I was thinking about a foliage run around Sept 24.
Is that too early ?

Would be great to make this Sunday drive a motoring event.

 

In my opinion, anything can turn into a motoring event. There is a Dutchess County Run on October 29th that I'm going to for the foliage view also.

Where shall this September 24th foliage run take place? The poison sumack is starting to turn now in Albany, NY... so the leaves may be turning early this year...

 

If something slows us down can we make the VT meet time 2:30PM to have a little cushion?

 

We can meet you just outside at the Charlotte, VT ferry crossing (or nearby) between 2:30-3pm.

 

I just started thinking about it.

Browsing here for northeast / new england / tristate meets
ralleys runs to join in -- thinking about Adironacks NY or Mt Washington NH area -- going north / east and up to find the colours.

 

Where's the info on the Dutchess county run?

 

Have you been to the NEMINI.org website? It's under EVENTS in the Forums.

 

No I have not, but I'll check it out. Thanks

 

This Saturday looks like a good day for me to go out investigating / mapping / route planning for the VT side. Anyone want to come help / keep me honest? I've been known to think some pretty long drives are reasonable... heck, I've driven around Lake Champlain just for fun on a few different occasions. One time because the line at the McDonald's near me was too long, and I wound up eating at a McD's in Lake Placid. :D

 

So, umm... what should the return ferry time be for folks heading back to NY? Just so I have an idea how much time there is to work with. Or is the time between 2:30 and dinner open, then dinner, then people are on their own?

 

Heck, Jason, that would have been fun! Unfortunately, the wife nabbed me for sheep duty first. I get to remove their fleeces and give the little blighters their injections. Oh joy!

I have to remind myself how good they'll taste this autumn.

Pete

 

I wouldn't mind a place to eat dinner in Vermont, but I will not be taking a return ferry. I'd say people are on their own after a few hours, they can following me back down to NY going across the bridge if they would like...

 

I did some driving today and got the first part of the route planned out - from the ferry to the first three bridges. Getting to the third one involves some dirt road driving, but the views are pretty darned good, so unless people really don't want to drive on dirt roads, I think it's worth it.

I thought I had a route planned away from that third bridge, it got a little iffy as there was a lot of dirt road driving involved, but the views were still good enough to make it close to worth it. Then I ran into the "road closed" sign. :( So, I still need to work on that part.

Here's the google maps page for the VT ferry landing, and I'll give a quick overview of the route so you can follow along:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...,0.066948&om=1

east on ferry road
turn left on lake rd
stop at Holmes Creek Bridge - there's a nice park there too with lake acces, picnic tables, grills, a playground, horseshoes, facilities, etc
continue on lake road
turn right on Greenbush Rd
turn left on Stage Rd
cross route 7, Stage Rd becomes old hollow road
turn left on Mt. Philo Rd
turn right on Spear Street
turn right on Monkton Road - Quinlan Bridge
turn left on Lewis Creek Rd (dirt road)
turn left on Roscoe Rd (dirt road)
Sequin bridge

Then, it becomes a bit of a mystery for now... most of the roads around there are dirt, trying to get through Hinesburg can be a pain as a group of cars, I think route 17 is going to be the goal for where to end up... but I need to see how long a drive it will be if we head to route 17 and do some twisty road motoring in the mountains. The plan for that would be a 17 east / 100 south / 125 west "loop" hitting some of the very best motoring roads in Vermont.

Anybody got any beta on places to eat in Middlebury? That's where we'd end up when we come off route 125. Then people could do what they want from Middlebury. Unless there's a great demand to see downtown Burlington, then that plan might need to be modified. Burlington is a pretty cool little city...

Any preferences?

 

My preferences would be for the twisty roads. If the idea is a back roads Mini event why would we waste motoring time by stopping in a city?

 

Jason,

Splendid! Thanks for doing this. MoF, I was up in Stowe most of Saturday (sorry I couldn't help) and drove up and over the notch both ways (closer from my place) - holy Fogdog it was like thick **** pea soup last night at 9pm from Stowe down to home. I was in the //S6 and wishing I took the MINI w/xenons instead. The parabolic lenses on the Audi worked well, but it needs xenon conversions bad .

Ok, I agree with motoring over towards Rt. 100 south, then up over Rt. 125 through Ripton (nice twisties and the river that runs right along side are absolutely tops in Vermont motoring) back towards Middlebury is the hot ticket.

So, from the last covered bridge stop at Roscoe Rd in Monkton, (Sequin Bridge) should we...

- get on over to 116 south as best as we can
- then continue right up and over Rt. 17 Lincoln Gap
- to Rt. 100 south
- to Rt. 125
- to Rt. 7 back into Middlebury

Middlebury and area Restaurants
I've never been here, but this sure looks good. What about Fire & Ice Restaurant in Middlebury. As they say, "It's worth the drive..." http://www.fireandicerestaurant.com/

or... Roland's Place in New Haven.
http://www.rolands1796house.com/

Let's hammer this out, and I'll finish the official map.

