The 3rd EIM Border Skirmish Drive is a exhilarating soiree into the scenic bluff country of NE Iowa and SE Minnesota, starting and finishing in Decorah. The route has been updated from the previous two BSDs to accommodate some fun new roads.

Meet up time is 9:30 am at the Decorah Trout Hatchery, which is located in Siewers Spring State Park off of Trout Run Road about a mile south of town. Our lunch stop is Covey's Little Miami in Freeburg, MN. We should arrive for lunch around 11:30 am with a planned departure around 12:45 pm. We'll be back in Decorah ~2:45 pm with a final stop at Cooper's Pub for some dessert and refreshments (Cooper's Pub is adjacent to an excellent restaurant so you might even want to consider loitering long enough to cap off the day with a great meal).

If you have GMRS/FRS radios, please bring them along. They will come in quite handy during the day's drive.

*See the attached PDF file for exact details of the route, including waypoint coordinates, a general description of each leg, and links to general info and Google Maps of the route.

RSVPs are always appreciated. You can do so by adding your NAM name to the list by clicking on the link in the EIM Event Calendar (<-link).

Let's hope Mommy Nature blesses us with weather that is equal to the scenery and the twisties.

 

It looks like a great route -- almost a campaign, rather than a skirmish

 

I plan on being there to represent the northern side of the border, but fear I will be greatly outnumbered by my neighbors to the south.

I'm really looking forward to this - it looks like a great route!

-Paul

 

Paul, really glad you can make it!

Edit: Received a FB RSVP message from our friend siminski from Spring Grove, so your "north of the border" numbers have at least doubled.

 

Knock on wood...the weather forecast for the BSD is looking ideal. Cool, sunny, and dry.

 

We're going to go up on Friday. Is anyone else going to do that?

 

Yes, staying Friday night at the Cresco Inn, which had the best rate I could find

 

I will be joining but have to depart after the conclusion of our Lunch stop

Looking forward to it (first driving event in the new Cooper)

I have stuff on order for MTTS but wont be here in time for the event (Tires, and a couple performance related things)

 

...not to mention the first time I will actually get to see your new MINI.

 

I was at the British auto fest in D-port last year

 

Fair enough (I was supposed to be there...). So I edited by previous post accordingly.

 

Anyone going from the Cedar Rapids area on Sat morning, if so what time are you heading North?

 

I am heading from Iowa City so depending on route you plan on taking, maybe we could meet up...
Probably leaving IC at 6AM (subject to adjustments)

 

http://g.co/maps/umxzk for me is 3:30
http://g.co/maps/ce3bz for Davenport is 3:32

its 3:15 from davenport with shortest possible
http://g.co/maps/jj4qx


So its up to you, let me know if you want to join up or I will meet you there

If you wanted to do it I would say meet up at the Caseys just off the I80 exit at say 6:00AM, that would leave us 3 Hours to the hatchery

 

I know I have been a slacker with regards to the group just have been so stinking busy lately every weekend is full

 

We are having a good rain here. Hopefully it is raining in the Decorah area as well. It would be good to wash the sand, salt and accumulated grime off the roads for the drive!

 

Thankfully, for your motoring pleasure most of the road surfaces on this route are already quite clean.

 

Sorry, I won't be making this event either.
Have loads of fun and take lots of picture.
I'll motor with you in spirit.

 

same here, gotta work

 

WooHoo!!! Only one more day!!! See you all in Decorah!

 

Not looking forward to leaving the house by 5:30AM but hey what the heck

 

Very fun drive, Gary! Thanks for all the planning, prep work, leading the pack, and providing the Pepsis that got me home

 

Great job again Gary, thank you for the planning and the fun roads.
Steve and Jul

 

Fun-tastic excursion today...thanks, Gary!!

 

Great to see everyone; sure glad the rain held off for us. Fun roads!

I'm glad we had other superb photogs along today, as I ended up with fewer pics worth keeping...anyway, here they are:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gmm57/s...7629506033480/

Next year we'll have to hit that "mystery" stretch of MN-43 we missed. It'll be worth it.