[Sun, May 18th] MINIs BY THE BAY V
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6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,881
Likes: 3
From: Edgewater, MD
Update on the restaurants
I checked out the buffet at the Rod & Reel this morning. The food was plentiful, good and hot. The service, sadly, was less than acceptable. Our waitress, Amy, didn't even visit our table for 10 minutes after we were seated, so I took care of getting water, etc.
Other than her incredibly poor service, it was a great breakfast for about $20 per person, including juice, coffee, fruit, eggs (scrambled and benedict), three kinds of sausage, two kinds of potatoes, chipped beef, biscuits w/ sausage gravy, custom omelets, french toast, waffles, pastries, donuts, and a nice selection of fresh fruits.
I still recommend this restaurant, but if you go there, I'd suggest that you say you don't want to sit in Amy's section.
I'm hoping we can arrive at the food break around 11:30-11:45am, trying to split the difference between the breakfast folks and the lunch folks. The other restaurant choice (in the same building complex) is Smokey Joe's, and is a great choice for lunch items. There will be something for everyone at one or the other of these restaurants.
The route is pretty much finalized, and the only worries are one river crossing that is affected by heavy rains and high tides (it's a cool one lane bridge across the Patuxent River). The route is about 57 miles down, and 40 back. More details soon!
Other than her incredibly poor service, it was a great breakfast for about $20 per person, including juice, coffee, fruit, eggs (scrambled and benedict), three kinds of sausage, two kinds of potatoes, chipped beef, biscuits w/ sausage gravy, custom omelets, french toast, waffles, pastries, donuts, and a nice selection of fresh fruits.
I still recommend this restaurant, but if you go there, I'd suggest that you say you don't want to sit in Amy's section.
I'm hoping we can arrive at the food break around 11:30-11:45am, trying to split the difference between the breakfast folks and the lunch folks. The other restaurant choice (in the same building complex) is Smokey Joe's, and is a great choice for lunch items. There will be something for everyone at one or the other of these restaurants.
The route is pretty much finalized, and the only worries are one river crossing that is affected by heavy rains and high tides (it's a cool one lane bridge across the Patuxent River). The route is about 57 miles down, and 40 back. More details soon!
4th Gear
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 515
Likes: 0
From: Huntingtown, MD
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6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,881
Likes: 3
From: Edgewater, MD
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,692
Likes: 1
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6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,881
Likes: 3
From: Edgewater, MD
Seems like the aheader I go, the behinder I get! 
Nevertheless, we've got a terrific route laid out utilizing a lot of the great work done by Paul in years past, plus some new ideas from MrMellowYellow, ChaseABryant & Brandy, and yours truly of course!
If you read the current newsletter, it seems to indicate that the route is just one way down to brunch in Chesapeake Beach. Not so, me hearties! After we fill ourselves with our choice of breakfast buffet or Barbecue, we'll reassemble in the lot and begin a more leisurely meandering through some of the twisties in Calvert County, eventually heading back up into Anne Arundel County, and terminating at Rita's in the aforementioned parking lots. Should be plenty of room for our MINIs.
I have an idea for this run that I'd like to share for feedback. Here goes...
Other car clubs handle runs a bit differently than we do. In the S2000 club and at least one of the Porsche clubs, they hand out a route sheet at the start of the runs and everyone is pretty much on their own to get to the rendezvous point (in our case, lunch!). Folks who want to run together do that, folks who want to scurry along at a faster pace and run with other like minded drivers can do that. Folks who want a more leisurely pace can also hook up with similarly inclined drivers. And folks can also just cruise by themselves at their own pace.
On most (okay, all) of the club runs I've been on, the group gets separated at intersections and by gaps left in our conga line. I think the stress levels of some of our members (both new and old) might get elevated when the groups are separated or moving at a pace that is quicker (or slower) than they might choose if on their own. Let's face it... some of us have different comfort levels about speeds. And that's perfectly okay.
What I offer for discussion is that for this run, those of you who want to be led can tuck in behind me for both runs. And those of you who might like to heat things up a bit more could either leave ahead of or behind the main group, and set your own pace. I'll provide route sheets for everyone ahead of time. Of course, we can simply do things the way we always have, and that's fine, too. Or we could experiment for this run and see what happens. Entirely up to you!
Thoughts, anyone?
Nevertheless, we've got a terrific route laid out utilizing a lot of the great work done by Paul in years past, plus some new ideas from MrMellowYellow, ChaseABryant & Brandy, and yours truly of course!
