Well, took my first 'serious' road trip over the weekend, and could not have picked a less hospitable place to go.

I have grandparents (one celebrating a birthday this weekend) in Western NY, so wife and I packed up the MINI and headed northeast. Great drive, saw 2 MCSs on the way (BRG/B in Cleveland and LY/W with Bonnet Stripes in Erie)... Ate well (Beef on Weck anybody?), and saw the extended family.

And then freakin' snow. Ice. Wind. Cold. That must be what it's like when he11 freezes over! BUT... there's always a silver lining.

If you are ever in Western NY and find yourself with a few extra minutes... try these:

RT39 for 10-12 miles east of Springville NY.
RT16 south from RT39 to Olean NY.
RT446 between RT16 and Cuba NY.
Then go eat at Moonwink's and tell waitress Darryl (yup!) the Zimmermann's sent ya...

These were a lot of fun, paved 'fairly' well, twisty, and hilly. Of course, getting there on the rest of the roads in Western NY (all of which are in horrible shape) is another thing altogether.

All in all, 800 miles in the MINI isn't a bad way to spend a weekend....

And here are some pictures of MINI in snow in April south of Buffalo NY:

 

Yeah, Buffalo is a dream, isnt it!!
You have to try living here!!
It really isnt all that bad as long as you know where to motor. Once the winter breaks...not today~they are predicting anywhere from 3-10 inches of snow, the weather is pretty good, not too hot in the summer and the fall is beautiful. The rest of the year is up for grabs.

There are lots of cool areas to motor to here, ie~ letchworth state park, Niagara Falls, Wineries, good skiing, Ellicottville, Niagara-on-the-lake, and great places to eat. So all in all there are probably worse places to live...like siberia

 

xMINIx are you IN Buffalo or nearby?

 

I live near Clarence, NY and I work in Amherst. I'm beginning to think that spring will never come. The snow started about afewminutes ago

Sue

 

This has been the winter that has tested all western NY residents.

 

BTW its april 7th and it is still snowing.

 

uuggghhhhh! :???:

 

I grew up in Lockport and do I miss those Beef on Wecks. They blow cheese stakes right out of the water. But we do have much better twisties outside of Philadelphia to test our limits with.

 

Yeah, what a winter! I grew up in Maine, went to college in Ithaca, NY, so I know winters. I now live in NJ and this winter has tested my spirits. FYI - looking for nice motoring? Check out the Ithaca, NY area in summer or fall. Finger Lakes region is beautiful, and lots of fun hilly roads.

P.S. Getting my MCS in the next week or so (IB/W). Can't wait! Just in time for spring (unless we get yet another crazy April storm . . .)