I never thought the Kansas City BBQ argument would reach NAM.

I'm gonna have to say a few things:
- Arthur Bryants is still good, just make sure you go for the burnt ends or the ribs. But agreed that you have to go to the original location (18th and Brooklyn).
- Rosedale is second rate.
- Jack Stack is for yuppies. The barbecue isn't great (especially the burnt ends, pulled pork, and sliced meats). If you go there, go for the lamb ribs. Great stuff.
- LC's on Volker Blvd. is phenomenal.
- Don't forget Gates! Great sauce.

Abuzavi, if you need a tour guide or restaurant guide while you're in KC, hit me up (573-380-8869). Dead serious. All I do is drive my MINI and eat good food.

 

Lois,

OMG. That was awesome. AWESOME! Great driving day, thanks to you.

Coming out of St. L, and after that whole I-64 detour thing, I headed for Augusta, then on to Hermann, and out through Chamois. After 1100 miles averaging just shy of 30 mpg, that little side trip you suggested dropped the average to 28! It was a spirited drive, indeed.





6/21, Hermann is having a bierfest. So, yeah, before I head on to KC today, I have to go back. Have to. I'll be there mid day to taste a bier or two and hopefulyl have some good German food.

Oh, and I took the tour of the museum in Hermann. The ladies working there thought I was such a novelty. I was waiting for them to compliment me on my English....



(more photos are going up here)

 

I'm so glad you enjoyed it Sorry, I forgot to tell you about the I-64 mess So many people bypass or just breeze through Missouri. It's our little secret to keep

Lois

 

Well, that was that. I made it through KS and on to GA.

Riddle me this, Batman:



Hey, knucklehead, why are you in the fast lane?

I saw this all across America. Here's some dude, doing the speed limit or a hair over, passing me and all the while driving in the left lane, for no apparent reason other than he's telling himself that he's supercool.

And what's up with all this?



And this:



Wow, I did not miss all of the signs. Not just billboards, but signs to tell me everything waiting for me if I would just take the next exit.

This was my favorite:



The trifecta of waste. All that was needed was a ford 4500 and my heart would have stopped. I actually saw a truck today with an exhaust pipe that was bigger than my thigh.

I had forgotten about these:



I use to see them in my youth, up in the Sierra Nevada mountains, but I don't recall ever seeing them in Europe.

Want to know what I didn't miss?



I'll be in Augusta for about 100 days. Anyone know where I can do some track days around here? This while 70 mph thing is KILLING me!

 

You bring up a good point - it never ceases to amaze me how clean and clutter-free the highways are in Germany (at least where I frequently drive, in the south). Italy, that's another matter. I hate driving in Italy.

Sierra Nevada youth? Born and raised in the Sierra Nevada's!

 

That's why I stay off the Interstates Where's Lady Bird Johnson when you need her

Lois

 

Did I mention that it was about 2500 miles, and that I averaged just a hair under 30 mpg? Not bad. Love that cruise control.

 

Cool trip and thanks for posting your stories and pics !!

Sucked that you went within a few miles of where I live but I was out in New Mexico at the time.

 

Well, I'm still waiting to hear if I get to drive to Los Angeles after this. That would just about round out the trip.....

 

Shotgun!

 

Blimey, we would need a chaperon for sure.

 

As long as she's pretty.

 

OK, I check with her people, and she can do it. She asked if she could bring along her friend Bridget, though. I think there's probably room.

 

I'll even ride along in back if it helps close the deal.

 

Second that notion. Take Route 6 over Loveland Pass rather than Interstate 70 through the tunnel. Get on 70 and drive through Glenwood Canyon. Try not to drive off the road; the scenery is breathtaking.

Wander across Utah and Southwestern Colorado at as slow a pace as you can. There is way too much to see. The Virgin River Canyon is great heading down toward Las Vegas (don't miss Vegas; it's such a spectacle that you need to experience it even if you don't fancy gambling.)

In the east, drive down Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park, and The Blue Ridge Parkway just to the south. Hard to find more twisties than those roads.

Now you have 4 cents. (at least)

 

So, we made it. I got in on Friday, and had to wait until today (Tuesday) to get my beloved Tess Turbo out of hock.




Yeah, see those?

2 x scratches. Small. But new. I shipped her from Atlanta to Honolulu with Pasha, so we're working out the claim issue. They acknowledge that the scratches are new, which is a start.

Shipping with Pasha was actually pretty good. Friendly enough folks.

One issue, though. The car got here fast -- faster that I was told. When I dropped her off, I was told it'd be 33 days -- which was exactly when I was to arrive in HI. However, she got there quicker. When Pasha notified me that she was there and ready for pick up, I told them it'd be a little bit before I for there.

They started in with some "$25 a day storage" gibberish. Their idea is that you pick up the car withing like 3 or 5 days of when it arrives on the island, and after that grace period you pay. Which I did not like hearing. It wasn't in our contract -- of that I was sure.

Ultimately, when I picked up Tess, there was no mention of a storage fee -- the scratches may have overshadowed that. If I had it to do over again, I would have insisted on including a not-earlier-than date for pick up. I contracted through one firm, who subcontracted Pasha for the sea movement, so it's not a hit on Pasha, really. Just a lesson learned.

That being that, mission accomplished. Tess Turbo and I made it through the Nordschleife at the Nürburgring, across the Alps, onto a boat to Baltimore, across America to Kansas City via Hermann, MO, and then on to Augusta (and the welcome arms of M2C2) and the Dragon with the Tar Heel Mini Motoring Club, before heading to HI.

All that, since the end of April -- this was one damn fine summer of Mini motoring adventures!

Life, as they say, is good.

 

Great photo!

 

Oh, I know. All of our photos from yesterday look like we're at the mall, standing in front of some photo drop at GlamourShots. The weather was turbulent, to say the least, with rain threatening, and there was the first strong surge of the winter, turning the ocean into strong chop. But it was amazingly beautiful -- an awesome welcome to a great place to live.

And thank you, Blimey -- your tax dollars are paying for this. So, pay more!

 

I'm fairly confident I'll be pitching in a few more shillings, regardless of the Nov 4 outcome...

 

Well, almost time to start a new thread:

I'm driving from Hawaii to Virginia

 

You will be right around the corner, I'm at Ft. Meade!

 

Stop back into Louisville! We will take you to dinner, or lunch, or whatever

 

You get around a lot if you are able to do this. I wish I could go back to Hawaii and ride those awesome roads.

 

Wow, welcome back to the East Coast!

 

Abuzavi, I just caught this thread, and have to ask - where have you been stationed in Oahu, and where will you be stationed in VA? The reason I ask is that my older brother has been in the Army 20+ years. In 2010 we went to visit him in Stuttgart and had a blast! In 2000 I went to visit him in Oahu and also extremely enjoyed Oahu, except for the Honolulu marathon!! I too am a runner, and that was the first, and will be the last road marathon for me! I am a trail runner, and much prefer the long jaunts through the woods to the pavement. Anyway, I'm in Lynchburg, VA. Don't know if you have spent time in VA, but it is a beautiful state, with many great roads for the Mini's. I just got my first, a 2004 MCS about a month ago and love it!!! Anyway, thanks for your service, and I hope your transition to VA goes smoothly!!

Reid