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Spring Fling 2015: Drive & Lunch in VA wine country

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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!

 

Just like I did in previous years, I'm organizing the Spring Fling run again, this time on Sunday, April 19.

 

NOTE: If you have done this run before, please take note that we are NOT starting at the Wegman's parking lot, but the TARGET parking lot. This is because Wegman's apparently has a strict policy against allowing car groups to gather in their parking lots (boooooo...).

WHERE TO MEET: Target Sterling West parking lot (South-East corner). The address is 45130 Columbia Place, Sterling, VA 20166

WHEN: Sunday, April 19 @ 9:00am. Driver's meeting at 9:50am. We depart at 10am sharp! Don't be late!

RUN DISTANCE: 68.1 miles (morning) + 69.3 miles (afternoon) = 137.4 miles total. Easy "early exits" available in afternoon at 85.7 miles (Rt 66), 94.0 miles (Rt 50), 105.8 miles (Rt 7).

RUN TIME: Approx 6.5 hours - we will return to the Target parking lot at approx. 4:30pm, if you decide to complete the full run.

WHAT TO BRING: 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:

 

A quick refresher:

 

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 (mty_mini), and organized with help from Jen Oakes (Jen) (who was our event coordinator at the time). This all happened on Sunday, April 24, 2005... only 7 1/2 weeks after I picked up my brand new MINI. Alan (Scavenger), who was getting his first exposure to the MINI, came along as my co-pilot.

 

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.

 

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 in Upperville, VA (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.

 

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

 

Our lunch stop will be again be at Griffin Tavern, since Orlean Market closed down many years ago. Unfortunately, due to the size of our group, we will be a more selective and limited menu than their regular menu, but they will still have their famous Shepherd's Pie and other classics.

 

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

 

For those interested or curious:

 

Original Spring Fling thread (2005)

Spring Fling 2008 thread

Spring Fling 2009 thread

Spring Fling 2010 thread

Spring Fling 2010 Morning Route on Google Maps

Spring Fling 2010 Afternoon Route on Google Maps

Spring Fling 2011 thread

Spring Fling 2012 thread

Spring Fling 2013 thread

Spring Fling 2014 thread

 

Due to severe size limitations from the local wineries, we do not participate in wine tasting any more. However, you are welcome to order yourself a glass of wine with lunch at Griffin Tavern. :biggrin:

 

Hope to see many of you out there again!

 

RSVPs are OPEN! PLEASE NOTE that our lunch stop (Griffin Tavern) has given us a hard cap of 50 ADULTS, so if we reach that number, RSVPs will be closed. (Kids will not count towards the count of 50, so please put in the comments if you have any kids coming with you)

"Mr. OEM" - 05 JCW (TK, GPIC, SS, GPTA, R56 RSB, StBr, R56 BBK, GPWhls, SV, RS, R56 GSI, IES, StrWhl, GK, HG, LBIT) MCS, HB/HB, Packs: 1, 2, 3 & 4. LSD, Rear FL, LB/PB upholstery (inc. LB SB & HB), HB Int, Anth. HL, PDC, Nav. OEM: DPSM+Aux, SIRIUS, BT, RV Cam, Aux gauges, ILK, Alarm, AK, PFM, DL, SpLnk, CFD, CSL, BIW, R52 diag rods, EuroTL, EuroWT, EPS, EASM. AM: IanCullAUC, Intravee+KCA420i, SchrothR4, MM-STR.

License Plate: SUV2BIG MotoringID: CARVE129

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I think someone forgot what day it is :tongue:
Oops! I have had so much going on, I just forgot to open it on Monday. :embarassed:

 

RSVPs are open now - max of 50 people!

"Mr. OEM" - 05 JCW (TK, GPIC, SS, GPTA, R56 RSB, StBr, R56 BBK, GPWhls, SV, RS, R56 GSI, IES, StrWhl, GK, HG, LBIT) MCS, HB/HB, Packs: 1, 2, 3 & 4. LSD, Rear FL, LB/PB upholstery (inc. LB SB & HB), HB Int, Anth. HL, PDC, Nav. OEM: DPSM+Aux, SIRIUS, BT, RV Cam, Aux gauges, ILK, Alarm, AK, PFM, DL, SpLnk, CFD, CSL, BIW, R52 diag rods, EuroTL, EuroWT, EPS, EASM. AM: IanCullAUC, Intravee+KCA420i, SchrothR4, MM-STR.

License Plate: SUV2BIG MotoringID: CARVE129

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The Spring Fling Practice Run is underway! :)

"Mr. OEM" - 05 JCW (TK, GPIC, SS, GPTA, R56 RSB, StBr, R56 BBK, GPWhls, SV, RS, R56 GSI, IES, StrWhl, GK, HG, LBIT) MCS, HB/HB, Packs: 1, 2, 3 & 4. LSD, Rear FL, LB/PB upholstery (inc. LB SB & HB), HB Int, Anth. HL, PDC, Nav. OEM: DPSM+Aux, SIRIUS, BT, RV Cam, Aux gauges, ILK, Alarm, AK, PFM, DL, SpLnk, CFD, CSL, BIW, R52 diag rods, EuroTL, EuroWT, EPS, EASM. AM: IanCullAUC, Intravee+KCA420i, SchrothR4, MM-STR.

