As my last act as DCMM events coordinator, I present DCMM "MINIs by the Bay II"! The first of hopefully many driving events of 2006!

When: Saturday, April 8th. We will meet at about 8 - 8:30ish AM for a prompt 9:00 AM departure time.
Where: We will gather at the McDonald's across the street from the Westfield Shopping Plaza in Annapolis, MD. Directions below.
Bring: A full tank of gas, an appetite, money for food ($20 should more than cover the meal), and your FRS or GMRS handheld radio (tuned to channel 7, subchannel 21)!
RSVP: Closed, sorry!
Event Fee: No fee for DCMM members. $5 fee per car for non-DCMM members. Cash or check can be brought to the event.
Route: Draft route here. Contents not final, and subject to change!
Questions? events@dcmetrominis.org or this thread!

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 the details. MINIs by the Bay II is a leaner & meaner retread of the first one last year! The first half is trimmed up a bit, still starting around greater Annapolis, then taking some fantastic backroads south, eventually ending up by the Chesapeake Bay for lunch at about 11 AM. The restaurant will be Smokey Joe's Grill at the Chesapeake Beach Resort & Spa (website) (menu). The second half from last year has been put through the shredder, and is completely redesigned! We will now stay to the east of the Patuxent River (my downfall last year!) and rocket back up north through another great set of twisties, ending by where route 3 / 301 and route 50 intersect. We will then stop at a local establishment (TBD. I'm trying to find a place near there a bit more exciting than McD's (again!)) for dessert and a chat before we all split up and make our way home.

Also, during the stop for lunch, there's a small train museum that's pretty interesting! It tells about a train route that went between DC and the bay. There should be time if anyone wants to check it out.

PM me or send an email to events@dcmetrominis.org if there's any problems / corrections, or make a post in the thread! And as always, the most up-to-date information will always be reflected in this top post!

RSVP list (as of 1 AM April 8th)
Dave C. (big_davoc)
Paul B. (Paul!)
Marina (lastrega)
James
Amy and Todd (SpencerAndMe)
Sally (ssallykat)
Naomi +1
Matt L. (CmdrVimes)
John and Pat (jbiancolli)
Will (Wagnbat) +1
Lewis & Debra (willimini)
Mark S. (MDSBrain) +1
Byron and Sue
Katie (kgdblu) +1
Jim and Susie (jim_t)
Sherill (sagworks) +1
Alan (Scavenger) +1
Susan (loxycoon) +1
Stacey & Jaysen (MiniNurse)
(lcubed) +1
(CSAMF)
Val & Mike (-=Mike=-)
Mark & Wanda (mpwald05)
Joe (Krapow) +1
Marty (MiniZoom)
Kurt (krut)
Karen
Tim
Mark M. (mmatarella)
Jen (Jen) +1 [maybe]
Paul (Protoculture)
Janelle (BIGBADWLF)
Melanie (irishcow)

-Paul!

 

Paul ! Now I have to make another decision... come to MINIs by the Bay or do my autocross day in Aberdeen????
Don't know yet... need to think it over.

MD STREGA2
22GS

 

RSVPed 1 MINI, 2 people. If my car ever leaves Tate's shop.

April is pretty free right now so whatever date.

 

Paul! Is there any chance that you could do this on Sat the 8th? Like lastrega, I have a conflict on the 1st. The event sounds great. I'd like to do it. The 8th and the 15th are okay for me.

 

RSVP'ing 1 MINI, 2 people!

Does anyone have a handheld radio I could borrow? Or I think I have one or two of those little cheapy walky-talkies at home (that do have channel selections). Will those work?

 

I am likely to have a conflict on the 1st too, but that is no reason not to go forward with this date. I have my sister in town that week and I think I have to bring her to the airport on Saturday morning. Will need to check her flight schedule when I get home tonight.

An April Fools Day Run!!!!

Paul, we're not all going to show up in the parking lot and find out this is a joke right?

