Posting this at a little past 3AM <g>...
(Fighting leg cramps from being on the road so long yesterday <g>)

Hope the last part of your run was uneventful BcSki....

Nothing like "working" 5AM to 10:30 PM ish to help you appreciate
another day on the mountain <g>. Thanks again... <g>.

 

And some more planning?

For the folks west of Charleston... what would be a good time to meet up,
and where. I'm thinking we should aim to get to Hawks Nest around noon.

We could meet at the Cultural Center in Charleston at 10:30 or so. (Figure
we'd chat a few minutes, wait for stragglers <g> , and hit the road at 10:45.

I've mapped out a possible run for us.
The Huntington contingent would end up driving approx. 262 miles total.
With a driving time of approx 5 hours 7 minutes.
The route would be Huntington-Hawks Nest-Bickmore-Big Otter-Charleston-Huntington

The Snowshoe contingent (BcSki and anyone else he brings <g>)
would end up driving approx. 281 miles
With a driving time of approx. 6 hours 20 minutes
The route would be Snowshoe-Hawks Nest-Bickmore-Big Otter-Sutton-Diana-Snowshoe

The post Hawks Nest group portion looks pretty good. It's comprised
of State route 16 up to Big Otter.

Here's what a WV motorcycle site said about that road:

"Truly country road riding. The road is narrow in lots of places, switchbacks here and there,
rough in spots, a real adventure. Some nice scenery. Look out for gravel in some turns.
There are some surprises on this road; decreasing radius turns and some hairpins that show up unexpectly.
Be careful. Like I said, it's an adventure. Great road to ride. One of my favorites.
At times it looks like a road designed for riders in the middle of no-where. Most of the time there is little traffic."

Seems like a great road to drive. Gravel is more of a concern for motorcyclists...
Again a reminder ... this is a "fun" run. Not a road course <g>. We'll be trying
to drive somewhat controlled. "Speed Demons" out in front <g>. Be Safe.

What's everyones thoughts/suggestions?

So far , I've got an idea of the following folks that are good to go.
(From what I've heard on the board and elsewhere...)
Any problems, and your not able to go... or just choose not to <g>,
please post accordingly...

GonePostalWV
Robin (A mini owner from Hurricane... should be logging on to Nam soon)
Greg C (A fellow from my mail route. Can't recall his NAM screen name)
Bucky082642
MiniEsq
Snyper
BcSki
WVPhoto ? (Not sure)

Possibly add a couple others I've been in contact with via email.

Anyone I'm missing? If so... come on aboard and let us know/remind me <g>.

 

I AM IN. THANKS GONEPOSTALWV FOR LETTING ME KNOW ABOUT THIS SITE. SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE A PLAN, JUST TELL ME WHERE TO BE ON THE 13TH AND I AM THERE.

 

Saw your post in the Integrity thread and tried to send you to this thread.
By the time I clicked on your screen name... you were already here <g>.

Hope you didn't have alot planned for today. I've got a feeling your going
to be doing a ton of reading in the near future. You can learn a lot on this
board, without even trying.....

Enjoy it <g>.

(Oh... and before someone gives you grief.... you might turn off the Caps Lock...
some folks are really picky about that. It's considered shouting <G>.)

 

Hooray! I just posted a look out for a mini club out here. Just got here in Feb.. I also wrote a note on a cooper I saw in the parking lot at walmart just now.. I think they'll be looking around on here, too.. What's up guys?

 

I actually caught up on this thread last night, I was up way too late reading. Sounds like a GREAT group of people.

Caps lock is just they way I roll/type (I might be around the students a little too much). I guess I will try to change my lazy ways, so my tone is not misunderstood as hostile/loud (which it is not, maybe just excited). You would think a secretary would know better. Thanks for the advice and the hard work. You need help you know I am in the area.

 

And I want to make sure that wasn't criticism of your posting style/ability <g>.
We have some folks on the board who tend to be just a tad too gungho
about being the grammar and computer etiquette police <g>... and I wanted
to spare you from them if possible.

And a hearty welcome to GetShorty as well. I know your in S. Charleston...
what color MINI do you have? Also, do you have a vanity plate on it. Reason
I'm asking is there are a couple "new" MINI's I've spotted that I'm trying to
put the person to the vehicle <g>. You may be one of them.

Also, what color was the MINI you "tagged"? It might already be a member <g>.

Please read the previous thread... and do a search for West Virginia as well.
That will give you an idea of "who's Who"... and tell you about the run
we've got planned for the 13th. You are of course invited.

Also, If you and Robinitis would like to tell a little about yourselves to the
folks on the board here... we'd be able to get to know a bit about you as well.

