Decided to start up this thread so we'd have a place for some Iowa group interactive planning for the High Plains Motoring event, rather than burdening the MINI5280 thread with EIM-specific banter.

It's still a ways out, but once you refine the details of your travel and lodging plans it would help if you posted the information here. That way we will be able to cross-coordinate among ourselves on rendezvous points, convoys headed west, etc.

--- Here are a few helpful reference links:

1. The reference post on our EIM website:
http://www.easterniowaminis.org/?p=285

2. The primary MINI5280 event thread:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ay-2009-a.html

3. The NAM Calendar entry (for overall info and making RSVPs):
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...=2009-5-15&c=2

4. MINI5280 swag catalog on CafePress (includes HPM stuff ):
http://www.cafepress.com/mini5280

This is going to be an awesome gathering of MINI enthusiasts.

 

...so I'll be the first to share what I know about my plans.

As of now I expect to depart Decorah very early in the morning on Thursday, May 14th. My route takes me up US-52N to Preston, MN, then west on MN-16 where I quickly hook up with I-90W for the bulk of the transit. I'm guessing I might be the only EIMer who uses this "northern route" since it's likely a lot more convenient for the CR-IC area folks to take I-80 through Omaha.

I haven't yet decided on the final part of the route. It's unlikely that I'll go all the way south to meet the group in Alliance on Thursday afternoon. I'm considering heading southwest on SD-44 at Cactus Flats -- looks like an interesting road around the south side of Badlands NP. I might look to rendezvous with the big group of MINIs heading north at the intersection of US-18 and US-385 as an option, or I might just head straight to Hill City and wait for everyone there. I'll post my final intentions when they're firm.

Hill City is going to be my personal base of operations for the event. I have reservations at the Best Western Golden Spike Inn in Hill City for three nights starting Thursday night.

 

My schedule looks about like yours
1.) Depart IC about 7:00 AM Thursday
Take 80 over and cut up at some point yet to be decided.
2.) Stay in Hill City all three nights Thursday Friday and Saturday at the Bestwestern

3.) return Sunday

 

Our plans are very tentative. We usually take Hwy 20 to I35 North to I 90 West. We may take I80 to meet up in Alliance. Have not made reservations as of yet but intend to stay at the same Bestwestern in Hill City as D3m0N and Gil-galad. We have been out there several times and have never had difficulty finding lodging. The May dates are early enough in the season reservations should not be a problem. We will also be returning on Sunday.

 

I'll most likely tag along with Brian. I initially wanted to be in Alliance for the 5PM photo, but I think I'll do whatever Brian does. I'll be at the Best Western in Hill City for Thursday and Friday and in Rapid City Saturday night. I'll head for home on Sunday morning from RC.

This is gonna be great fun!

 

tagalongs are welcome but we will have to make a few more pit stops that I normally do the pups are coming with on this one.

 

Looks like Lisa and I will be going too. We booked a room in Rapid City, a little further from the monument but Golden Spike was full so we found another nice place with a decent rate and went with that, just a little more motoring time for us I guess. Should be a fun trip google maps shows it as 10.5 hours so it should be a good drive out!

 

Excellent! With Atomic#47 adding to the Iowa ranks we're going to make a great showing.

 

I just made our reservations. I went through Southdakotahotels.org and got all 3 nights at the Golden Spike in Hill City. The rate was $85.62. Still not sure on the route we will take. I am leaning towards taking I80.

 

If you do take I-80, there might be 4 of us EIMers in a mini MINI caravan!

 

Looking at google maps its 4 miles shorter for me to go I-80 to I35 to 90
rather than going all the way to omaha and then up

 

The one item you might consider is that if you go across SD on I-90 (like me) it's a long ways back south if you have designs on meeting the big group at the CarHenge rendezvous in Alliance, NE for the group photo. I'm still in an intense self-debate about exactly what route to choose for the finish on Thursday evening.

 

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...345581&t=h&z=9
That is my tenative route
Pending flood related changes and the like...

 

So it looks like you plan on skipping the CarHenge rendezvous and heading straight to Hill City?

 

I think so we plan on leaving between 7 and 8 and Carhenge is at 5:00 PM would be strait thru followed by back roads to Hill City

 

Will any of us be doing the Alliance stop? I'm not very excited about driving 11 hours by myself, so I suppose I'll skip it and tag along with someone from Iowa City.

 

If I recall correctly, I think 05MINI was definitely interested in the CarHenge stop. Not sure about R56MINICooper or Atomic #47 but if they're planning to continue west on I-80 past Omaha it's right along the route. I haven't ruled it out completely yet myself; still debating whether I'm up to the additional 4 and 1/2 hours of driving it would create for me coming over on I-90...

 

Going strait over and up through alliance 13 hours 16 minutes
going to omaha then up 10 hours 52 minutes

 

We'll probably head the same route Brian is taking. No plans on making it there in time for the shoot I dont think. Just going to follow Brian and anyone else up directly, although we'll be stopping in Rapid City for our stay there.

 

Hey gang, here is my most probable route from Decorah:

http://www.mapquest.com/mq/5-0z0jeIwZYgz*2FWk5xrk

Zoom in and look close, as you'll see that I'm most definitely planning to take the SD-240 Badlands Loop just east of Rapid City if the weather is conducive. I've heard this is well worth the diversion.

Perhaps if a subset of our group is going through Sioux Falls, we might meet up there? Just a thought...

BTW, I noticed that by tonight Hill City was supposed to get 18" of snow.

 

There are at least a half dozen of us from the KC MINIacs going too, if you all would like to hook up at some point along the route. We are planning to arrive at Alliance in time for the pic op.

Several of us ...............ahem, "mature"......................drivers are going up the night before and staying in North Platte to make it easier to hook up at CarHenge, so there are plenty of opportunites for a rendezvous along the route, just FYI.

D3mon, what kind of pups? We were trying to decide whether to bring the two Mini-poopers with us too......

 

Sioux falls would be a good stop for a rest and meet up to gather more MINIs for the final push

 

A couple rat terriers

 

For everyone planning on passing through Sioux Falls on their way to HPM, there is a South Dakota Information Center and Rest Stop located 36 miles west of the I-29 / I-90 interchange. It is at Mile Post 362.7 (westbound) and just past the US-81 exit to Salem.

I propose a 2 pm CDT rendezvous at this stop so we can caravan west from there.

Any takers?

[Note: this proposed rendezvous has been superseded by revised plans in Post #41]

 

That sounds reasonable (and good) to me. I'm still hoping to tag along with someone though, so don't count on me just yet.