If you do a cling, I want one!

 

yes pleeeeeeeeease change the day or have the same run the week end after .. I have a place in mind for ice cream after the run with plenty of parking, too.

MD STREGA2
GS 22

 

hmmmm..april 1st? Better not be an april fool's prank I'll be there, be it on the 1st or the 8th...finally, a drive close to home For dessert, and if y'all are willing, there's a yummy gelato place near our house. Lots of parking, and anyone's welcome to come over to our place after dessert and hang out for a while. Just a suggestion....

 

I am in 1 mini, 2 people. I am looking forward to it - I am good the 1st or if it gets moved the 8th. (Please not the 25th)

Now if I don't get a set of radios before then can I borrow one from someone? I was planning on getting a set for dragon, so now is as good as time as any!

 

Ok, since it seems like the 8th works out for everyone, and I haven't made reservations yet, consider it changed!

If you have RSVP'd for the 1st, please re-RSVP! Thanks! (And lastrega and willimini, you better be there!! )

-Paul!

Edit: I have 3 extra radios, loxycoon & Mrs. works, you are more than welcome to borrow two of them!

 

Ms. Works! Not for another year..... I will claim one of those extras radios. Thank you.

Consider 1 mini, 2 people RSVP'd for the 8th!

 

I think we can make it! I certainly hope so, will RSVP soon!!

 

GREAT !!! Two good news in less than two hours !!!!

I will be there... I should be attending a wedding but I prefer to be with the Minis

MD TREGA2
22GS

 

I will be there on the 8th. Too soon to know Michael's schedule.

 

Rats! We could have made the 1st, but we're off to the Caribbean the 8th. Have a great time, and Paul, thanks for all your great event planning. See you next time. pete and nancy

 

Okay, count me in on the 8th. One MINI, one person (so far). Thanks, thanks for the new date.

 

I'd feel bad for the both of you, but while we're traipsing around Maryland, you'll be in the freakin' Caribbean!!!

In all seriousness, my sincere apologies. The 8th actually works out better for me, as I'm not going to be around for the weekend after next, which means that I'd have to do a lot of planning in a very short amount of time. The extra weekend gives me a bit more breathing room!

Have fun in the sun!

-Paul!

 

Hi all...just wanted to ask...How does one become a member of the DC Club?

 

Excellent question! There's a link on the dcmetrominis.org website to register, or you can click here to go directly to the registration page!

Hope to see you part of the club soon!

-Paul!

 

Okay, I just did it!..So i'm in - and now I'm scared ........ j/k

 

Hey Saakey -

Nothing to be scared about.. we're harmless - except for that guy WagnBat and the token Australians that we allow in the club! :-) Welcome aboard in all seriousness! You'll have a great time!

 

don't worry, we don't bite..............much
Feel free to go over to the New Members thread on the forum and introduce yourself...welcome!

 

Curses... I hate to miss this one... I'll be in Australia for my sister's wedding. The irony is, if it had stayed as the 1st, I could probably have made it. I fly out that evening, but I'd still go on the run anyway!

Was a REALLY FUN run last year... I hope to get a copy of the route list and do it myself (or even with a few friends who also will miss it this time), if only to see what Paul has changed.

I hope everyone has a great time. April 8th is my sister's actual wedding day! Although due to the time difference, she will probably tie the knot before you guys even meet up. Heh.

 

Paul -- if you were planning on going to Solomon's Island (like we did in Sept.03 -- see http://www.pbase.com/tomcat/solomons_sep6_03), be advised that the Thursday Washington Post carries the sad story that the Lighthouse Inn (that we went to) and Bowens' (next door) burned down Wed night

This is a really sad day and a major loss for the Solomons community

 

Yeah, I read about that. A lot of people I work with are upset about this. It's actually a favorite hangout with a lot of military families.

My run doesn't take up by Solomons Island, though, so it's not affected.

-Paul!