UPDATED INFO FOR THIS TRIP!!!!!

Hi to All,

The arrangements have been finalized with a hotel for our NELL Spring
Meeting / Tour weekend. Sixty members and twenty non-members have
already registered or committed for this tour. If you are not one of
them, what are you waiting for? Come along and bring a friend so we
can
meet our 150 minimum See our website at www.nell.cc for the original
notice, and this update.

GROUP RATE AT THE DOUBLETREE CLUB HOTEL, NORWALK, CT

Accommodations are held at this 266 room hotel for Friday June 2 and
Saturday June 3, 2006 at the rate of $79 plus tax for NELL members AND
FOR THE PUBLIC PARTICIPANTS in our Saturday Western L I Sound cruise.
The rate is held until May 19 (two weeks before the stay) as long as
any
rooms remain available. Cancellation is by 6:00 PM the day of your
stay.

The hotel is just off exit 13 from I-95 (north or south), turn right
from either direction to 789 Connecticut Ave. (Route 1). The hotel is
very central to our NELL weekend, and was completely renovated in July
2005. Rooms are non-smoking and have 1 king bed or 2 queen beds. Visit
their website at www.doubletree.com, and enter the city name, Norwalk,
CT.

Please make your own credit card
reservations at the Doubletree by calling their toll free number
800-222-8733 or direct at 203-853-3477 ASAP. Be sure to say you are
with
the New England Lighthouse Lovers group. If you wish to register
on-line
at our rate, ask Shirin or Tom for the group code when you send in your
tour check.

Breakfast is not included but they have an extensive buffet for $10.95
from 7:00 AM or you can order off the restaurant menu including
continental items. There are also Friendly's, IHOP, and McDonald's only
a few doors away. The hotel restaurant has a reasonable dinner menu and
there are also Bertucci's and Cook House (steak) restaurants
essentially
next door.

The Brewer Yacht Haven Marina WEST for Saturday's cruise is 5 minutes
(less than
5 mi) drive south on I-95 to exit 7 and another 5 minutes to the Marina
from there.

DIRECTIONS TO BREWER YACHT HAVEN MARINA WEST for 9:00 AM departure
(Check in before 8:30 AM)

FROM DOUBLETREE HOTEL turn LEFT on Connecticut Ave., and in a short
distance LEFT again onto I-95 SOUTH.


FROM I-95 SOUTHBOUND (from New Haven) take EXIT 7.
At the 4th light turn LEFT onto Washington Blvd. and proceed until the
stop sign at its end.

Turn LEFT and IMMEDIATE RIGHT onto Dyke Lane for 1/8 mi. then RIGHT
into
the Marina.


DIRECTIONS TO BREWERS YACHT HAVEN MARINA FROM I-95 NORTHBOUND (from
NY):

Take EXIT 7 and proceed through the light and at the next light turn
RIGHT onto Washington Blvd. and proceed to the stop sign at its end.

Turn LEFT and IMMEDIATE RIGHT onto Dyke Lane for 1/8 mi. then RIGHT
into
the Marina.

NELL MEMBERS WEEKEND:

The South Norwalk shops, restaurants, and entertainment area, known as
SONO, is north on I-95 off the next exit, 14. This area is "where its
at" for Friday or Saturday nights. The Maritime Aquarium and I-Max
Theater are there, and to name a few places to eat, there are Brewhouse
Restaurant, O'Neill's Pub, The Rattlesnake, SONO Seaport Seafood, and
for more upscale dining on the water, across the Norwalk River there is
Harbor Lights Restaurant. A Norwalk map of these locations by
lighthousemaps.com will be in your tour envelopes.

The SUNDAY AM NELL MEETING will be from 9:00 AM - 11:00+ AM in the
ballroom at the Doubletree hotel. Fundraising will be held on the
return
leg of the Saturday cruise aboard the American Princess and will not
take up time at the meeting. Committee reports and Secretary minutes
are expected to be distributed before the meeting so you may read them
ahead of time. Also it will be time for election of NELL officers so
you don't want to miss this meeting.

SUNDAY RECOMMENDED 2:00 PM NORWALK SEAPORT ASSOC. (NSA) TOUR TO
SHEFFIELD ISLAND LIGHT: (Check in 30 min. before departure)

NSA DOES NOT TAKE RESERVATIONS UNTIL MARCH. To make your own
reservations then, and pay at the tour, call 203-838-9444, or WEEKENDS
at 203-838-2898, or by e-mail to nseaport@snet.net. Check their
website
at www.seaport.org. for info and other tour options. Their 2005 rate
was $16.

Members going on the tour pick up the Norwalk Seaport Assoc. (NSA) boat
right next door to The Maritime Aquarium and I-Max Theater in SONO.

DIRECTIONS TO SONO & NORWALK SEAPORT ASSOC. DOCK FOR NELL MEMBERS
SHEFFIELD ISLAND TOUR
FROM DOUBLETREE hotel:

Exit to Connecticut Ave. and turn RIGHT.
Continue to the 6th light then turn RIGHT onto Scribner Ave, following
the signs to get onto I-95 NORTH.

Take the next Exit 14 from I-95. Go straight at the stop sign onto Reed
Street and down the hill to West Ave.

Turn RIGHT onto West Ave. and follow the signs to South Norwalk.

Bear left at 1st major intersection (second light) onto North Main for
3
lights.

Turn left under railroad overpass onto Washington Street and take 1st
left onto N Water Street, then immediate right into parking lot where
the NSA vessel docks.
You will need to be there 30 min. ahead of your tour time. (1:30 PM for
the 2:00 PM tour)

This lot by the NSA dock will most likely be filled by the time our
meeting gets out so people would be lucky to get a spot there. There is
a pay box for parking passes to display on your windshield. Rate is $1
per hour for the first 4 hours and $5 for 24 hours.

More than likely you will need to continue on N Water Street past the
Maritime Aquarium and use the parking garage on the left across from
the
Aquarium entrance and allow time to walk back. The rate there is $5 for
3-5 hours. It increases to $8 for 7-12 hours.

The 2:00 PM boat returns to the dock at 5:00 PM. Have a safe trip
home.