Düsseldorf (Germany) is not much futher from the meet than Amsterdam, and I would be more than happy to drive you over if you can get suitable points flights. We're talking a European "not much further" here too, not a Canadian one - ~130km/1 hour further. You *could* even fly to California from here - it's not like you are going to need to be there over the weekend or anything (they do still have weekends in the US don't they?).

Think I could probably manage to pitch in with Sven on that Accomodation deal too. Of course the same condition would apply