 

We don't have to stop in Burlington. I like twisty roads.

Those restaurants are so sweet looking... Fire and Ice Restaurant looks more casual than the Roland's Place. Both look fine to me either way we go.

 

I went to "Fire and Ice" in Middlebury and about 10 years ago - it was good then.

I like the sound of the VT route I had to travel from Randolph to vergennes on Friday, so I was able to get some Rt 125 action through Ripton - excellent it was too.

 

Alright, I "connected the dots" today. I wasn't expecting to do some route-finding, but I wound up doing it anyway on my way home from Warren.

Consider this the "tentative" route for the VT side of things. I haven't done the whole thing in sequence, so I don't know what the total drive time is. There's a chance it will be just too much driving for the NY folks.

Here's the google maps page for the VT ferry landing, and I'll give a quick overview of the route so you can follow along:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...,0.066948&om=1

east on ferry road
turn left on lake rd
stop at Holmes Creek Bridge - there's a nice park there too with lake acces, picnic tables, grills, a playground, horseshoes, facilities, etc
continue on lake road
turn right on Greenbush Rd
turn left on Stage Rd
cross route 7, Stage Rd becomes old hollow road
turn left on Mt. Philo Rd
turn right on Spear Street
turn right on Monkton Road - Quinlan Bridge
turn left on Lewis Creek Rd (dirt road)
turn left on Roscoe Rd (dirt road)
Sequin bridge
turn right on Drinkwater Rd (dirt road)
turn left on Baldwin Rd (dirt road)
connects to Charlotte Rd (heading north - end of dirt road driving)
turn right on 116 (in Hinesburg) - stay on 116
turn left on Hollow Road / Hinesburg Hollow Rd
turn right on Main Rd
turn left on 17 (through the App Gap - major twisties)
turn left on 100 North (yes, left on 100 N - we're heading for more bridges and views)
turn right on Bridge Street
Waistfield bridge
bear right on E. Warren Road
turns into Brook Rd - stay on Brook Road into Warren
left on Main Street
right on Covered Bridge Road
Warren Bridge
left on 100 South
100 South through Granville Gulf
turn right on 125 / Middlebury Gap

From there, I pass the torch onto someone else to figure out what happens.

 

Sooooo...aside from my wife and I in our white over liquid yellow...who is planning on this Sunday Oct 1 event?

Pete

 

I will be there with my wife and daughter. I'm pretty sure our rallye master Jason will attend. And...(I asked Steph and Jason first) I invited the Green Mountain Region Porsche Club of which I'm on the board. Not sure how many will attend from the PCA club, but it should be a good time for all, rain or not.

 

Looks like there is interest over at the Vermont BMW chapter. They'd love to join in on the fun too. I said ok.

 

I'm planning on it. If I don't get sick of driving before then.

6 hours of driving on Saturday to go to a MINI tech day in Amherst, NH - power steering fails on the way home.

6 hours of driving on Monday to go to MINI of Peabody to get a new power steering pump installed.

6 hours of driving today to get to Watkins Glen.

Drive around the track at Watkins Glen on Wednesday and Thursday.

6 hours of driving Thursday to get home from Watkins Glen (and unpack the car).

Should be somewhere around 1,600 miles driven this week.

I'm also trying to figure out how to be not responsible for the drive on Saturday. Earlier this summer, a group did a drive on some of the same roads that are on the route I planned. I had nothing to do with this earlier drive. Someone who was unfamiliar with the roads and was driving well beyond their abilities crossed the center line and ran into a motorcycle, sending the motorcylclist to the hospital.

I don't want to have waivers for this event, as I wouldn't know enough to find one that would actually do any good, but I also do not want to be thought of as "responsible" for the drive, just in case... especially with the possibility of people I haven't met before being on the drive.

Anyway, I'll be without a computer from sometime this afternoon until very late on Thursday, but I'm still planning on being around on Saturday... there is a possibility I may just do the very begining of the VT side of the drive, though...

 

I've got a couple of people on my side that is interested in going. It will be interesting to see how many people show up to the event. The excitement is building as the day draws near...

 

FYI, Steph and everyone attending...

I'm on the BoD Green Mountain Region Porsche Club of America, (they loved the tour idea and joining in on the MINI fun). Based on snids (Jason) last year observations, I suggested that the PCA host this tour. PCA waivers will be provided for all. Proper driving, touring and motoring etiquette is expected.

I'm glad you guys/gals can make it up, we'll be waiting for you rain or shine .

 

I'm back from the Glen. The car held up great on the track, and I should be good to go for Sunday.