I've been on the ferry before on a little day trip last year and it was fun... Maybe I could make this work... Meet in Saratoga Springs, jump on Route 9N (sweet scenic twisty road that goes through the Adriondack State Park) until you hit Port Kent, ride the ferry to Burlington, VT. Maybe have the Vermont MINI owners join us in Burlington for lunch... (maybe get some suggestions on what's the best place to eat in Burlington?) Then drive back down to NY...

Comments? Suggestions?

Thanks,
Stephanie

 

I'm willing to help on the Vermont side of the lake.

 

Great idea! Yes, we can roll out the velvet red carpet for yaa Vermont style!

J, any restaurant on Church Street would be great. Sweetwaters, Vermont Pub and Brewery, Three Tomatoes, etc. Suggestions?

The absolute best time would be prior or during the OktoberFast event up in Stowe, VT put on by the VTBMWCCA.


Oct 6-8, 2006 - OKTOBERFAST at Stowe, VT
Vermont Chapter of the BMWCCA

Let's get this planned.

 

It looks like we will be doing this on a Sunday September 24th or Sunday October 1st and it shows the Port Kent/Burlington Ferry will be closing for the season on October 7th? Looks like Sunday October 1st will probably be the best date. I just want this to be a day trip and then possibly in the spring do a two day event where we could go and see the different covered bridges in the Burlington area.

 

I'm in provided we get out of Burlington and actually pass thru parts of Vermont instead. (Can't imagine why, with so much great scenery and twisting roads, you'd want to visit a city!) I love the Oktoberfast idea!

Pete

 

I can't do Octoberfast... I've got other plans. Maybe next year. Sounds really fun!

 

Would planning this sooner be any easier for you? I'm always up for meeting new MINI folks, driving around outside of Burlington and car talk. Let us know what weekends will work for you.

 

I "could" do Octobfast, but I can't afford to do the whole weekend. I can do a day trip over there. But I have a day trip planned in the Adirondacks on Columbus day and wouldn't want to steal the weekend away from someone who planned that Adirondack run because a lot of the Upstate NY MINIs will be attending that Adirondack run.

The best day to meet the upstate NYers would be Sunday. I'm available September 17th, September 24, October 1st, October 8th. Or Saturday October 7th.

 

Ok, I've changed the run a bit, but this is what will work best for one day. Where would be a good spot for the NY and VT MINI owners to meet once we are in VT?

Here is the run:

Sunday October 1, 2006 10AMish
Meet somewhere I-87 Exit 22 (North of Lake George)
Drive on Route 9N to View Restaurant at Indian Kettles for lunch (estimated time 44 mins., 30.52 miles) (max time for lunch= 1 hour)
Continue to drive Route 9N then Route 22 to Essex, New York to catch the ferry to VT. (estimated time 1 hour 3 mins, 43.60 miles)
Ferry takes 30 mins to get to VT?

Total estimated hours to VT... four hours so 2PM? Where can we meet at 2PM? We will be south of Burlington to keep with the scenic side of the trip. I think it would be nice to see some covered bridges in the area for a few hours... We could go drive up to Ben and Jerry's for a afternoon snack... I don't know Vermont very well, so it would be great to have a Vermont MINI tour guide. Where would you like to take us?

 

From that ferry...

Holmes Creek Bridge is really close:


So is the Sequin Bridge:


And the Quinlin Bridge:


Some good twisty mountain roads can lead to the Warren Bridge:


I'm sure there are a few others, too... I just don't have pictures of them

 

Awesome! There was a covered bridge I went on for MOT2006 that was cool because we all drove through it. I just hope to leaves and the weather work out ok... the leaves are just starting to turn now in the Adirondacks...

 

What's accessible for bridges will depend on if people want to drive on dirt roads or not. I'd have to do some scouting to refresh my memory on what's on a dirt road and what is all paved. If dirt roads aren't a problem, life is much easier. But I'd still need to scout things it to remind me how to get to some of these places.

All the bridges I posted are still operational and can be driven through.

 

I'm all for it! "2006 Lake Champlain - Covered Bridge Tour". Great ideas Jason, I knew you'd pull through!