License Plate: SUV2BIG MotoringID: CARVE129

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The practice run went very well, no mishaps... although a Chevy Suburban and a Toyota Corolla ruined the fun on the entire length of Lime Kiln Rd.

 

The only issue on the run was the high number of bad potholes, most especially on Snickersville Turnpike, so we'll probably have to go a bit slower than usual in that section, and call them out over the radio as we see them.

 

Other than that, it should be a really fun day! Today was! :)

"Mr. OEM" - 05 JCW (TK, GPIC, SS, GPTA, R56 RSB, StBr, R56 BBK, GPWhls, SV, RS, R56 GSI, IES, StrWhl, GK, HG, LBIT) MCS, HB/HB, Packs: 1, 2, 3 & 4. LSD, Rear FL, LB/PB upholstery (inc. LB SB & HB), HB Int, Anth. HL, PDC, Nav. OEM: DPSM+Aux, SIRIUS, BT, RV Cam, Aux gauges, ILK, Alarm, AK, PFM, DL, SpLnk, CFD, CSL, BIW, R52 diag rods, EuroTL, EuroWT, EPS, EASM. AM: IanCullAUC, Intravee+KCA420i, SchrothR4, MM-STR.

License Plate: SUV2BIG MotoringID: CARVE129

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I would not count on them fixing the road to fast.

I live within 3 miles of Snickersville Turnpike, and can do a progress check as we get closer to the event.

 

Haemish - PM me a list of roads and/or sections, and I can pre-run 2-3 days before the Fling and see if there are any improvements. I'd concentrate on the pieces of the road we drive (mainly from 7 to Philomont). We're not on it long enough on the Lime Kiln side, to be too concerned.

 

If there are other roads with issues that are relatively close, I can check those as well.

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I live within 3 miles of Snickersville Turnpike, and can do a progress check as we get closer to the event.

 

Haemish - PM me a list of roads and/or sections, and I can pre-run 2-3 days before the Fling and see if there are any improvements. I'd concentrate on the pieces of the road we drive (mainly from 7 to Philomont). We're not on it long enough on the Lime Kiln side, to be too concerned.

 

If there are other roads with issues that are relatively close, I can check those as well.

Jim,

 

We will be driving a very short portion of northbound Snickersville Turnpike in the morning (Lime Kiln Rd to Mountville Rd), but we drive the entire length of it (Rt 7 to Rt 50) in the afternoon.

 

The potholes that were bad enough to make note of were on:

 

 

  • Evergreen Mills Rd

  • Lime Kiln Rd

  • Mountville Rd

  • Foxcroft Rd

  • Free State Rd

  • Leeds Manor Rd

  • Blueridge Mountain Rd

  • Snickersville Turnpike

 

I do hope they patch a bunch of them between the practice run and the event, but that's only a 2 week stretch so I won't be holding my breath! Some of the worst ones were on Snickersville Turnpike though, north of Mountville Rd (in the afternoon return). One of the biggest ones was just over a crest and covered 2/3 of the southbound lane. I had to do an emergency slalom to avoid it... thankfully I was able to do so because there were no cars coming the other way. Needless to say my wonderful navigator was looking down at the route sheet at the time and got a big scare, thinking we were in an accident! :embarassed: She didn't get mad about it though, just unfortunate timing as had she been looking up, she'd have seen why I swerved.

"Mr. OEM" - 05 JCW (TK, GPIC, SS, GPTA, R56 RSB, StBr, R56 BBK, GPWhls, SV, RS, R56 GSI, IES, StrWhl, GK, HG, LBIT) MCS, HB/HB, Packs: 1, 2, 3 & 4. LSD, Rear FL, LB/PB upholstery (inc. LB SB & HB), HB Int, Anth. HL, PDC, Nav. OEM: DPSM+Aux, SIRIUS, BT, RV Cam, Aux gauges, ILK, Alarm, AK, PFM, DL, SpLnk, CFD, CSL, BIW, R52 diag rods, EuroTL, EuroWT, EPS, EASM. AM: IanCullAUC, Intravee+KCA420i, SchrothR4, MM-STR.

License Plate: SUV2BIG MotoringID: CARVE129

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The potholes that were bad enough to make note of were on:

 

 

  • Evergreen Mills Rd

  • Lime Kiln Rd

  • Mountville Rd

  • Foxcroft Rd

  • Free State Rd

  • Leeds Manor Rd

  • Blueridge Mountain Rd

  • Snickersville Turnpike

 

We were on Evergreen yesterday, the entire length of it, traveling in the same direction we typically do for the Spring Fling. I'll confirm with Jennifer but I don't recall any significant issues from Ryan Road to Watson. I'll see if I have the time over the next couple of days to explore some of the other sections.