If you read the current newsletter, it seems to indicate that the route is just one way down to brunch in Chesapeake Beach. Not so, me hearties! After we fill ourselves with our choice of breakfast buffet or Barbecue, we'll reassemble in the lot and begin a more leisurely meandering through some of the twisties in Calvert County, eventually heading back up into Anne Arundel County, and terminating at Rita's in the aforementioned parking lots. Should be plenty of room for our MINIs.
I have an idea for this run that I'd like to share for feedback. Here goes...
Other car clubs handle runs a bit differently than we do. In the S2000 club and at least one of the Porsche clubs, they hand out a route sheet at the start of the runs and everyone is pretty much on their own to get to the rendezvous point (in our case, lunch!). Folks who want to run together do that, folks who want to scurry along at a faster pace and run with other like minded drivers can do that. Folks who want a more leisurely pace can also hook up with similarly inclined drivers. And folks can also just cruise by themselves at their own pace.
On most (okay, all) of the club runs I've been on, the group gets separated at intersections and by gaps left in our conga line. I think the stress levels of some of our members (both new and old) might get elevated when the groups are separated or moving at a pace that is quicker (or slower) than they might choose if on their own. Let's face it... some of us have different comfort levels about speeds. And that's perfectly okay.
What I offer for discussion is that for this run, those of you who want to be led can tuck in behind me for both runs. And those of you who might like to heat things up a bit more could either leave ahead of or behind the main group, and set your own pace. I'll provide route sheets for everyone ahead of time. Of course, we can simply do things the way we always have, and that's fine, too. Or we could experiment for this run and see what happens. Entirely up to you!
Thoughts, anyone?
I checked out the buffet at the Rod & Reel this morning. The food was plentiful, good and hot. The service, sadly, was less than acceptable. Our waitress, Amy, didn't even visit our table for 10 minutes after we were seated, so I took care of getting water, etc.
Other than her incredibly poor service, it was a great breakfast for about $20 per person, including juice, coffee, fruit, eggs (scrambled and benedict), three kinds of sausage, two kinds of potatoes, chipped beef, biscuits w/ sausage gravy, custom omelets, french toast, waffles, pastries, donuts, and a nice selection of fresh fruits.
I still recommend this restaurant, but if you go there, I'd suggest that you say you don't want to sit in Amy's section.
I'm hoping we can arrive at the food break around 11:30-11:45am, trying to split the difference between the breakfast folks and the lunch folks. The other restaurant choice (in the same building complex) is Smokey Joe's, and is a great choice for lunch items. There will be something for everyone at one or the other of these restaurants.
The route is pretty much finalized, and the only worries are one river crossing that is affected by heavy rains and high tides (it's a cool one lane bridge across the Patuxent River). The route is about 57 miles down, and 40 back. More details soon!
Other than her incredibly poor service, it was a great breakfast for about $20 per person, including juice, coffee, fruit, eggs (scrambled and benedict), three kinds of sausage, two kinds of potatoes, chipped beef, biscuits w/ sausage gravy, custom omelets, french toast, waffles, pastries, donuts, and a nice selection of fresh fruits.
I still recommend this restaurant, but if you go there, I'd suggest that you say you don't want to sit in Amy's section.
I'm hoping we can arrive at the food break around 11:30-11:45am, trying to split the difference between the breakfast folks and the lunch folks. The other restaurant choice (in the same building complex) is Smokey Joe's, and is a great choice for lunch items. There will be something for everyone at one or the other of these restaurants.
The route is pretty much finalized, and the only worries are one river crossing that is affected by heavy rains and high tides (it's a cool one lane bridge across the Patuxent River). The route is about 57 miles down, and 40 back. More details soon!
-Chase
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,555
Likes: 0
Seems like the aheader I go, the behinder I get!
Nevertheless, we've got a terrific route laid out utilizing a lot of the great work done by Paul in years past, plus some new ideas from MrMellowYellow, ChaseABryant & Brandy, and yours truly of course!
If you read the current newsletter, it seems to indicate that the route is just one way down to brunch in Chesapeake Beach. Not so, me hearties! After we fill ourselves with our choice of breakfast buffet or Barbecue, we'll reassemble in the lot and begin a more leisurely meandering through some of the twisties in Calvert County, eventually heading back up into Anne Arundel County, and terminating at Rita's in the aforementioned parking lots. Should be plenty of room for our MINIs.
I have an idea for this run that I'd like to share for feedback. Here goes...