I've got something special up my sleeve for everyone that runs...

 

How about the Lake Shore Bridge in Charlotte?


Lake Shore / Holmes / Holmes Creek Bridge
Lake Road
Charlotte, VT 05445
Location: West off Route 7. Travel west 1.4 miles from junction with US7 and SR5 (Ferry Road) on the east side of Charlotte; then north on Lake Road 1.8 miles to the bridge.
The Lake Shore or Holmes Creek Bridge is located on the shore of Lake Champlain and it carries Lake Road over Holmes Creek. The superstructure is a kingpost truss and a tied arch. It has a 39 foot span. Parking in pulloffs on north side of the bridge.

 

That works! woo hoo!!!

 

I think I'll be headed to Burlington this weekend, but it'll be in a station wagon with wife, my mom and my dog rather than the Mini.

Is there a site or something for finding the covered bridges? They look gorgeous. I think my mom would really enjoy it.

And I don't know what I'm up to Oct 1st, but if it's not autocrossing, I'll certainly keep this in mind. It's a bit of a haul from down here for a day trip, but it sounds fun.

Edit, and my personal (if uneducated) recommendation for food in Burlington is a place down town called like American Flatbread Company or something (any help here vermonters? I'm not sure that's quite the right name). They've got a brick oven and cook some insanely great pizza. Right by a little park or somthing downtown.

 

This is what another MINI owner had suggestions from another forum:

 

Love to keep it fun, Charlotte, VT bridges are nice. We could also add in to travel up to Ben & Jerry's afterwards and then who ever has time, a jaunt over through Stowe (visit Stowe's covered bridge-ahem motor over it!) down the Notch Rt. 108 > back down Rt. 104 > Rt. 15 would be entertaining.

I think that we should make this an annual event. Perfect foliage season. I'll provide the proper MINI Cooper rallye graphics for everyone who attends.

 

Thanks

If you wanna know what's pathetic, I think I've driven Rt 7 between Burlington and Rutland, but I sure don't remember seeing a covered bridge

 

You won't see the bridges on route 7, they're all a bit off the beaten path.

The reference I use is my big Vermont Atlas & Gazeteer from DeLorme. Along with good detailed maps (which are needed to actually find some things in VT), it has a page in the front that lists all the covered bridges.

I'd recommend not heading down route 7 - too much traffic, pretty boring road - and instead heading east if we are looking at actually travelling somewhere in VT.

Burlington Hearth / American Flatbread in Burlington is very good.

 

So is this an actual event? One day or two? How to sign up? TIA MIchael

 

Yeah, this is an actual event. So far it's just one long day because that's all I can do for this year. Next year I will make it a two day'er.

Sweet! How much will they cost?

mistro, You can sign up here and I'll create a list and updated it to see how many people will be coming to the event... That's what a lot of people do on other forums.

Going to meet on the NY side or the VT side?

NY side meets at 10AM, VT side meets at 2PM.

 

I'm still available to do some VT side of the lake legwork. But I'll be away from the computer until, oh, Tuesday? I've got to pack up the MINI tonight with my track day stuff, work tomorrow, drive to Morristown, NY (across the Saint Lawrence from Ottowa) and drive around in little circle for a few days, then drive home on Sunday. And I'll break 100,000 miles on the way to the track Friday!

Monday will probably be a pretty useless day for me after that.

So, don't expect to hear anything from me for a few days (after this afternoon, anyway).

 

Count my wife and I in! Not sure at what point we'd join up, but since we live in Stowe it would be a logical place for us to bail out. Watch the fallen leaves on sharp curves that time of year; they can be pretty slick!

Pete

 

I'd love to donate (Kewl Auto Art sponsor) a small version (3-4" size) to all that attend. I'd also really like to have a memorable proper rallye plate sized version too for garage fodder . Decisions. I'll have something Kewl to give away.

I could easily have some Hanes ash colored hooded pullovers made as well, but these will have to be pre-paid and I'll need sizes. I'll work on the details, and costs.

ps Yes, leaves on wet tarmac are slippery in Oct!