Again Welcome and enjoy the board <g>...

 

Hey guys,
I have an 05 MCS white on hyper blue - no bonnet stripes, etc. Premium, lapis leather, fog lamps. No vanity plate, but I do have one of those united we stand WV plates with a pretty low number.. Also, I still have the original "Let's Motor" tag surround from FLOW MINI in NC.. I'm usually found on Maccorkle travelling to and from work during the rush times.
I'll have to catch you guys for the next get together. I'm going to Greensboro to catch the REI scratch and dent sale the weekend you're meeting up. Thanks for the invite, though.
I haven't been able to do many club things.. I went to one M2C2 meeting in Raleigh when I still had p-plates (mostly corresponded online). Then I lived in NW Louisiana where the nearest club that I found was in Dallas. I am really excited to be out of the swamp again and in the mountains.
The car I tagged was also some sort of blue close to mine with a white top and mirror caps - black bonnet stripes (I think). By the time I came back out I had a note on my dash and the other car was gone (my luck was perfect - I got to park right next to them so the note didn't seem so random). I hope they'll find us on here, too. The note on my car said that they hadn't heard of any clubs, but they would definitely like to join!

 

Welcome aboard you two. The Hawks Nest run should be a good get together for us... I'm up in DC tonight in prep for a fun with the DC Metro MINIS tomorrow morning. I have invited the club's event coordinator (Maxicooper) and anyone else from the club, down to do some reconn work for a possible weekend event at Snowshoe.

Once Maxicooper let's me know what his schedule is like I will let you know. It would be great to get toether with these guys and girls. It sounds like a great club and I bet they will have some great advice for us in starting up the WV club...

GonePostal, how many miles are you up to? When are you going to "experiment" on the RX-7's paint?

 

Just incase:

I keep reading about Snowshoe, so here's a heads up on a sweet cabin rented out by my brother-in-law and his wife.
http://www.vrbo.com/69238

 

Enjoy the weekend with the DC crew <g>. Any advice they have
is appreciated. Try to bring them down on a Sunday ... then I can
make the road trip over your way to meet them.

I'm just shy of 400 o miles so far. Today mainly stayed in... did apply
the rainx though <g>. Will hopefully head out to put a few more miles
on tomorrow.

When you get a chance look at the mapquest beta and plug in the
route I listed earlier for you. Snowshoe-Hawks Nest-Bickmore-Big Otter-Diana-Snowshoe.

It sounds confusing... but looks like it would be a fun route for you
to take. The route back from Big Otter is the part that you might
want to change. There are other options, not sure which would work
best for you.

I think this will be a great little run for us. I'm really looking forward
to it. (Plus not sure if I mentioned, but I'm not due back to work until
Tuesday the 15th.) The run will be my last "hurrah" before heading
back in...

 

Was driving over to the dairy queen in Hurricane tonight, and saw
a Pepper white with veteran plates two cars in front of me. Tried
following him... but lost him on Sycamore. While looking for his car,
I saw a red one parked in a driveway. I'm guessing that might be you <g>.

Any thoughts who the white MINI is? Figure that's somebody else we
could get to run up to Hawks Nest with the group <g>.

(Your car looks nice btw... would have stopped in and said hello...but
my wife said that would be just a tad "stalkeresque" <g>.)

 

do you need help posting ur pics from picking up ur car? i can do it for ya if u dont know how.

and my going on this trip depends on if the GF has to work or not. If she ends up having to work I probably wont go due to me feeling like the lone weirdo in a car by myself for 6 hours. That, and me not knowing a soul. lol.

 

But we didn't really take that many pics <g>. Forgot to get out the camera
at the dealer... but did take a few in Cincy.

If you do a search for "Integrity" , you can see the one I posted. Tried to
link that one to here, didn't see how to do it.

And as for the fun run and not knowing a soul... what are you talking about?
Heck... BcSki didn't know me... and we fixed that within 5 minutes of my
getting in the car <g>. You can survive a few hours in the car by yourself.

And if it's that much of a problem... Marshall's a pretty big school. Just drive
down Sorority row and see who wants to go for a ride in a sharp looking MINI?

There, problem solved. I'm sure your GF would understand <g>.

 

I'll probably be going solo also. I always sound better singing when I'm alone...

 

hahaha...she didnt like your last suggestion Postal, but you make a very good point. Count me IN! BTW, i found your pic...great bridge for pictures eh? Love both your MINIs!

 

Gonepostal... It sounds like you did find me, I have no idea about the pepper white on Sycamore. I think somewhere in my neighborhood or just beyond there is a brg mc. They actually stopped one day while I was outside, but it was before I had heard of any of this. I am keeping an eye out for them, but no luck so far.

