Janelle (aka BIGBADWLF) and Paul(!) present DCMM "MINIs by the Bay" - August 14th!!

When: Sunday, August 14th. 8:15 - 8:30 AM meet & greet, depart at 9:00 AM.
Where: We will gather at the McDonald's across the street from the Westfield Shopping Plaza in Annapolis, MD at about 8:30 AM for a 9 AM sharp departure time.* Directions below.
Bring: A full tank of gas, an appetite, money for food, and your FRS or GMRS handheld radio!
RSVP: Closed, sorry!
Event Fee: No fee for DCMM members. $5 fee per car for non-DCMM members. Payment can be made in advance via PayPal to dues2005@dcmetrominis.org or cash brought to the event.
Route: Minis by the Bay Route Sheet
Questions? events@dcmetrominis.org

Directions to McDonalds:
From Virginia and other areas around the DC Beltway: Make your way to Route 50 and head east towards Annapolis. Leave Route 50 at Exit 23. Keep to the right on the exit ramp to merge onto Route 450 / Defense Hwy. Continue straight through 2 lights (road becomes 178 / Generals Hwy after second light). McDonald's will be on your left. (It's across the street from the Westfield Shopping Plaza (aka Annapolis Mall) facing Border's.)
From points around Annapolis: Head west on Route 50. Leave Route 50 at exit 23B. At the end of the exit ramp, make a left at the light onto Route 450 / Defense Hwy. Go straight through the next light (road becomes 178 Generals Hwy.). McDonald's will be on your left. (It's across the street from the Westfield Shopping Plaza (aka Annapolis Mall) facing Border's.)

From other areas: Use your GPS or favorite online mapping program and head to address:

McDonald's
2130 Generals Hwy
Annapolis, MD 21401
(A quick note: If you look up this address on McDonald's website, it shows it at an incorrect location! But if you plug it into Google Maps, Mapquest, or something similar, it will plot it right and give you correct directions.)

Now for a few details. We start with a tour of the roads around greater Annapolis, then taking some fantastic backroads a bit south, eventually ending up by the Chesapeake Bay for lunch at Thursday's Bar and Grill in North Beach, MD (Website). After lunch, we'll then motor along on some slightly calmer roads (don't want to upset lunch ) down, around, and back up until we reach a final blast of twisties, ending at an A&W Root Beer stand to grab a root-beer float and chat before heading home for the evening. The ending point also serves as a excellent place for everyone to make their way back home, as it's conveniently located close to Rt. 4 (which will get you to the beltway) and to Rt. 50 for all of you Annapolis-ites!

*A note about the departure time: We must leave precisely at the departure time of 9 AM! The restaurant is holding about 2/3rds of their dining room for us when they open at 11 AM. If we get there late however, those tables will end up going fast! If we leave at 9, that should allow us a comfortable pace to arrive on time.

RSVP List
Paul B. (Paul!)
Jen O. (Jen)
Michael O.
Janelle W. (BIGBADWLF)
Lito L. +1
Bryon S. (COOPERCOPS) +1
Richard C.
Mark W. (mpwald05) +1
Paul B. (Hapa) +1
Marcy H. +1
Pete R. (prob) +1
Kat (Discosmurf)
Matt L. (CmdrVimes)
Mark (mdsbrain)
Bruce P. (mty_mini)
Mike B. (mbmischkin) +1.5
Haemish (Edge) +1
Sally (ssallykat)
Marina (lastrega)
James
(Beanbag)
Will (Wagnbat) +1
Mark M. (mmatarella)
Jim T. (jim_t) +1
Kurt (krut)
Bonnie (baldyMCS04) +1
...and sagworks riding shotgun somewhere :smile:

PM me or sens an email to events@dcmetrominis.org if there's any problems / corrections.

This is going to be an outstanding run, with a lot of local roads as yet untouched by DCMM wheels!

-Paul!

 

I will be there. Please note two cars, I think Michael will be able to make this event too.

 

"Estrella" and Kat will be there! It's a Sunday so I am not working! WOOT!

 

yeah, I'll be there.
Just hoping that the restaurant in question isn't the mexican cafe with it's horrid parking lot.

 

Count me in

 

Count me in for Aug 14th Run.

 

Expect us as well...

