No one said you couldn't meet up somewhere else and ride to the Ingles at all. It's no big deal, really. If no one shows, then no one shows. None of us has planned a cruise like this before. If anything, this can be a feeler of sorts to see how to get it right the next time.
Also, sometimes, no plan is just as good as having a plan. I hop in my car all the time and just take roads I've never driven on just for the hell of it and see where it leads.
But there is a plan as to the route. If you can't make it, that's cool. Hail I'm really not as excited about this because my car won't be there. I'm really looking ahead for next year so we can start all over again. Later, QD.