That's right, our inaugural driving event for 2013 is the 4th EIM Border Skirmish Drive scheduled for Saturday, April 27th.
(Since we've "skirmished" three straight times with Minnesota and Wisconsin, we figured it was time to give our EIMers in the southern half of the state a break and thus chose to do our MINI incursion with Illinois and Missouri. )

Our drive starts and ends in Burlington, IA. While not the twistiest local drive we've ever done, it probably has the greatest diversity of scenery -- from curvy city and town streets to open farm land to rocky hills and dense forests, and multiple crossing of tributaries from the smallest creeks to the mighty Mississippi. We'll be snaking down Snake Alley in Burlington (photo op!), enjoying both sides of the Great River Road, circling the Nauvoo Temple, checking out the Italianate and Victorian architecture in Keokuk, passing through Shimek State Forest, enjoying lunch on the banks of the Des Moines River at the historic Bonaparte Retreat...

...and that's only the half of it. After lunch we'll enjoy a trip through the Dutchman's Store in Cantril, give the curvy roads in Lacey-Keosauqua State Park a workout, drive by the little Pickle Church while we head back east for more fun roads and a stop at the beach area in Geode State Park, show off our MINIs on the main drag in downtown Burlington, and cap off the day with dinner at Gator's Grill and Spirits.

Our rendezvous time in Burlington is 9:00 am. The first MINI heads down Snake Alley at 9:30 am, and we expect to arrive at our lunch stop in Bonaparte at noon. We'll stop at the Dutchman's Store ~1:30 pm and in Geode SP around 3:45 pm. Our planned arrival time at our dinner stop back in Burlington is 5:00 pm.

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***Links to the detailed route description with important planning info, complete Google route map, and other useful links may be found in the associated Event Calendar Entry (<-link). Check it out! ***

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Don't forget to bring along your camera, and your GMRS/FRS radios if you have them -- they will come in handy!
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Below are the results of the Facebook Page photo guessing contest. The list of photos represents, in order, highlights along the route and are annotated with the true identity of the place and the winning folks who first identified those places. Congratulations to all of the clever guessers! (MeenieMom gets a special prize for getting #12 correct since it was the toughest.)

EIM Facebook Page Photo Clues for the 4th BSD

Photo Clues:
1. Snake Alley, Burlington (Sandy)
2. Nauvoo Temple, Nauvoo (Pam)
3. Keokuk Power Plant, Keokuk (Pam)
4. Grand Anne B&B, Keokuk (Cindy)
5/6/7 (all at the same place). The Bonaparte Retreat, Bonaparte (freebie)
8. Dutchman's Store, Cantril (Cindy)
9. Lacey-Keosauqua State Park (Cindy)
10. Pickle Church, corner of Salem Road and New London Road in Henry County (Cindy)
11. Geode State Park (Sandy)
12. Gator's Grill and Spirits, West Burlington (Cindy)

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The RSVP Link in our Event Calendar is ready to accept your "click" if you know you're coming with us. Please feel free to do so!

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No more takers? Come on people!

Additional hints:
- That's the Des Moines River you're seeing in Pic#5.
- Pic #8 is an absolute dead giveaway.
- The building in Pic #10 has a sign on it - another giveaway.

- I would say the last picture (#12) is probably the toughest. I may award a special prize if someone can get that one right.

 

Filled one in for y'all...

 

MeenieMom got the Pickle Church.

 

Did I get #12 right?????? Yippee!! I think I did!!!!

 

#4. Grand Anne B&B, Keokuk, Iowa
#8. Dutchman's Store, Cantril, Iowa
#9. Lacey-Keosaqua State Park, Keosaqua, Iowa
#12. Gator's Grill and Spirits, West Burlington, Iowa

 

Dang woman...you are GOOD!

 

well thankeee!!

I love a challenge!

 

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Note: I've edited Post #1 in this thread with the BSD info you've been waiting for.
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It won't be long, now! One of the highlights of the motoring season!

 

Just for the OCMD afflicted among you (...I mean, among us... ) --

Waterworks Car Wash
500 South Roosevelt Ave
Burlington, IA 52601

or

Miracle Car Wash
102 East Agency Rd
West Burlington, IA 52655

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Thank you!

BTW, we will not be able to make the 9:00 start time. We will meet up along the route. For sure by the lunch stop.

 

Thanks for the heads-up. We'll keep our eyes out for you.

 

What an excellent kick-off to the 2013 motoring season! Thanks to Gary (again), the planning he did resulted in a great day of MINI fun with MINI friends! Thanks, Gary!

 

Our unofficial leader

 

+2

We had a great time! Thanks Gary!!

 

Thanks for all the planning, pre-driving and excellent route Gary. Fun diversion after Pam and I drove back from Arizona. Great to see everyone again.

 

A few pictures of our adventure

https://plus.google.com/photos/10855...04386091241793

 

Superb pics as always Daryl!

Here are a few more, including the Snake Alley set:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gmm57/s...7633356293313/

Sure enjoyed seeing everyone. Let's do it again soon.

 

Always nice to see picture sets from you folks, looked to be a great drive.

Don

 

These are out of this world! What an excellent set of pictures!!! These are certainly suitable for framing (and I will). There's just something super special about all those beautiful MINIs snaking down the hill. Wow!

 

Thanks Gary for a great ride. Fantastic

 

The Website recap post is up.