Spring Fling 2012: Drive & Lunch in VA wine country

<p>It's that time of the year again! Spring is in the air, old man Winter is running off to hide, and the trees are starting to blossom!</p>

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<p>Just like I <a href="http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/dc-metro-minis-archive/131437-sunday-apr-6th-and-20th-spring-fling-2008-sunday-drive-and-brunch.html" rel="external nofollow">did</a> <a href="http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/dc-metro-minis-archive/131437-sunday-apr-6th-and-20th-spring-fling-2008-sunday-drive-and-brunch.html" rel="external nofollow">in</a> <a href="http://www.dcmetrominis.org/forums/showthread.php?t=286" rel="external nofollow">previous</a> <a href="http://www.dcmetrominis.org/forums/showthread.php?t=1413" rel="external nofollow">years</a>, I'm organizing the Spring Fling run again, this time on <strong>Sunday</strong><strong>, April 15</strong>. Generally speaking, I prefer to organize this event for the weekend following tax day... but this year I have to do it earlier for these reasons:</p>

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<p></p>

<ul><li>The IRS has extended the tax deadline to Tuesday, April 17<br /></li>

<li>I have a work-related commitment on the following weekend (April 21/22), and the weekend after <em>that</em> (April 28/29) is immediately prior to MOTD, which would make things difficult for many people.<br /></li>

</ul><p></p>

<p>So... save the date for Sunday, April 15! Even if you haven't finished your taxes by then, you'll still have 2 more nights after that to do them!</p>

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<p><strong>WHERE TO MEET:</strong> Sterling Wegmans parking lot (North-East corner). The address is 45131 Columbia Place, Sterling, VA 20166</p>

<p><strong>WHEN:</strong> Sunday, April 15 @ 9:00am. Driver's meeting at 9:50am. We depart at 10am <strong>sharp!</strong> <span style="color:#FF0000;"><strong>Don't be late!</strong></span></p>

<p><strong>RUN DISTANCE:</strong> <strong><span style="color:#0000FF;">68.2 miles (morning) + 69.4 miles (afternoon) = 137.6 miles total.</span></strong> Easy "early exits" available in afternoon at 85.9 miles (Rt 66), 94.2 miles (Rt 50), 106 miles (Rt 7).</p>

<p><strong>RUN TIME:</strong> Approx 6.5 hours - we will return to the Wegmans parking lot at approx. 4:30pm.</p>

<p><strong>WHAT TO BRING:</strong> Full tank of gas, 2-way radio, money to buy lunch (cash please - makes it easier for the check), sweater/raincoat/umbrella (if necessary, depending on weather) and a fun-loving attitude! :top:</p>

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<p>A quick refresher:</p>

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<p>One of my fondest MINI-related memories is the very first drive I ever participated in with DCMM - it was the Spring Fling, created by Bruce Pancoast (<a href="http://www.dcmetrominis.org/forums/member.php?u=68" rel="external nofollow">mty_mini</a>), and organized with help from Jen Oakes (<a href="http://www.dcmetrominis.org/forums/member.php?u=79" rel="external nofollow">Jen</a>) (who was our event coordinator at the time). This all happened on Sunday, April 24, 2005... only 6 or 7 weeks after I picked up my brand new MINI. Alan (<a href="http://www.dcmetrominis.org/forums/member.php?u=2" rel="external nofollow">Scavenger</a>), who was getting his first exposure to the MINI, came along as my co-pilot.</p>

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<p>Meeting in the Sterling Wegmans parking lot (near MINI of Sterling), it was fun to meet a whole bunch of like-minded MINIacs all at once, for the first time. Little did I know just how much fun there was still to come... after grabbing some coffee and/or breakfast snacks from Wegmans.</p>

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<p>The roads were beautiful and twisty, and was such an awesome experience to be in a long line of MINIs for the very first time. We stopped for lunch at Orlean Market <span style="color:#000000;">in Upperville, VA</span> (in western Fauquier County), then continued on for wine tasting at Naked Mountain Vineyard & Winery after that, before heading all the way back to Wegmans.</p>

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<p>It was a long day (128 miles or so!), but <strong>so</strong> nice. Needless to say, I was eager to do this run again.</p>

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<p>Our lunch stop will be again be at <a href="http://www.griffintavern.com/" rel="external nofollow">Griffin Tavern</a> (<a href="http://www.griffintavern.com/menu_brunch.cfm?PageName=BrunchMenu" rel="external nofollow">brunch menu</a>), since Orlean Market closed down a number of years ago. Unfortunately, since it is "Sunday brunch", the menu is more limited than their regular menu, but they still have their famous Shepherd's Pie! Also, the manager told me that they can make some accommodations if advance notice is given.</p>

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<p><span><strong>NOTE:</strong></span><span> The plan is to have </span><span><strong>1 check per table</strong></span><span>, so to make things easier to sort out, please bring sufficient cash to cover your portion of the check.</span></p>