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We were on Evergreen yesterday, the entire length of it, traveling in the same direction we typically do for the Spring Fling. I'll confirm with Jennifer but I don't recall any significant issues from Ryan Road to Watson. I'll see if I have the time over the next couple of days to explore some of the other sections.

 

There are a number of them in Arcola, between Belmont Ridge Rd and Loudoun Co Pkwy. Most have been patched over numerous times, making the resulting mess probably worse than some of the original potholes.

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Only 13 cars/21 people? Are the potholes scaring people away? :frown:
Large or small, rain or shine, we'll have fun regardless! :)

 

I'll post it on the DCMM FB page this afternoon.

"Mr. OEM" - 05 JCW (TK, GPIC, SS, GPTA, R56 RSB, StBr, R56 BBK, GPWhls, SV, RS, R56 GSI, IES, StrWhl, GK, HG, LBIT) MCS, HB/HB, Packs: 1, 2, 3 & 4. LSD, Rear FL, LB/PB upholstery (inc. LB SB & HB), HB Int, Anth. HL, PDC, Nav. OEM: DPSM+Aux, SIRIUS, BT, RV Cam, Aux gauges, ILK, Alarm, AK, PFM, DL, SpLnk, CFD, CSL, BIW, R52 diag rods, EuroTL, EuroWT, EPS, EASM. AM: IanCullAUC, Intravee+KCA420i, SchrothR4, MM-STR.

License Plate: SUV2BIG MotoringID: CARVE129

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I added a reply to your note on FB to be sure to come here to RSVP, just to be crystal clear. :biggrin:
Thanks, I guess repetition helps... I did say "RSVP on the DCMM forums at the link below" in the post. :smile:

"Mr. OEM" - 05 JCW (TK, GPIC, SS, GPTA, R56 RSB, StBr, R56 BBK, GPWhls, SV, RS, R56 GSI, IES, StrWhl, GK, HG, LBIT) MCS, HB/HB, Packs: 1, 2, 3 & 4. LSD, Rear FL, LB/PB upholstery (inc. LB SB & HB), HB Int, Anth. HL, PDC, Nav. OEM: DPSM+Aux, SIRIUS, BT, RV Cam, Aux gauges, ILK, Alarm, AK, PFM, DL, SpLnk, CFD, CSL, BIW, R52 diag rods, EuroTL, EuroWT, EPS, EASM. AM: IanCullAUC, Intravee+KCA420i, SchrothR4, MM-STR.

License Plate: SUV2BIG MotoringID: CARVE129

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There are people that skim....
I wasn't going to say it, but since you did... :hahaha: :embarassed:

"Mr. OEM" - 05 JCW (TK, GPIC, SS, GPTA, R56 RSB, StBr, R56 BBK, GPWhls, SV, RS, R56 GSI, IES, StrWhl, GK, HG, LBIT) MCS, HB/HB, Packs: 1, 2, 3 & 4. LSD, Rear FL, LB/PB upholstery (inc. LB SB & HB), HB Int, Anth. HL, PDC, Nav. OEM: DPSM+Aux, SIRIUS, BT, RV Cam, Aux gauges, ILK, Alarm, AK, PFM, DL, SpLnk, CFD, CSL, BIW, R52 diag rods, EuroTL, EuroWT, EPS, EASM. AM: IanCullAUC, Intravee+KCA420i, SchrothR4, MM-STR.

License Plate: SUV2BIG MotoringID: CARVE129

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The potholes that were bad enough to make note of were on:

 

 

  • Evergreen Mills Rd

  • Lime Kiln Rd

  • Mountville Rd

  • Foxcroft Rd

  • Free State Rd

  • Leeds Manor Rd

  • Blueridge Mountain Rd

  • Snickersville Turnpike

 

 

 

Evergreen Mills 'seemed' okay to us last weekend. We just returned from driving Snickersville Turnpike to Lime Kiln, then Lime Kiln to 15. Here's the notable spots:

 

1. Starting from 7 on Snickerville, when you cross the 1-lane bridge, near the "3 Gables" farm

2. Between Colchester and Silicot Springs/St Louis Rd

3. Just entering Philomont, when the speed reduces

4. Leaving Philomont. There's an old cabin (circa 1700s) on the right side.

5. Right past Mountville Rd before Lime Kiln

 

On Lime Kiln:

1. Near the Triple Hickory Ranch

2. Near Goose Creek Lane (right after crossing Goose Creek)

3. Crooked Bridge Lane

4. 7/10 mile from turning off 15.

 

Note that the Lime Kiln potholes are listed in reverse-order, for tomorrow's run. So #4 is the first one you'll come to. I think that was one of the worst areas.

 

That's all we got to check out. It appears that there was some repair work done in a few areas.

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