I'm planning on celebrating Bastille Day with a trip to France. I'm proposing a trip down to the French National Automobile Museum in Mulhouse, also known as the Schlumpf Collection. Afterwards, I'll be making a long drive through the Black Forest; you're welcome to join me.

The Museum opens at 1000. I'd love to meet other Mini folks there a bit early, for the traditional handshakes and coveting of each other cars. The exhibit itself it pretty huge -- you could get lost inside for days on end, moreso if you like the older ones like Bugattis, of which there are over 100 (yes -- over one hundred).

I'm planning on about 4 hours for the museum. I want to leave plenty of daylight for the drive home. After the museum, I plan to picnic in the parking lot -- need to quiet the kids before the long drive.

I'm done some homework ahead of time, to try and plot a route back. I think calling it "insane" might be fair. A Google Earth file for the proposed drive is here (right-click and "Save as"). And it's on Google Maps, too -- here. As my wife says, "The Mini psychosis knows no limits."



The route, for what it's worth, starts and ends at Esso stations. I'm just hoping they aren't too far apart.

I'd like to go check the route one weekend soon, and scope out a restuarant along the way. Stop for some dinner before we all part company and head in our seperate directions.

Let me know if you're interested. If you want to go on the early run, to check the distances and to find a restaurant, let me know, too. I've also put this up over on Mini2.info.

This oughtta be more fun than nickel beer night at the sorority house....

 

Let me know when the pre-run is going to be. I will already be gone by June.

The route looks Awesome !!

As for the MINI Psychosis... Why would there be a Limit?

 

Lemme know when that "pre-run" is, too. I just might be able to get me oldest boy on with me. Unless he's at his summer job already!!!

Cheers!

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The pre-run is 06 May -- next Sunday.

Two choices, if you'd like to go along for this:

1. Meet me in the Heidelberg area, and convoy down to the far end of the forest for the drive back. We'll meet mid morning.

2. Meet me at the southern end of the run, and drive north with me / us. We'll be there around noon. Noonish. Maybe.

Leave a reply here if you're interested. This is a route reconn run -- I want to try and nail down the route as best possible, or at least explore it some more. If you don't have my email, PM me and I'll send it to you -- there will be files to pass around (.ppt, .pdf, .kml, and maybe others).

Yes, bring your camera. And your GPS. And your kids. And pack a lunch. It's an awesome drive.

This isn't a you-know-what to the wall kind of run. It's reconn.

 

Fellas, I won't be able to make the pre-run as I'll be in London watching the British Army-Navy Rugby match in Twikenham!! Me and me mates from work will fly in Friday afternoon, the match isn't 'til 3pm on Saturday, then fly out at 1400 on Sunday. Not quite a Mini run, but it is fricken LONDON for the weekend!! I will definetely hoist a few ales for the American side, thinkin of ya'll!! Take pictures and I'm lookin forward to the write up.

Cheers!!

 

Wait -- I have to use my own GPS? I can't just follow you?

Oh, crap...

(knocked out the new banner for my signature block. At least I got that much done....)

 

Art, Ill be there sunday. just give me a precise time and location.

 

Sorry I have to cancel seems I cant even clear and not work weekends

Enjoy the drive really wish I could join you

 

Ain't that always the case?

I'll take pictures.

 

i would def be in on the 14th of july and hopefully i can make the prerun if i dont have 2 work of course i also just need the location

 

I made another reconn of the Schwarzwald on Sunday. Brought along the GPS and the camera again -- you can see the mashup of the two over here, at TTSM.

Of note:

-- I made another wrong turn, but benefited from it. You can't be lost if you're not actually going anywhere;

-- found the ruins of a small castle, and stopped to let the kids loose to play. I also found a full-up playground out in the middle of nowhere;

-- in the half day that I was there (I left Heidelberg at 1230, and got back at 2000 or so), I only covered about half of the drive that I had planned. My planned route may be more than is possible. I'll give it some thought and (later) post some new Google Earth files on options for smaller / shorter runs -- and I will welcome feedback if you've got any.

-- I'm thinking of going back on 25 May -- the Friday that starts the American holiday of Memorial Day. It would probably be close to an all-day event -- head out around 0900 or 1000, stop for lunch somewhere along the way, and probably be back in Heidelberg for a late dinner. Interested? Comment here, email me, or PM me and we can coordinate time and place for link up, and I can share route / GPS data with you ahead of time.

 

Smiley -- this is like chasing you through the wald (only without the cheesy music).

 

haha thanks man but definately had to turn the volume down for that one

 

Poppa Bear, you coming down for this one? I think Loesches said he's be around.

There's the Heidelberg Historic run the night before -- I might go catch the old timers when the close out the run at the technical museum in Sinnsheim, if anyone wants to tag along.

 

I should be around for this one!

 

Looks like we'll have a small group.

 

How did the pre-run turn out for this? Enjoy your threads, it's like being on some great drives in Germany/France and other great places.

Looking for an update after the 14th.

 

Which one? I think I've gone down there about 4 times now. Here's the last Google Earth file I put together, from a 25 May trip I did.

The Forest there is just awesome. One could happily get lost there for days, just driving up and over ridges...

 

Thanks I will check it out, hopefully I will not have to get another download of Google Earth to load your file.

 

where are ya'll gonna meet @ and @ what time i think i might be able 2 make it this weekend no work woot woot

 

I would think that it would make the most sense for us to meet you there at 1000. You could divert and try to meet us in the Heidelberg area, but really, that's out of the way. Direct route for you is going to be through France -- and far enough that the diversion doesn't make much sense.

I think Loesches and I might be the only two from around here to be going. His Mini is orange, and mine is as black as the night.

Sound like a plan?

 

Yup that sounds like a good plan i have a dark Silver R56 w/ German Bitburg plates and mini United mirror caps so i'll just plan on gettin there a little b4 10

 

Alright, folks (or maybe just you, Cory) -- see you in the morning.

 

LOL well hopefully i am stuck doin AADD 2night it was supposed 2 be 2morrow night
i'm still gonna try 2 make it

 

I'm not saying that you guys missed but, but man, you guys missed it.

Video to follow.