and keep having stray thoughts like...
"Oh, we're sorry ... that was not your VIN entered on the Integrity,
you've not left the dock yet"
or
"What part of Western Virginia are you from?.. we sent your car to
Richmond figuring it was closest ...." That'll be just another couple
weeks while we find another boat."
Silly question.

Anybody think there's a chance my MINi will make it to Cincinnati by
April 4 if it's unloaded at Charleston on the 30th?
I'm thinking if it does, they may be able to rush the prep so I could
pick it up on the 5th <g>.

If not, I'll probably have to wait another week.

 

Great ! Maybe they're back on time - originally scheduled for CHS on 29th then wW & Port site said sched for 30th (can't get into port's site now).
That means hopefully into my hands by the 4th/5th?

 

Just talked to my MA - she said that they have had vehicles waiting to get into the Vehicle Processing Center in Charleston for over 2 weeks!
She has no idea why but they are desperate for new vehicles at their dealership...

 

Called in a near panic <g>... wanted to know about the possible holdups
at the VDC. His response... "What holdups"? He says that they've not
had any problems with vehicles clearing the VDC and getting out quickly.

Maybe I should go back to accepting, "it'll get here when it get's here" <g>.

 

Mine got off the Integrity on March 25th in NY, and has already left the processing center in NJ--is on the truck heading toward Boston. Should be here friday or saturday!!

 

Think of us poor souls when your out enjoying your MINI this week <G>.

 

here she is, not sure when she is leaving, Wallenius & Wilhelmsen is showing tomorrow...





According to port of Charleston

http://www.port-of-charleston.com/vessel_schedule.asp

Vessel and Agent: INTEGRITY WALLENIUS AND WALLENIUS WILHELMSEN
EDA: 3/30/2008
Discharge: VEH
Load: VEH

 

Integrity has set sail, err motor, and is in now making her way out of Chesapeake Bay. Could make SC by the 29th... I hope they unload cars on the weekend... my luck is they arrive on sunday and the cars have to sit for a whole day, on the boat, at the dock, until monday comes...

realistically we are probably 10 to 14 days away from taking delivery

 

The hardest part is the waiting!! I'm hoping to be driving my baby by next weekend! Thanks for the updates - it makes the waiting a bit easier.

 

Earlier in the week my MA did mention that the VDC's tend to really try
to push the cars out fairly quick towards the end of the month.

(Not sure if their managements pay is based on throughput <g> monthly)
Let's hope so <g>.

Hmm. if I started out now... maybe I could run down and offer to clean
the gunk off of my MINI myself... you know, try to help them with their
numbers <g>.

Just had a thought... my MINI's just two stops away !! VDC, then Cincy.

Don't know about you folks.. but I"m ready to go do some driving.

To take our minds off of the wait... and to make for a more lively thread,
how about everybody mention their first planned "drive".... you know...
the little break in run you make to get to know your new MINI. Twisties
preffered, and not just the drive home from the dealer <g>. I'll start in
the next post.

 

I'm part of a group trying to form a MINI club here in WV.
As part of a "get to know each other" type event we're planning a run for
April 13.

It's going to start in Charleston , WV and head up Rt. 60 towards a place
called Hawks Nest State Park. Great road for breaking in a new MINI.
Lot's of double back turns... Great hills , and a road generally in good shape.

http://www.hawksnestsp.com/

Great scenic views. Your basically on a cliff staring down at the New River
WAY down below you. From there we'll be driving over to the New River
Gorge Bridge. It's one of the largest single span bridges in the world. Folks
parachute jump from it once a year on "Bridge Day". Several years ago Jeep
shot a commercial where they Bungie Jumped a Jeep off of the side of the bridge <g>.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_River_Gorge_Bridge

From there we'll just drive the hills for an hour or two before heading back to
our respective homes. All in all should make for a great drive, and a good
way to get to know my new MINI more. Here's hoping it shows up in time.

(Side note: This little run would be a good one for out of staters wanting to
get a feel for the Mountain State. Great whitewater rafting, hiking , etc in
the area as well.. Convenient to 3 major interstates. I64, I77 and I79.)

 

We actually don't have baseball games next weekend due to spring break - so I'm taking my baby up to the North Georgia Mountains and driving wherever he wants to take me.

 

well it look as if the aislive site doesn't track to SC. I can find savanna and something called hampton roads but nothing in charleston...

port of charleston states an expected arrival of integrity on 3/29, which matches with WW site... so here is to hoping that we arrive and are unloaded on the 29th.

I am so done with waiting for my MINI to get here...

 

Just checked the port of Charleston website, and it shows the Integrity
is the next ship scheduled to dock at Union Pier Dock 3 !!!!

Meaning , looks like our MINI's will make landfall today.
This gives me some hope I may be able to pick up next Saturday.

(Surely they can unload, prep , and get to Cincy my MINI in 6 days <g>.)

well, here's hoping anyways.

 

http://www.port-of-charleston.com/vessel_schedule.asp

Scroll down the page...

 

YEAH - Our cars should reach port today!!!

 

so, are we on the ground yet?

 

I keep refreshing it, and it shows still next to dock at that berth.
Supposedly updates every half our or so, if you refresh your browser.
Not sure how accurate it is on weekends though. (May require a human
to input the data. If it's a management type... you can almost bet
he took the weekend off <g>.)

 

where are you seeing that it is next to dock? I am under the impression that it is going to arrive in charleston today but it won't be leaving until tomorrow so not sure when it will get unloaded... either way by Monday we should be at the VDC

 

When you scroll down the list there are two vessels scheduled to unload
at UP (Union Pier) on the 29th . The Integrity at Berth 3, and the Norwegian
Majesty at Berth 1. Ours is the only Cargo vessell, the others a cruise ship.

The Swan Ace should have docked on the 28th at Berth 2.

I'm guessing they can unload one vessel at a time at each Terminal.

If all the above is the case, then when the Swan Ace leaves, I'd think
it would be the Integrity's turn next to unload.

(I'm surprised it's not showing already at the dock.....)

 

looks like Sunday it is... its just one more day....

 

anyone else notice that the integrity is no longer listed on the port of charleston website? I just checked and it is no where to be found??? it is not listed as coming to, or having been or being at the port. that is rather odd and a bit discomforting

 

Not sure what to read in to that...
Noticed the cruise ship (Norwegian Majesty) that was scheduled to
dock at the same pier isn't listed anywhere either...

Hope it's just a case of somebody not doing there job updating the
page. I'll be making phone calls this morning once normal folks are
awake <g> , trying to figure out what's up.

(My dealerships closed on Sundays... but somedbody's bound to be
open <g>.....)

 

Here's the updated coordinates of the integrity...
http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/infopage/bermudat.htm

 

I just checked Integrity is docked!

So thank God we don't have to worry about it being lost in the Bermuda Triangle (that gave me a good chuckle this morning!)