Other car clubs handle runs a bit differently than we do. In the S2000 club and at least one of the Porsche clubs, they hand out a route sheet at the start of the runs and everyone is pretty much on their own to get to the rendezvous point (in our case, lunch!). Folks who want to run together do that, folks who want to scurry along at a faster pace and run with other like minded drivers can do that. Folks who want a more leisurely pace can also hook up with similarly inclined drivers. And folks can also just cruise by themselves at their own pace.
On most (okay, all) of the club runs I've been on, the group gets separated at intersections and by gaps left in our conga line. I think the stress levels of some of our members (both new and old) might get elevated when the groups are separated or moving at a pace that is quicker (or slower) than they might choose if on their own. Let's face it... some of us have different comfort levels about speeds. And that's perfectly okay.
What I offer for discussion is that for this run, those of you who want to be led can tuck in behind me for both runs. And those of you who might like to heat things up a bit more could either leave ahead of or behind the main group, and set your own pace. I'll provide route sheets for everyone ahead of time. Of course, we can simply do things the way we always have, and that's fine, too. Or we could experiment for this run and see what happens. Entirely up to you!
Thoughts, anyone?
Nevertheless, we've got a terrific route laid out utilizing a lot of the great work done by Paul in years past, plus some new ideas from MrMellowYellow, ChaseABryant & Brandy, and yours truly of course!
If you read the current newsletter, it seems to indicate that the route is just one way down to brunch in Chesapeake Beach. Not so, me hearties! After we fill ourselves with our choice of breakfast buffet or Barbecue, we'll reassemble in the lot and begin a more leisurely meandering through some of the twisties in Calvert County, eventually heading back up into Anne Arundel County, and terminating at Rita's in the aforementioned parking lots. Should be plenty of room for our MINIs.
I have an idea for this run that I'd like to share for feedback. Here goes...
Other car clubs handle runs a bit differently than we do. In the S2000 club and at least one of the Porsche clubs, they hand out a route sheet at the start of the runs and everyone is pretty much on their own to get to the rendezvous point (in our case, lunch!). Folks who want to run together do that, folks who want to scurry along at a faster pace and run with other like minded drivers can do that. Folks who want a more leisurely pace can also hook up with similarly inclined drivers. And folks can also just cruise by themselves at their own pace.
On most (okay, all) of the club runs I've been on, the group gets separated at intersections and by gaps left in our conga line. I think the stress levels of some of our members (both new and old) might get elevated when the groups are separated or moving at a pace that is quicker (or slower) than they might choose if on their own. Let's face it... some of us have different comfort levels about speeds. And that's perfectly okay.
What I offer for discussion is that for this run, those of you who want to be led can tuck in behind me for both runs. And those of you who might like to heat things up a bit more could either leave ahead of or behind the main group, and set your own pace. I'll provide route sheets for everyone ahead of time. Of course, we can simply do things the way we always have, and that's fine, too. Or we could experiment for this run and see what happens. Entirely up to you!
Thoughts, anyone?
"Heating things up" might not be a good idea, since on this particular run, we go through a lot of neighborhoods. For those who think it's too slow or fast, use your radios to say so...there's usually a reason behind speed or lack thereof that the line can't see.
Runs always get broken up at lights, intersections, etc., but if the leaders are made aware, then the group usually reforms, and all is well.
just my two pennies...
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 316
Likes: 0
From: Germantown, MD
Maybe Ed's onto something.
I think most of us that participate in events prefer the conga line but maybe that's not for everyone. Although we have a lot of members that do come out to our events, there are so many more that don't. It's possible that we'd get a lot more people if we had different driving options.
So Ed's offering up a something for everyone scenario. The only thing I'd suggest is that the conga line group leave first. Then the independent drivers could either arrive later or simply leave a half hour later and play catchup. Eventually they will and will join us at the restaurant.
Just stimulating the debate.
Glenn
I think most of us that participate in events prefer the conga line but maybe that's not for everyone. Although we have a lot of members that do come out to our events, there are so many more that don't. It's possible that we'd get a lot more people if we had different driving options.
So Ed's offering up a something for everyone scenario. The only thing I'd suggest is that the conga line group leave first. Then the independent drivers could either arrive later or simply leave a half hour later and play catchup. Eventually they will and will join us at the restaurant.
Just stimulating the debate.
Glenn
5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 817
Likes: 0
From: Hagerstown, Md.
Just my 2 cents worth, but I think starting out in one group is the best.
I know that at times we have to pull over to re-group but we do get back
together. Don't get me wrong I definitely like a SPIRITED pace, but stay-
ing as one seems like more fun. Whatever the majority decides is a-ok
with me.
