Wow, we have 67 cars signed up for the ice cream run! Has anyone informed the ice cream shop guy that we're coming, and screamin' for ice cream?

 

MUIDAQ....are you listening? The poor man may put up his Closed sign. Hope he has enough ice cream and we all wait patiently for our turn. I may throw myself on the ground and have a hissy fit if I have to wait too long. It isn't pretty.

 

I hope so...it'd be kinda rude just to show up with a ton of people screaming for ice cream

 

I don't think the alloted time will be enough. I want to go to the Lighting Clinic, but may not be able to if I don't get ice cream early.

 

I talked to Mr Pops, aka Paul Crawley, when we had about 60 people signed up. I told him I'd give him a call about a week before hand with a closer total. We might have one serious line with all these ice cream lovers, but he didn't ask for us to cap it at a certain amount.

Jay, I'm bettin you can make it to the clinic if you give your gas pedal a workout to get to the front of the pack.

 

Of course, some of us could always leave a bit early for the ice cream store, right?

 

I hope it's enough time because ImagoX is going for ice cream! No ImagoX, no lighting clinic.

 

Perhaps those doing/going to the Lighting Clinic should leave a little earlier? If we stagger departures then the line at the ice cream joint won't be so daunting. I don't want to see any hissey fits.. Since I have no deadline to meet, I volunteer to leave a little later...and hope there's ice cream left...
Just a thought..

 

It was suggested last year from some veterans, that we keep the drives down to a max of 30, otherwise it gets hard to keep everyone together. Agranger broke his scenic drive last year into 3 groups of 30 (staggered them 30 minutes apart) and it work out well. Thats my two cents!

 

Dibs on the first grouping. I'll be doing the lighting clinic as well.

 

Another one for early grouping. I gotta see the lights!

 

I'm digging the Ice Cream Run. Doing the panaramic pic and then heading out for ice cream.

 

If it's packed would anyone mind of I get my ice cream early? I'll definitely have to leave early to get set up for the lighting clinic, yeah.... I only get 1 scoop of chocolate in a plain cone - nuthin' fancy.

 

Matt, will you be at the Panoramic pic? If so, maybe all us lighting session people can make the run for ice cream a little before noon. And the rest can make the ice cream run at the slated time.

 

I want ice cream too!

 

I'd planned to be there, yeah. Leaving a touch early probably isn't a bad idea... If that's OK with the ice cream store guy...

 

I talked to Paul the owner of Pop's today and he is ready for us. There is a municipal type parking lot behind him we can use. That way we can take photos, chat, etc. I am giving him one of our shirts and he wants us all to sign it and he will display it in his shop. Going in groups like the Dillsboro drive last year is a good idea. I need in the first group also because of the Lighting Clinic. It is nice to see such a good turnout!!!! The Tshirts are being printed and I will have them at the Dragon as promised. See ya'll there.

 

Does anyone happen to know if there is a place to grab some lunch near the ice cream shop? If we're leaving around noon (the early group) I'm gonna want some grub to tide me over till dinner, not just the ice cream.

Answered my own question:

The Filling Station
145 Everett Street
Bryson City, NC 28713 828-488-1919
Contact: Barry and Helene Tetrault
All your sandwich needs. Fresh soups, sandwiches, chips, cookies, desserts, etc. Carry-out and delivery available.

Soda Pops is 141 Everett so they should be right next to each other.

 

Should we call them and let them know they might get some overflow since they have food and desserts? That way they can schedule help and we all get in and out in good time.

 

Well you don't want them to prepare for 50 MINIs and 5 of us go eat lunch. That would be wrong. A heads up might not be bad as long as you tell them, hey, we don't know how many are going to be coming by...maybe 5, maybe 25.

 

Yeah, the operative word was "might". It looks like the run is becoming fragmented and folks "might" be there at different times depending on times they get away from other activities. The bulk should be there from 2:30-4 I would think which will cut it close for some folks getting back in time for the Lighting Clinic. I am wanting to attend myself. We'll all be flexible and cheerful and, hopefully, get some ice cream.

 

I too agree that we need to stagger it. Just imagine 67+ MINIs with at least one person, most having more than one person....YIKES! I don't want to think of the line....and well....I don't want to have to get a brain freeze because I have to eat my ice cream fast so I can hop back up to Fontanna...and NO ICE CREAM IN MY CAR!!!!!! Still Can't wait!

 

I volunteer to be in the last "stagger." LOL. (After Friday night, I may be staggering....)

I think it might be a cool idea to release 3 pods of 20-ish MINIs every 10-15 minutes, to assure that we don't cause too many traffic problems for the locals between Fontana and Bryson City.

It is impossible to keep all the MINIs together. Jana, do you have a count of how many MINIs are actually driving? Maybe some on the list are ride-sharing. I'm going to see if MINItencan wants to motor there with me, which would mean one less MINI.

The above are just serving suggestions. Waffle cone not included.

 

I've heard that the panoramic photo folks are talking about heading from there after the shoot. Not sure what others are thinking. I'm sure some will show up at the original meet up place as well. We may have MINIs converging on Bryson City from several directions. Since the shops have been notified we aren't putting a strain on them. I just know I'm going and I'm getting some ice cream. And hopefully make it back to Fontana for Matt's Lighting Clinic. P.S. No ice cream in my car either.

 

Funny you should mention it...I just got a call from Mr Soda Pops (aka Paul) and the good folks at The Filling Station next door are offering a 15% discount to us during our ice cream run. The Filling Station is right next to Soda Pops and is a carry-out deli with no seating. Soda Pops has a few benches and rocking chairs and there is a pavillion by the Municipal Building (our parking area) that has a couple of tables.

Paul also mentioned that he'll be well staffed for us and has served groups of over 1000 in about three hours, so we should be pretty well taken care of.

Mike