As far as information about myself from your earlier post...I have always lived in Hurricane, graduated from Marshall, now work at the High School. My mini is an '07 nfr (my nephew wanted me to pick lightening blue) auto, cold weather, premium package, chrome inside and out. I love it!! It was backed into and the week that I was without it, was extremely difficult . I don't recommend it.

 

all right, another marshall alum! Am i going to be the young whippersnapper on this trip?

 

If your younger than 29... I have concert tshirts older than you are <g>.
(The Police-Outlandos de Amor tour 1979 <g>)

But lord knows, I do not act my age.

On another note, went out for a drive this afternoon and took a couple
pics while out. Nothing special... but at least it wasn't raining in these <g>.

 

Went ahead and contacted Mark here at NAM and applied for our
club presence here on the forum. Figured this would make things
easier for us to discuss our MINI's and life here in WV <g>.

May have jumped the gun doing this before our first "fun run", but
figure there's no time like the present. I keep seeing more new MINi's
every time I turn around... and I figure if we have a specific place to
direct them to, it will make things easier getting together with each
other. (Oh, also registered the website Countryroadsminis.com...)

Figure someone might know something about webdesign... even if
its just enough to make a good placeholder directing folks to NAM.

MiniEsq suggested that name sometime ago, and I think it definitely
fits. Hope the majority approves <g>.

 

Snyper: How old are you? You may be the young whippersnapper....I'm 30....which at least makes me older than GonePostal's concert tshirt. As for you going alone - I'll be a lone driver too. My boyfriend has to work that weekend....and I don't think he would be willing to let me pick up a frat boy (not to mention, I think I've had the age where frat boys are actually boys....a bit too young for me)

Robinitis and GetShorty: Welcome! Glad to see a couple of new Minis in the area! And, like Snyper, I'm always glad to see another MU alum on here!! Go Herd!!! (plus, we've talked about doing a tailgate at a Marshall game next fall).

About the run....

I only know the Hawks Nest portion of the route but that part is fun. I'd make a couple of suggestions, though. That's a long day with lots of miles....and some of us are new to this type of thing. I'd suggest making a few other resting/waiting points so to give us all a breather and to let the slow ones (and by "slow ones," I mean - ME!) catch up. I'd also suggest making sure everyone had maps and directions, with the stopping points marked, just to make sure that we're all on the same page. I'm pretty nervous about that leg beyond Hawks Nest - I've been a co-pilot on lots of runs like that with my boyfriend (usually ending in me being very carsick) but I've never driven anything like that before. Let's give us slow-pokes time to catch up.

 

That should know the road to Big Otter and get his input this week.

That was just a suggestion. If you all would rather just run over to the
Gorge...and check out the bridge instead, that would be fine too.

If you can, go to beta.Mapquest.com, and input the
Hawks Nest-Bickmore-Big Otter segment in and zoom in a bit.

It's a total of 60 miles for that swing. After that, we would just
go our separate ways... the Huntington Chas group down I79.

Looks like it would be an incredibly fun road. Compare it to Charleston
to Hawks Nest ,and compare the curves <g>.

I'm wanting this first get together to be fun... but not too intimidating.
We can take several breaks... and pull over when neccesary. Heck..
I wonder how many McDonalds are on rt. 16? Maybe we could plan
our stops at those... (if there are any <g>). They are open Sundays...
and would make for convenient rest room breaks <g>).

 

Hope all enjoyed the beautiful day today, I know I did.

I don't believe, having been on these roads before, that there is much chance that anyone will be able to get too far ahead. To avoid problems I think I can get some walkie talkies from work (someone remind me friday). I believe someone also mentioned taking some previously.

There is nothing wrong with being the youngest, someone must have that distinction.

 

Did a quick wash and hydro of my MINI... (Also washed the wifes car <g>)
May end up taking her to work tomorrow and break out the clay <g>)

Went for a short drive... basically a loop of the valley. Stopped by the
capitol complex, found a great place to take a picture of our MINI's ,if
I can get permission to drive our cars where we're not really supposed to <G>.

I'll probably stop by this week and talk to the head of security there.
(Oh , and the secretary in the auditors office... need to tell her about the
run Sunday).

 

Just thought maybe you all could have a good chuckle - I had no clue until I asked around why you guys picked "country roads." Everyone here was shocked that I didn't know the WV anthem. Oops. I have been ordered to attand at least one football game. I had just gotten over the teasing for my lack of coal knowledge...
GonePostal - pics look great!