OK, let's try this again.

Mini’s In The Alps 2008 (MITA)

01 through 04 May

Four Countries in Four Days... Touring through the Alps, Mini style

Google Earth File: here (though it's missing the leg into Austria on day 3)

Still need a moto!

The Plan:
Post here if you plan on attending.

Guest List so far:
Abuzavi (+2)
Poppa Bear

 

Oh well.... I'll be in Fontana, thinking about how inferior the Dragon is to the killer Alps twisties you're gonna be driving...

I for one am hoping for another European tour of duty for you, my friend...

 

Yeah, well, dragon schmagon.

For me, this is it -- one time to do something I've always dreamed of.

 

Didja plan on taking the car trains through the mountains? I seem to recall they were about 40-50 swiss francs ($36-$45), each way. You've got my attention with the Stelvio Pass as that was on my list for this summer. How far along have you gotten with locales?

Cheers!!

 

Oh, it's Google Earth deep. Better than PowerPoint!

 

Hmm, are you really the only one planning on attending Abu? I would be interested if more go. Have you heard from any others? Is this a Holiday for Us 4 day Training or something?

 

Well, it's like this.

I'm probably going to be shipping my car back to the States this summer, so really, I'm going to go drive the Alps that weekend, with or without other Minis.

I can plan for one, or I can plan for 12. Makes no difference to me....

 

Art,

If you plan it, I will come.

Seems that NATO decided that it would be nice to have a casual 6 day weekend from 30 April to 5 May. I'm trying to see if my better half is interested, but Maggie sure is!!

So, if nothing else, two MINIs taking on the World's Best Driving Road can't be too bad!!!

Cheers!!

 

Fantastic!

I was down in the Black Forest today with the wife and kids -- fantastic day.

 

OK, Abu, looks like its just you and me. What're ya gonna do now, PL?!?

How's that plan coming along and has the route changed (much)? As this gets closer, I'm gonna get more interested. Especially after this latest work debacle!! If you need me to do any/something, lemme know.

Guess we should take this to PM/e-mail in order to not distract the lurkers out there!!!

Cheers!!

 

I'll work details next week. I was going to have to head to Italy for the week, but that fell apart. So, instead of working the issues by just driving around, I'll have time to work the plan some and maybe make some reservations.

Just you? Or others, as well?

 

Abu and Poppa Bear, you guys have a great time on this drive. I am sure it will be a blast. If I was home you know I would be coming along as well.

Anyway, have a great time on this trip! Abu make it a good one since you are heading back to the land of the ridiculously slow speed limits and straight roads!

 

loesches,

Once you've reunited with your loved one (and then the family, of course!), we'll have to get together for a run. I just don't know what your tolerance for high speeds will be!!

Good luck and stay safe, brother!

Cheers!!

 

Lo, you know we will tear it up.

I've got my camera mount now, and two video cameras (one HD, one old school video). Need to work the recharging issue -- one is good for long haul usage, but the other holds a charge for about 90 minutes.

I've been doing some test runs -- here's one from last weekend. Yes, I know -- the camera was aimed a bit low. Still working out the kinks.

I've also been "training" at full throttle (damn winter tires and their 210 kmh rating!) and hitting the local twisties.

So, yeah -- the Alps should rock.

 

Poppa Bear --

Do we need some shirts?



Oh, and you're going to need to start learning the dance. My kids are insisting.....

 

You gotta get the shirts.... b1tches.

Zazzle and CafePress print on demand on this side of the pond - don't know what y'all have in Deutschland.

 

I know. How could we not get these?

Maybe English on one side, Swiss German on the other. Equal opportunity diss'ing, right?

 

Guys, I will be ready for some twisties like these when I get back for sure! Heard that it snowed back there for Easter. It was 93 degrees here today. Starting to warm up a bit.

 

Lemme know where/when you set them up... or send me the final graphics - I gotta have one for solidarity.

I would proudly wear it at MOTD that same weekend.

 

Poppa Bear,

Here's a revised Google Earth file.

The question for Day 2 is -- do we detour specifically to hit St. Gotthard Pass ? I think the answer is yes. Take a look at the two options for Day 2.

Also -- coming home. Do we drive like maniacs and sped Day 4 wandering through the Black Forest, or do we have culture and hit Schloss Neuschwanstein (and, I should think, LegoLand) before making the long drive to the house?

Through the forest would give us more Alps time, getting from Austria to the southern tip of the Forest, but man, it's a freakin' long drive north across the Schwarzwald. Other route, through the castle and park, will be as tiring (kids and I would likely spend Day 4 at the park, since it's a 2+ hour drive home from there).

Please advise.

 

Abso-FRICKEN-lutely!! I'm down for four: two to wear, out and about, one to store and one for our brother Lo!

OK, for the rest of ya'll out there, here's the 4th (and final) version of our route in GE. Saturday is our option day: long or short, based off of co-pilot/Class A dependents/whomever provides the "best" guidance. Day 2 covers the majority of the southern Swiss Alps and Day 3 (Long) includes the northern faces of the Swiss Alps. In four days, we're gonna visit the Swiss and Italian Alps (including Stelvio Pass), Austria and Lichtenstein. Naturally, Germany and Nederlands is in there, too. BTW, if anyone knows how to turn of turn names in GE, I would appreciate it. The views become quite cluttered on these EPIC trips!!

So, if ya'll ain't doing too much come the 1st, swing on by and join the fun. Just realize that the longer you delay, the harder it will be for you to coordinate accommodations!! Bring a sleeping bag!

Cheers!!

 

OMG. The newest version of Google Earth ROCKS! Go look at Stelvio, from the East looking West. Holy poop!

Poppa Bear, I met with my Swiss neighbors last night, and have some mild changes for Day 1 -- file to follow.

 

Oh, man.

My Swiss neighbor just stopped by, and dropped off my MITA homework:



(click for full size)

And yes, there are two DVD's in there with about 5 hours of video!

 

The UI is pretty sweet and GE seems to render faster now. I was looking forward to MITA08 v.4.1, however, having seen what your neighbor dropped on you, I'm not too sure about this now! Remember the "M" in MITA08!!

Cheers!!

 

Uh, yeah. The new GE is freakin' me out. There are embedded YouTube videos in there now. Holy snookers.

New file, here.

OK,here's the revised Day 1. You can toggle between the two (another neat new trick, I think). We're going to come out of the tunnel, and then make a right hand turn to follow a small, small road up the side of the mountain, and stop for a nice view. She says its awesome. We're also going to make two coffee stops in the neighborhood. Well, two stops if that's ok, and maybe with coffee at both locations. She says there's good cheese in the area, too.

Also, she pointed out where we need to go visit upon arrival in Meiringen, so I added that in, too.

Oh, and the wife signed on to go last night, too. Neighbor (and neighbors overflowing enthusiasm about our trip) convinced her. I'd always just assumed that it would be me and the kids, so, hey, less room in my car and sorry Blimey, no room for you.

Preliminary homework done on two hotels. Will work actual reservations this week, now that I have solid numbers.

We're also going to take the long way around the lake. Why? Because there are two streams that come down to the lake, and there are no bridges. If the water is low enough, we can cross. Otherwise, we'll have to go back and take the long way around. I love the prospect of standing there at the water's edge, discussing whether to ford it or not.