Tom,

Love your signature. I had seen it before, but everytime I read it, it brings on a good laugh. Hi to Elizabeth from the both of us. Have a safe 4th. See you around the circuit, but hopefully before Dragon 5.

 

Hey!! Even though it rained on our parade, it was nice to see some of the DCMM gang again. Thanks for setting things up Jim. We made it back to Southern Maryland okay, but it was not a nice drive in the country. There was a lot of debris in the road and one big tree down on Rt 424 over 2/3s of the road. Hope to see you all at Ingleside. They have tasting inside, so it will not rain on our parade there.

 

the rain was a bummer, but the fireworks were cool.
Thanks for dinner, James and Marina!

 

We had a great run followed by a interesting MINI adventure in the rain to a great BBQ

I then returned to my house in Bowie to be on generator power

What a MINI adventure

 

Sorry we bailed on the BBQ, sounded like it turned out ok for the night, but we didn't know this car, and I didn't feel like getting stuck down there! And anyway, we went home and I crashed. Just woke up! Bummer the parade didn't work out. Next year...But I won't have Pepperina...

 

Carrie and I had a blast yesterday! It's was great meeting you all. I hope my kids weren't too disturbing to anyone.

 

Yes, Morgan was extremely disruptive the way she sat quietly and read her book. Put a leash on that girl!
And Mitch was also a real pain the way he petted the dog.

THANKS TO EVERYONE for making this the best 4th ever! Lots of memories...

If you couldn't make it, try again next year!

James

 

Next time, we'll have Soulfire, so Morgan can see the dragons!

 

One of the many pictures of the day....more to come soon!!!

 

Thanks for the hospitality! It was a good time!

 

For some reason I REALLY like this pic Got it in hi res?

Nice run gang, thanks Marina and James for putting it together!

 

Couldn't of put it better myself

 

Mark my camera contained a few good pics too. Taken by my trusty co-pilot Krolyat.

 

Got my photos uploaded; check them all out here and see what you think! Thanks again for all the hospitality provided!

 

Here are my pics from the Capital Hill Parade, etc.

The Twisty Run was one of the best ones yet. Other than a few slow vehicles, a turtle, and a snake, the MINI drivers did very well. We had some nice uninterrupted, fast paced motoring segments. Thanks to MDSBrain for complimenting me on my CVT driving skills.

Despite being rained out of the Annapolis parade, the evening turned out very nice. The burgers were yummy, the sangria was smooth and delicious, and the view of the fireworks was fantastic!

Other than having a bad case of motorer's tan, I had a good time and am looking forward to next year. Is it too early to RSVP?

 

huh, i saw the turtle but i didn't see the snake. still, i'll take a snake OUTSIDE of the car any day, it sure beats a scorpion INSIDE your hotel room! the rest of my family is out in new mexico on a vacation and i was a little jealous of them (leaving me to cat-sit while they go to have fun), at least until our motoring, and that made up for it... but when they told me on the phone today they woke up and found a scorpion in their room the other day i wasn't jealous of them at all anymore

 

I'm glad you all had fun! Your kids are welcome at our house anytime

I'm also glad we had the AC cranked down...everyone looked so hot when they arrived.

That awful smell was the injector pump ventilation malfunction...I'm calling the plumber tomorrow. Sorry about the stink .

Oh and tell Morgan the book I mentioned to her is called Eragon by Christopher Paolini. If she likes that one, the sequal is called Eldest. There's going to be a 3rd book released in August. It's a cool trilogy...if you like dragons like I do.

 

We had a great time! Despite the rained out parade, the BBQ and fireworks were lots of fun. Many thanks to James & Marina for their hospitality!! I know it was a tough decision to let Virginia people into their home...

Sally's description of the Twistys is right on target! That's a run I wouldn't mind repeating!

Also, thanks to Katie & Paul for their hospitality and the use of their water hose, and thanks to MDSBrain for his bucket. It's amazing how much clean wheels improved my cars look!!

 

Glad everyone had a good time...

I had a ball and despite the rain in Annapolis it was great to be ALL day w/ you guys.. even with those Virginians. !!!!!!

bmkiss67 ... quite impressed by you and Chiara in the twisties !!
miniGlenn .. come around more often... and thank you for driving the girls to their car.

Sorry MMatarella, your position on the Parade would have been perfect !!! right behind the belly dancers.. hopefully next year !!!!!

Nice surprise having the Classic Mini followed by the New Minis at the Capitol Hill Parade

MD STREGA2

PS: One Saturday we could put together this run again (and adding another 20 minutes at the end) and end up having breakfast at the place that Wagnbat suggested..

 

I'm up for a run anyday the roads are clear

 

Hey miniglenn,
What camera did you use to take those pics with?

 

Hmm. In the parade I would've been right BEHIND them. Are they still Belly Dancers if I can not see their belly?

Better than following the horses too!

 

I use the Canon Rebel XT - it's a really good value SLR digital camera and I highly recommend it! Most of the pictures (all but eight, actually) were taken with the 18-55mm lens that it comes with if you get it as a kit instead of just the body, and the remainder of the photos were taken with a 50mm f/1.8 lens that's another really good bargain (I've tagged each of the pictures with the type of lens used in the photo, so here's photos with the kit lens, and here's photos with the 50mm).

Canon's actually got a mail-in rebate option going on (if I remember right it goes until the end of July correction: july 15), $800 for the camera with kit lens.

 

If you click on the image it takes you to the larger picture.

 

Just wanted to drop a quick note to say Jon and I had a BLAST! We definitely gotta do the drive again - you know how Jon likes to cross the yellow lines, Marina! OK, gotta get back to work : ( haha
--Karen