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The last really warm top down day for us here in Maine this Summer and I had the chance to take great ride out around a few of the local lakes while the temperature hit 80F (26.6C). From this point on it's probably going to be more sweater weather than anything else. The last full day of Summer was so good! Even caught a couple of bugs on the bumper.
But theFall color season is about to get started, so that's something to look forward to, especially when you own a Roadster.
Yep... temperatures generally in the upper 50s to lower 60s the last 4 days during the "heat" of the afternoons. Quite a big change. Maple tree leaves are starting to change color. Should peak in the next couple of weeks or so, if we don't get a lot of wind and rain.
Found this little red gem at my bicycle meeting point in Falmouth, Maine the other day after a great cool afternoon ride. Not many of these critters here in this state. I've maybe seen 5 or 6 Roadsters total in the last few years since they came out, and not all had Maine plates on em. Will try to snap a record of the one's I see more diligently.
We have been getting some super nice Top Down driving weather lately, and with the foliage starting their turn to Fall colors, it's been really great to get out and about!
Not too many MINIs in Maine , nice find. I have been all the way from upstate NY, across to Brunswick Maine. I saw 1 MINI on the way to Ben and Jerrys HQ and that's about it.
Happy to see the roadster stories are still alive! :thumbs:
We're still happy with ours and I'm still looking forward to the weekends when I can drive it . . . plus even though fall is make itself feel we are still strong on our top down average. The killer remains the rain.
We past the 3 yr mark and unfortunately I missed the last date of our last service and ended-up having to pay for the MINI BMW front brake and rotor replacements... they charge you deadly numbers for that
Next, the oil change light came up. Now I have to figure out how to get this done myself on the MINI. I've done it on my other car. It's typically pretty easy, but I have to figure out what I need and how to do the procedure on the R59 (and with all the proper torque numbers)... I'll need to find where the oil filter is and get some OE oil filter as well. Overall so far the roadster has been pretty reliable thus far
TG. those oil changes should be a fairly straight forward normal job on our Roadsters. Even brake pad and rotor changes are not difficult to undertake. The tools involved are not expensive and will more than pay for themselves after just one go.
Out this way in Maine, our nearly rainless Summer proved to be extremely Top Down friendly. This mostly dry weather pattern has continued into Fall. Even though we love our Top Down time, it would be really good to get back up to more normal water levels in our dusty rain gauges. Parts of the Southeast are getting doused with buckets of rain from Matthew. Too much rain and wind. Hopefully everyone moved to higher ground and will be OK down that way along those low coastal sections.
TG. those oil changes should be a fairly straight forward normal job on our Roadsters. Even brake pad and rotor changes are not difficult to undertake. The tools involved are not expensive and will more than pay for themselves after just one go.
I'm fairly well equipped (have done quite a bit of work on my other car from maintenance to suspension replacement, wheel bearing replacement, lca, engine mounts, and power performance upgrades - fmic, full exhaust upgrade, etc) and it sounds like this will be easy. :thumbs:
I've got all the info I needed from Gil (whom I say )
I've got all the info I needed from Gil (whom I say )
Good! Mr. Galad definitely owns one of the nicest and best equipped Roadsters in the U.S.
Took a really nice drive up into Rangeley, Maine today to take a look at the Fall sights in the mountains as cloud cover increased. Great drive in fading sunshine much of the way. The Roadster was in it's element for sure. We put the windows up for a short while as we reached cooler afternoon temperatures at higher elevations. The windows came down again once we returned to milder low land temperatures. Top didn't go up until just before we pulled into the garage at 8 pm.
Foliage seems to be pretty close to peak color in this part of Maine at the moment. I think with clouds filtering the sunshine, these bright yellows, oranges and reds seem to saturate better, given a slightly longer exposure. So the eventual cloud cover turned out to be OK during the afternoon and other than a couple of light rain drops at the height of land, it stayed dry all the way home.
Peak color has gone by... big rain tonight... much needed. Lots of lightning and thunder, too. Leaves are coming down and the forecast says we'll see some snow and strong winds up on these hills tomorrow. That will probably finish the maple leaves and a good portion of the oak leaves as well.
Should be getting colorful farther south now... so hope someone gets out and takes some Fall Roadster pictures to post. Was nice while it lasted here. About 2 weeks worth along with mild sunny weather to enjoy top down driving.
And it's still brilliant looking, too. Love those wheels, driving lights and everything else you've done to it.
Our Roadster has been owned by us one year on Monday the 31st of October. Brought it home November 1st. A really fun car to drive and still my favorite motorized toy of all time. Only thing is, I've put more miles bicycling this season, than miles on the Mini, even in a bicycle shortened season up here in Maine.
Motor on, Spiney!
Last edited by MiniRoadstah; 10-30-2016 at 09:12 PM.
I haven't been to NAM in ages! Since we moved to Florida in 2014, I've been flying back to DC every other week for business. As for my roadster? Picked my '14 new in October 2013 and have just over 6,000 miles on it. I still have it and love driving it on the Gulf Coast. I just had my first service at Fermin Mini last month. While waiting, they told me they can't get enough roadsters in their inventory and would be extremely interested if I were looking to get rid of mine. Still have it!
I haven't been to NAM in ages! Since we moved to Florida in 2014, I've been flying back to DC every other week for business. As for my roadster? Picked my '14 new in October 2013 and have just over 6,000 miles on it. I still have it and love driving it on the Gulf Coast. I just had my first service at Fermin Mini last month. While waiting, they told me they can't get enough roadsters in their inventory and would be extremely interested if I were looking to get rid of mine. Still have it!
Don't let em have your Roadster! Dealers should tell Mini corporate to make more, if there's such a high demand.
Did a little coastal drive today to see the Perigee Moonrise. Turned out to be a very clear and mild evening in Portland, Maine. Plenty of people gathered in one of the prime spots called the Eastern Promenade to watch the larger than normal moon make its appearance. There's a good rise to the land from the shore westward, so it made for a great view.
In the process of getting into the Mini, I left my camera sitting on a bench in the garage. So all I had was the phone. Regular daytime iPhone pictures aren't the best, and low light pictures even worse, but that's all I was able to get. Can't believe I did that.
Anyway, the moonrise was worth the trip to the ocean. Of course, any trip in the Roadster is well worth the effort! Top down, of course. It was 52 when we arrived in Portland at 3:50pm. On the way home after dinner, I saw 35 degrees on the Mini display, passing through some of the lower pasture and river drainage areas. As we climbed the hill toward our house, the temperature went back up, and hit 46 as we pulled into the driveway at 7:35pm. So not too bad for the 13th of November in northern New England.
Shortly after moonrise to the east and sunset to the west...
And once the moon got up a little higher in the sky and the light got a little dimmer... we get a grainier crappy picture. Would have been way better with a proper camera on my tripod. The tripod made the trip. It's in the boot...
Almost looks like a sunrise on an iPhone picture. On the other hand, it is very bright outside at the moment. Near full moon on closest pass in its orbit around the earth looks pretty impressive. If the sky is clear out there where you live, go outside and take a look. Only thing that would make this better here would be good snow cover to reflect all this moonlight.
09-02-2016, 12:59 AM
My new to me 2013 Roadster
On the other hand, it is very bright outside at the moment. Near full moon on closest pass in its orbit around the earth looks pretty impressive. If the sky is clear out there where you live, go outside and take a look. Only thing that would make this better here would be good snow cover to reflect all this moonlight.
