Our first driving event of 2014 once again happens in April and will be the ever-popular EIM Border Skirmish Drive (BSD). After a year hiatus, our 5th BSD returns to the rugged bluffs and Karst topography of the Driftless Region in northeast Iowa, southwest Wisconsin, and southeast Minnesota. This event will occur on Saturday, April 12th. The planned route is almost universally scenic...or twisty...or both.

Our BSD will rendezvous NLT 9:00 am at the main parking lot near the campground in Pikes Peak State Park near McGregor, IA. Our route takes us up the Great River Road from Prairie du Chien, WI on the Wisconsin side, with a few forays into the surrounding cliffs. We stop for lunch at 11:30 am on the south side of La Crosse, WI at Hackberry's Bistro. From there, our skirmish begins with the Gopher State as we cross over the Mighty Mississippi again and make several climbs and descents in and out of the Root River Valley. After declaring victory over both of our neighboring states, our drive completes ~3:15 pm in Decorah, IA at Cooper's Pub where we'll enjoy some complementary goodies and refreshment and recollect on the day's fun activities.

Much more detailed information, including links to the Google route map, detailed driving directions, a map of the rendezvous location, and an overhead image of our lunch stop, can be found in our associated EIM Event Calendar Entry (<-link). The sign-up link is there too.

After a brutal winter, one would hope that Mother Nature owes us for a change. Let's hope so!

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Looking forward to stretching REDMINI's legs/paws...

 

Looks like we're going to have good participation for this one.

Reminder: bring along your GMRS/FRS radios if you have them; those of us with spares can share with those who don't have one.

 

Have been keeping an eye on the weather forecast. As of now, there are credible rain chances on Saturday but the probabilities stay pretty low until the afternoon.

We'll see how things evolve over the next 24 hours. I'm holding out that fate (and some sun) will shine on us.

 

Looks like a fifty fifty chance of rain. Better than snow. Oh well, Looks like Sue and i are going up Friday and spending the night in Prairie Du Chien.

 

Here are a few pics from our drive on Saturday:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/gmm57/...7643920792285/

Wish I could have snapped a few of the best roads. Maybe someday I'll break down and get a GoPro. Maybe.

Enjoyed the chance to get out and motor with everyone despite the off-and-on rain. It was a pleasure meeting Brad and Carol (in the silver Cabrio) and Ed and Camille (in the grey Roadster) -- hope you folks can join up with us again sometime!

Thanks to the road grime, I got to spend the afternoon detailing the MINI in the garage while watching the final round of the Masters. Doesn't get much better than that.