warm up at Patterson. Yahoo maps says that it is a 14 minute drive, but does Grand Rapids have rush hour traffic issues on I-96 and I-196 that I need to consider? I hear that official warm ups can be pretty crazy, so if I had to choose between the two sessions, I might be better off just doing the practice ice anyway. Any advice for a newbie on this?

Generally traffic is heaviest between 7:30 and 8:30 in the morning and 5:00 and 6:00 in the evening mainly through the downtown area. But even at those times, unless is there is an accident or bad weather, it still only takes me 20-25 minutes to get to/from work (I live further west than Griff's and work very close to Patterson). Otherwise, traffic is pretty light and you can easily make it to/from Griff's in probably 15-20 mins.

We did just find out that there will be construction on Patterson Ave., so it will be down to 1 lane each direction instead of the 2 it normally is. It probably won't affect traffic very much, since it's not generally heavy anyway, but you'll just want to keep it in mind. There is also some construction on 196 through downtown, but, again, it doesn't seem to be affecting traffic very much.

BTW, the speed limit in Michigan is 70 mph, unless otherwise posted.

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I've got mad salchow disease!

REALLY good to know! Thanks flying~camel!

Thanks a lot! That's really helpful.

if you have ever driven with f~c, the emphasis is on flying

Another word of warning, traffic on 28th street can be obnoxious at lunch and dinner time. And Saturdays.

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Champagne in 2005, 2008, 2009 - who's next out of the pre-bronze club...?

Wang chung!

Hey, just because I like to go 80-85mph doesn't mean anything

When Mr. F~C drives, he only goes 75mph at the most and we usually make it all the way across town in 20-25 mins.

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I've got mad salchow disease!

Drivers in Michigan are CRAZY!!! I lived in Allendale for 2 years when I attended GVSU and when I would drive to Milwaukee to visit family, I would be going a nice 75/80 on I94, and would find that people would be passing me....very quickly!!

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Skating Dreams

"All your life you are told the things you cannot do. All your life they will say you're not good enough or strong enough or talented enough; they will say you're the wrong height or the wrong weight or the wrong type to play this or be this or achieve this. THEY WILL TELL YOU NO, a thousand times no, until all the no's become meaningless. All your life they will tell you no, quite firmly and very quickly. AND YOU WILL TELL THEM YES." --Nike

Looks like this California girl will fit right in!

This Massachusetts girl too!

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"Where are we going and why are we in this handbasket?"

Just printed out the Google Map for getting from the Detroit airport to Grand Rapids. Does the I-275 N to the I-96 W sound correct to any of you locals?

Sounds about right to me...when I visit my friends in GR (Holland actually), I usually take 23 up to I96 because I come through Ohio and that's easier that way, but 275 will get you there too...it's a pretty easy drive when you get on I96...pretty much a straight shot! Have fun!!!

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Skating Dreams

"All your life you are told the things you cannot do. All your life they will say you're not good enough or strong enough or talented enough; they will say you're the wrong height or the wrong weight or the wrong type to play this or be this or achieve this. THEY WILL TELL YOU NO, a thousand times no, until all the no's become meaningless. All your life they will tell you no, quite firmly and very quickly. AND YOU WILL TELL THEM YES." --Nike