Bert

I got an enthusiastic wave this morning :wavey: (just before 9) from a topless BRG MINI entering Potomac (MD) on River Rd. It is always great to get a wave back. It put a smile on my daughter's and my faces. Thanks!

NOPE! no guard rails. A stone or rock here and there but nothing else. I am SO glad that it was only MINIs, and the Park ranger vans leading and following the group. I cannot imagine doing that road in the middle of the summer, 85+ degrees, and cars going both directions. That is CRAZY. :stupid: As it was, I don't think we got out of 2nd gear the whole way up and most of the way down. They keep telling you to say your brakes and clutch. It was still a blast!

The last photo appears to be MUCH brighter than it was. The camera flash reflected off of the fog. We could barely see 15 to 20 feet away.

Here are a few photos from Saturday, June 22nd in New Hampshire. The first photo is the beginning of the morning gathering at Loon Mountain. The MINIs were lined up according to models and after our driver meeting people went on different runs or other things. We all met back up around 5:30 PM at the base of Mt. Washington for dinner under the tents, presentations, and the drive up the mountain. It kept getting darker and more drizzle and more fog. It was still fun.... just don't ask my wife. :s: I did not take two of these photos (#2 and #3), they were taken by the first car up the mountain, when it was still pretty clear.

Heather, if / when you plan on attending you can pick my and Justin's brains for info. The one thing I recommend is to join the MINIs On Top group on Facebook. They are a well organized group and event.

I thought that was plastidip. Cool car and a nice job with the plastidip. :top:

After 13 day, 2,379 miles, 11 states, one foreign country (if you count Canada) up to Quebec City, and 8 MINI dealership stops (including MINI Ville de Quebec), we have made it back home. And my wife still loves me and hasn't killed me... yet. She had mentioned that she racked up a very large number of wifey points, which scares me some. MOT2013 was a lot of fun with ~340 MINIs, ~307 that made the climb up Mt. Washington in the drizzle and fog, and 30+ MINIs from our neighbors to the north. I do not know if we would do the climb again unless there was good weather at the top but the climb was very well organized and having the mountain to ourselves was a lot safer than having cars going up and down at the same time. Spending 2 weeks driving in Ernie was not bad since took a lot of back roads, took our time, and enjoyed the sights as we drove through the northeast. And my wife got to see a moose in the wilds of upper Maine and we have 102 pictures of the moose. Pictures will be coming (not just of the moose) but maybe not until the weekend.

Getting packed today and tomorrow. Making last plans for our 13 day trip up and back and we can't wait. New space saver spare and NJBagLady bag... check. Dynaplug, Gorilla bar, and air compressor... check (Thanks to Sherm and a few others for recommendations.) New small Coleman cooler (Green with a white top... of course!)... check 60 patriotic mini duckies (it is supposedly is an MOT thing)... check MOT registration and passes... check and re-check Passports checked and current for our crossing into Canada... check Passport iQ (GPS and... never mind)... check One suitcase and backpack each... check... I hope Cameras, cords, batteries, etc... check 30+ hours (~2,300 to 2,500 miles) of personal time in Ernie with Anne-Marie... God bless her... it must be love (or pity) after 24 years... PRICELESS!

I remember the suspense. Oh the waiting is a killer.

We will need to update the location for MINI of MoCo M&G in October to their new address: 621 North Frederick Ave. (still route 355) Gaithersburg, MD 20877 phone - 240-238-1200

It is on the Calendar above or you can use this link: http://dcmetrominis.org/forum/topic/2470-date-change-meet-greet-at-mini-of-montgomery-county/ There is a few things happening on the 15th.

Welcome Greg. I and a number of others are in Montgomery County (MD) = MoCo. We share our time with the wonderful people of DCMM (very active crew and board) and the Central Maryland Mini (MINI) Motorists (C3M). As Stef has noted, Celia is a great contact for C3M too. Hope to see you soon. We are having a Meet & Greet (M&G) at MoCo MINI on the 15th. I hope that you can make it.

+1

Track the ship. I don't know if it helps with the waiting but it gives you something to do.

It is not wrath... it is enthusiasm. That is why we love her so much.

Steph is correct. That is why the article talks about the burbles returning in 2011. I don't know when they left (which model year) but my 2012 MCS R56 is an automatic and there are times I let the burbles fly. "Burbles Happen!"

So many people don't wave back but that makes it more special when you get an enlightened one. There is a Save the Wave grill badge on Go Badges or Cooper Flags (I have had problems with the last 2 Cooper Flag orders) but the decal you posted in the MINI logo is nice.

Michael (new-Michael), Welcome! Hope to see you tomorrow at the M&G.

That is an early start. Are you trying to make it down there for lunch?

I forgot to let everyone know what happened after everyone drove off on the run last week. A few of you might have noticed that during the drivers' meeting a tall man was checking out our MINIs, especially Monster. So, after everyone drove off and just as I was getting into Ernie to drive home the 6'4" man walks over and asks if we were having a car show. I explained about the run, DCMM, and gave him one of our cards. It turns out that his commute just changed from ~30 miles to 60 miles a day and he wanted to pick up a smaller car and not drive his pickup for commuting. He said that he just saw the "larger MINI" (Countryman) on the road last week but did not have a chance to look at one close up. Well, I explained the different models (to the best of my ability) and gave him a chance to sit in Ernie, look around, and ask a bunch of questions. I told him to check out our web site and ask "the faithful" a bunch of questions. (Sorry, I forgot to mention the Paceman.) He knew that MINI of Sterling was around the corner and I said that he should drive over and see what they had in stock. Keep a look out for a guest asking about our larger MINIs and maybe we can get another convert. Needless to say, I was late getting back home but it was well worth it. Remember, they are "smaller on the outside."

+1 Wish we could join you. Maybe next year... wait... that is a MTTS year... maybe in 2015? Someday. :wavey:

David and Nicole.... Welcome :itsme: Sit down and strap in for the ride. We have a good group here and we all love our MINIs.

Whackos? MINIacs thank you.

I'm right there with you. I'm up for some group... or lack of the DCMM group therapy. It will be quiet around here.

Not that I would ever wish harm upon anyone, especially one of my favorite MINIacs, Ali... but to ensure the survival of the rest of the DCMM members can I recommend a sauce... I mean cologne... spray: http://www.bearscents.com/Products.html I especially like the ball to hang as a cabin door ornament. :evil: I was thinking you could hang it on a rear view mirror but that could bring harm on a MINI... never :stupido2: