Being Springtime in the Rockies, it is time to Motor. Therefore, MINI5280 has called for the first big daytime ride of the spring. Here it is:

• Saturday, April 12th
• Meet up at 7:30 am at the Starbucks, NE corner of I-25 and 120th St. on the north side of town. (or we can pick you up north of there along the way. Or you can meet up with us on the south side, and drive up there.)
• Leave 7:45 headed north on I-25. We will go west on US-34 Exit 257B towards Loveland. And that is all I will say, other than we are headed to Walden, CO. That is where we lunch.
• Those of you who know, Walden is a cute and quaint little town on the OTHER side of RMNP Rocky Mountain National Park. Once we get past Loveland, CO there is nothing but twisties for 2 hours until we get to Walden. I promise, you will be sick and tired of twisties once you get home.
• The route back is thru Grand County.
• We expect to be home by 5 pm, but you never know.

Please bring radios, water, and your enthusiasm. This will be fun.

Please let us know if you are joining in..by going to the MINI5280 Calendar right here in NAM and letting us know.

Call me if questions, or if you are running late.

Jonathan 303-807-9483

JPS

 

Finally something up north and we can't make it!

 

I'm planning on driving this one and hopefully Pat can come along. We have one little item to clear and she can come.

Might have to bring my son along too, as he is the item. We have not seen him for 4 weeks and he picked this Saturday to come down for the day.

Would be nice to motor with the wife and have a good lunch with friends.

 

I won't be making this one! I got a new tv (42") and DISH Network will be coming out on Saturday to install my new HD dish and receiver. I'm really excited about that!

 

Im going to try and make this and hopefully have my summer tires back on. Sounds like a good fun drive to kick off the warm months ahead.

 

Sorry, not us. We've got existing plans, so this drive is right out.

I'll be looking forward to reviews and pictures after though!

 

Would love to, but waiting on new shoes for Gloria... ENJOY!!! *lol*

 

So what is the snow date? 12-20" might be a bit much.

 

But what else is new in Colorado? Hopefully it will be clear enough by Sat. Maybe checking Grandby conditions on Fri. afternoon will help guage the roads for Sat.

Click here (long link inside) for numbered pushpins showing point-to-point directions on a Google Map for the trip. Start with the green pushpin, then select the other, numbered ones. Also, select "Satellite" (upper right) and zoom in to see what the terrain looks like.
--Rick

 

We can take a route check on Friday....

We are up for it, if the main roads are dry or only a little wet. Don't want to be pushing snow with Scooter.

Rick, thanks for the link. Chuck you have the Cabrio all spiffed up and repainted after the tumble-weed incident?

Don

 

I should of left my MINI in Denver for another week! This sounds like a lot of fun!

 

to make the sun shine and melt/dry anything on the roads!

 

YES YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT YOUR MINI IN DENVER FOR ANOTHER WEEK RONALD!!!

 

I polished the rabid tumbleweed bite marks and got about a 82.37% repair. I can still see them, like neon lights in a Nevada desert, but I doubt most others would. Now the cracked windshield is another issue entirely - it's growing.
Don, the only part of the route I'm just a bit concerned about is Cameron pass on 14. CDOT says it is icy with snow and I'm not sure of the weather up there today.

 

If the threat of snow is too much, and I truly expect snow or melting snow about everywhere we go, then let me know.

There is a car show in Boulder, the CU Sports Car Club, which we could attend. Then I am sure I can find an interesting lunch spot and we could do that.

Thanks,

JPS

303-807-9483

 

Cool today, I understand the mountains are getting some fresh, but I'm game.

If the club goes, we go.

As JPS pointed out, there is the car show in Boulder, I imagine it will be a little breezy and cool, too.

 

Jonathan, you're the leader of this pack, so tell us where to pack. We (as in you) should make the call by tonight though so others can be notified. I'm game for the Walden ride, though the twisties may need to be less so.

 

If it snows tonite, big, I will cancel but I am not inclined to do so.

Further, if we run into snow on the road, or ice, or melting snow, we will just slow down.

Frankly, I think that snow pictures make good ones. Remember that there may have NEVER been a MINI in some of the places we go.....and there are folks in our fine country who never get snow.

So let's take some good pics and post them for their benefit.

JPS

 

That's right! Count me in....it will be fun driving on snow... perhaps I can do a few figure 8s out there....

 

Michael, make sure your behind me or way in front so I can watch from afar.

Drove over to Boulder this afternoon, nice cresting the hill on 36 and getting a full snow flurry, then driving into the clear.

Nice little Cooper was leaving 29th street about the same time I did, DB/W Cooper turning right on Arapahoe.

Will check later to see if the switch is on or off for the ride.

 

I don't care where we go to as long as:
a. It gets me out of the house and
b. It gets me in the MINI.

-Andy

 

You guys are making it really hard for me to wimp out!
Rick

 

well as awesome as this ride sounds, it looks like tommy and i are going to install my pulley tommorow and throw on some new rotors that i got too

but have fun, and be safe guys, get some good pictures!

 

Off to see the snow, leaving the house in 15, so see you on 120th.

 

Wow, what a great ride! Thanks everyone. Started with 10 MINIs and ended up with 11 - how often does that happen? I hope the Wyoming folks, Steve & Teddie, Buddie & Missy (their nice mini doggies) had fun and can join us again.
A little snow, some ice, good food, new places and lots of twisties - a nice way to spend a Saturday.
We need to get a little better at the termination of our rides. When Denver gets in sight we are all like horses heading for the barn.
Thanks again everyone and a big thanks to Jonathan for planning the route - his time estimates were spot on (even though we finished an hour early)

PS. Can't wait for the pictures. We took a grand total of ... ZERO! Yup forgot all about the camera.