 

Off topic a bit: What's a good milage range for one of these? Is it required to have one?

 

Anyone looking for a passenger? It would be fun to do a more than 30 minute ride inside a mini while awaiting mine. I live in Greenbelt (on the way to Annapolis)

 

Awesome - DCMM driving events rock. Not that DCMM social events are bad either.

Sagworks - I'm sure you won't have ANY problem finding an empty passenger seat to use. Just show up at the start, and ask around. The only catch will be getting back to your car after the event is over, so obviously Annapolis locals will be the best bet.

 

So are you coming to this one

 

Barring an unforeseen event, YES.

The only potential concern is what is defined by "morning" for the start. I noticed no time was posted... but this being much more than simply a breakfast, I'll try harder to get to bed earlier on Saturday night.

 

Given that GMRS radio's with a 5 mile range are really cheap, I'd start there.

Radio's are not required for any of our runs, but they are highly recommended. They are used to pass safety and other information to the group. If you don't have a radio with you, you will miss these announcements. There is also a possibility that somebody may have a spare radio for you to borrow.

If you decide to buy a radio (or probably a set as they almost always come in pairs) here are a few things to keep in mind:

• DCMM and most other MINI groups use channel 7 sub channel 21, make sure that any radio you purchase supports sub channels or privacy channels. Radios that don't support sub-channels kinda work, we can hear you talking, but you can't hear us.
• In my experience when it comes to radios, you get what you pay for. While many people have the $30/pair radios and are happy with them, I've never had a set of them last me more than a few months. Decent budget priced radios should run ~$55-$60, if you want to go a bit more high end you still really shouldn't spend more than $99.
• Handsfree microphones are BAD! They seem like a really good idea at first, however the sensitivity of the microphone is a major issue. Too low and your breathing will key the microphone, too high and it won't key when you speak or it won't stay keyed while you speak. Odds are a handsfree adjusted to key when you speak will also key when your car radio is on. A stuck microphone like this jams the frequency and prevents us from using the radios as intended (and makes it impossible for you to hear us calling you!), it also has a tendency to broadcast to the group comments that you make that you might not have wanted everybody to hear

 

Hmmmm.....

 

Sweet. Thanks for the info. I'll be gettin' one of my own then

sagworks - you have PM, bro.

 

Just FYI, those mileage ranges listed with FRS/GMRS radios are taken on open water. Don't expect anything near the mileage rating in actual use (unless you're also on open water).

 

C'omon! I even have my MINI potty-trained now!

-Paul!

 

I would actually love to have one! It's a pain-in-the-rear trying to lead a route, keep on a route and not get lost, and talk on the radios all at the same time! If interested, reply here or send me a PM!

-Paul!

 

It'll probably be about 9ish, give or take. I've got the middle and end of the route pretty much done, I just have to flesh out the beginning. How much I flesh it out will determine the actual start time!

-Paul!

 

Or at the top of a hill with no obstuctions talking to somebody at the top of another hill, or at the bottom of the hill you're at the top of...

If you get 2 miles out of any GMRS or FRS radio on the market consider yourself lucky...

One other thing, the FCC requires you to purchase a license for $60 off the top of my head the forms are included in the packaging for the radio. That being said, the license is strickly a piece of paper and the radio doesn't know if you bought the license or not. Provided you don't modify the radio to alter it's power output settings or it's frequency range causing it to interfere with other radio stations and users, you probably won't have to worry about the FCC kicking down your door for using an unlicensed GMRS radio.

 

Of course the one truly local event finally happens, and I won't be here dammit. Y'all have fun and drive safe!
GB, you should show up and make yerself known. Someone's gotta fill the DkSlvr gap left by my absence.

 

We'll be there

 

Ya know, I go out of my way to set up an event in your neck of the woods, and you don't even show up....

( )

Seriously, that's too bad! If you want, I can set up a 're-tread' at a date of your choosing in the future! (Assuming of course, everything goes right... )

-Paul!

 

LOL, yer funny. I'll be at the beach with the family. Not much I can say.....

 

Just checked my schedule, and Im off work!!! Yeah!!!! Count me in... and sagworks, I have an empty passenger seat if youd like to ride with me. I have the all black cooper automatic with the same interior as your future MINI.
-sally