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<p>For those interested or curious:</p>

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<p><a href="http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/dc-metro-minis-archive/39093-dcmm-sunday-drive-and-brunch-sunday-april-24-10-00-am.html" rel="external nofollow">Original Spring Fling thread (2005)</a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/dc-metro-minis-archive/131437-sunday-apr-6th-and-20th-spring-fling-2008-sunday-drive-and-brunch.html" rel="external nofollow">Spring Fling 2008 thread</a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.dcmetrominis.org/forums/showthread.php?t=286" rel="external nofollow">Spring Fling 2009 thread</a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.dcmetrominis.org/forums/showthread.php?t=840" rel="external nofollow">Spring Fling 2010 thread</a></p>

<p><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=45131+Columbia+Pl,+Sterling,+VA+20166&daddr=Loudoun+County+Pkwy+to:Ryan+Rd%2FVA-772+to:VA-860%2FWatson+Rd+to:US-50+to:Lime+Kiln+Rd%2FVA-733+to:Mountville+Rd+to:Foxcroft+Rd%2FVA-626+to:38.969557,-77.73635+to:Pickering+St+to:Atoka+Rd%2FVA-713+to:Atoka+Rd%2FVA-713+to:Grove+Ln%2FVA-55+to:Grove+Ln%2FVA-55+to:Free+State+Rd%2FVA-721+to:659+Zachary+Taylor+Hwy,+VA+22627&geocode=%3BFYU9UwIdQRRi-w%3BFRjuUgIdI0Bh-w%3BFeNQUwIdCzRg-w%3BFVSSUgId6rNf-w%3BFRajUwIdLW1f-w%3BFVhfUwIdiwVe-w%3BFeU4UwId3YVd-w%3B%3BFbicUgIdvc5d-w%3BFaa4UgIdurxc-w%3BFR6uUgIdxLRc-w%3BFfuJUQIdPidb-w%3BFX8JUQIdZ51b-w%3BFeRiUAId3Ftb-w%3B&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=0,1&mrsp=8&sz=18&via=1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9,10,11,12,13,14&sll=38.969006,-77.736731&sspn=0.003032,0.004013&ie=UTF8&ll=38.863236,-77.711792&spn=0.621262,1.058807&z=10" rel="external nofollow">Spring Fling 2010 Morning Route on Google Maps</a></p>

<p><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=659+Zachary+Taylor+Hwy,+VA+22627&daddr=Hume+Rd+to:Leeds+Manor+Rd%2FVA-688+to:Leeds+Manor+Rd%2FVA-688+to:Blueridge+Mountain+Rd%2FVA-601+to:Snickersville+Pike%2FSnickersville+Turnpike%2FVA-734+to:Jeb+Stuart+Rd%2FVA-630+to:39.050085,-77.734559+to:Snickersville+Turnpike%2FVA-734+to:Loudoun+County+Pkwy%2FMoran+Rd%2FOld+Ox+Rd%2FVA-606+to:45131+Columbia+Pl,+Sterling,+VA+20166&geocode=%3BFVqeUAIdiDNY-w%3BFZjjUAIdFuJZ-w%3BFSm8UQIdw9ZZ-w%3BFSBfUwIdrmZa-w%3BFSHAVAIdZ25c-w%3BFRf1UwIdLspd-w%3B%3BFUw7UwIdPHxe-w%3BFdsqUgIdFiph-w%3B&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=1&mrsp=7&sz=16&via=1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9&sll=39.052335,-77.733314&sspn=0.012114,0.01605&ie=UTF8&ll=38.863236,-77.711792&spn=0.621262,1.058807&z=10" rel="external nofollow">Spring Fling 2010 Afternoon Route on Google Maps</a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.dcmetrominis.org/forums/showthread.php?t=1413" rel="external nofollow">Spring Fling 2011 thread</a></p>

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<p><a href="http://www.dcmetrominis.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=831&d=1366758085" rel="external nofollow">Spring Fling 2012 Route Sheet</a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.dcmetrominis.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=416&d=1333515370" rel="external nofollow">Spring Fling 2012 Waiver Form</a></p>

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<p><strong>NOTE: All non-member drivers are expected to sign a waiver before participating.</strong></p>

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<p><strong>NOTE #2: Due to severe size limitations from the local wineries, we do not participate in wine tasting any more. </strong>However, you are welcome to order yourself a glass of wine with lunch at Griffin Tavern. </p>

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<p>Hope to see many of you out there again!</p>

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<p><span style="color:#FF0000;"><strong>Please be sure to RSVP as soon as you know for sure whether you're coming or not, so we can give a reasonably accurate head count to Griffin Tavern. They have given us a hard cap of 60 people, so if we reach that number, RSVPs will be closed.</strong></span></p>