I know that at times we have to pull over to re-group but we do get back
together. Don't get me wrong I definitely like a SPIRITED pace, but stay-
ing as one seems like more fun. Whatever the majority decides is a-ok
with me.
I must admit, I do like going a little faster than we do in the line, however, I absolutely love seeing the faces of the people that we all pass when they realize how many MINIs they have just seen!
-Chase
-Chase
4th Gear
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 515
Likes: 0
From: Huntingtown, MD
awww yea, Calvert County. my stompin grounds. i know you already have the route set up, but depending on how far south you go, may i suggest Sixes Road? its a little past Prince Frederick. o man, i could show you pretty much all the roads in calvert, but you already have it set up. i will be excited to see what roads you chose. there is only one section of calvert i have yet to explore, and i will do that soon. only problem is a lot of the roads are dead ends.
anyway, i do like the idea of a faster group, but i am torn like everyone else. its hard to say which one would be better, although i would lean towards speed. unfortunately, this is also a very good way to attract unwanted attention from law enforcement. just something to think about.
anyway, i do like the idea of a faster group, but i am torn like everyone else. its hard to say which one would be better, although i would lean towards speed. unfortunately, this is also a very good way to attract unwanted attention from law enforcement. just something to think about.
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6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,881
Likes: 3
From: Edgewater, MD
For you folks who live in Calvert County, how about getting together to set up a run down there? You already know the parameters... good starting point with gas, food and bathrooms. Good ending point with food and bathrooms. And fun roads in the middle. Go for it!
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6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,881
Likes: 3
From: Edgewater, MD
Food for thought about large runs.
Something I'll share with all of you, and I know this won't be popular...
As a primary sweeper, I get to hear what the folks behind us are yelling as our conga line slows down traffic and clogs up intersections, and it often isn't pretty. Glenn got a small taste of it on Monday as we ran the picnic route, and that was with only three cars. Ask him how it felt. It doesn't happen every time, but on the last three runs I've swept, we have been called some pretty hateful names, and have really pissed off more folks than most of you would imagine. The larger the group, the more I think we tie things up. Some of you likely won't care, but I bet the majority of you had never considered this aspect of our runs.
From their standpoint, they might see 20 or 30 similar cars, joyriding, wasting gas, tying up intersections and making them late for whatever they're headed for. Imagine that you're running late for an appointment and you run into a funeral. You might be sympathetic for the bereaved, but I bet you get just a bit annoyed at being delayed. And that's for a legitimate reason. I imagine that if folks see us as joyriders wasting gas, their reactions might be even less understanding. And the goodwill we intended to create might have the opposite effect. We have the same rights to use the road as everyone else, but I don't think everyone we encounter sees it that way.
Just like we behave ourselves in residential areas to avoid angering the local population, perhaps we might consider how we affect others with our long conga lines.
Sorry if I have opened a flaming can of worms, but I think this issue is worth exploring. I don't have an answer, but with the collective wisdom, compassionate understanding and boundless insight of our members, I'm sure we'll get some terrific posts! Flame on!
<<gets out asbestos jumpsuit and locks doors>>
As a primary sweeper, I get to hear what the folks behind us are yelling as our conga line slows down traffic and clogs up intersections, and it often isn't pretty. Glenn got a small taste of it on Monday as we ran the picnic route, and that was with only three cars. Ask him how it felt. It doesn't happen every time, but on the last three runs I've swept, we have been called some pretty hateful names, and have really pissed off more folks than most of you would imagine. The larger the group, the more I think we tie things up. Some of you likely won't care, but I bet the majority of you had never considered this aspect of our runs.
From their standpoint, they might see 20 or 30 similar cars, joyriding, wasting gas, tying up intersections and making them late for whatever they're headed for. Imagine that you're running late for an appointment and you run into a funeral. You might be sympathetic for the bereaved, but I bet you get just a bit annoyed at being delayed. And that's for a legitimate reason. I imagine that if folks see us as joyriders wasting gas, their reactions might be even less understanding. And the goodwill we intended to create might have the opposite effect. We have the same rights to use the road as everyone else, but I don't think everyone we encounter sees it that way.
Just like we behave ourselves in residential areas to avoid angering the local population, perhaps we might consider how we affect others with our long conga lines.
Sorry if I have opened a flaming can of worms, but I think this issue is worth exploring. I don't have an answer, but with the collective wisdom, compassionate understanding and boundless insight of our members, I'm sure we'll get some terrific posts! Flame on!
<<gets out asbestos jumpsuit and locks doors>>
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,881
Likes: 3
From: Edgewater, MD