Howard from REME said we should meet at the Yuba/Sutter mall. Am trying to see what time we could be there for that. Glenn

 

It may be too late to join us for dinner on the Shasta Dinner Train next Saturday night, but there is still time to participate in the largest Mini-MINI Only Event in the Pacific Northwest in 2006. There will be many choices of fine restaurants to dine in Saturday night while we are on our dinner train tour and many members left behind and available to dine with.

We now have 32 registered cars (over 50 people) although we are anticipating 40-50 participating cars over the three day event, possibly including the Red Bull MINI and staff from Niello MINI of Sacramento. If you intend on joining please fax me pages 1 & 3 of the registration forms at (707) 837-9836 or bring the signed release forms with you and delivered them to Norm or me. Remember, those arriving in the Santa Rosa-Healdsburg area Thursday night, we are meeting on the Green in Old Town Windsor for a concert and dinner to kick off this event.

This is going to be one great run!

 

The first photo shows how the dinner crowd standing on the flat car was dressed (7/2/05) on the McCloud River Dinner Train. On this date the NRHS (National Railway Historical Society) convention train from Oakland to Portland was split into two sections to move from Mt. Shasta City to McCloud for the night. Since the convention train was running late all three trains meet at Signal Butte where many convention train passengers switched to the dinner train. I do not recall anyone being over dressed on the convention train who switched to the dinner train.

 

I have placed a sticky note on my computer monitor at work for my COUNT DOWN........I am sooooooo ready for this weekend. You have chosen a beautiful area of the Sierras to do the runs. I think this will turn out to be my yearly vacation and I will add days next year. I am volunteering my time to arrive early and help your wife with set up. Get with you later on that.We will get our approximate route and times the three of us are going friday am.Will post later to you. Thanks again, No Bigy

 

Only 2 more days and a wake up then, Whoo Hoo we're outa here Been thinking of going the back way....thru Napa to Calistoga then over the hill to Santa Rosa 'n Healdsburg or through Sonoma 'n Valley of the Moon (?) to SR. Any thoughts? Don't want to take all day to get there on Thursday, but would be a fun primer for the weekends twisties...

 

Willum,

Sounds like you've got the fever! Yahoooo! Can't wait. This is gonna be one hella ride.

Napa to Calistoga works. Then over to Santa Rosa via Calistoga Rd. If you cut off at Potter Creek Rd./Mark West Springs Rd. keep a watch out for chuck-holes. There are some left from the rains, especially just as you exit off Calistoga Rd. The road clears a bit about two miles past the rock quarry (sp?).

Give me a call when you reach town. I am ready to take off work now.

 

Willum, if you really want to get here via Napa, I can suggest a few really good routes:

1. From St. Helena, take the Oakville Grade - Trinity Road to Glen Ellen, then backroads through Bennett Valley to 101 on the south side of Santa Rosa. You can add this loop if you have lots of time.

2. Take 128 through Knights Valley and Alexander Valley into the north end of Healdsburg (variation, take Chalk Hill Road right into Windsor).

3. Take 128 all the way into Lake County, drive out through Hopland (Hopland Grade Road), down 101 back to Windsor.

These are all prior REME runs in the area... not specific to what you want to do, but look at the roads (they are all great.. although some better than others), and improvise.

See you Thursday night in Windsor at the concert.

 

Peter,

These are great routes. Only problem is we will end up with a 10,000 mile run.

Route 3 is best. That's a great drive

 

I hope after arrival in Redding you Keep It Simple and do not keep changing everything. I want a little down time to relax and enjoy the view. Also have you determined where our group will meet you for the BIG entrance into Town. We should be there by 3pm. glenn....early enough to help with setup..we want to give Jesse a break..

 

Glenn,

We are not changing a thing. The above is for Willum. He wants to get warmed up on Thursday on his way to Healdsburg, so we gave him some routes to play with on his way over.

We expect to arrive in Redding 6:15-6:30PM. We still need to work out the details with channel 7 news as to exactly where they want to film from. You never know about the news people, they could get called to another "event".

It is my plan to meet up at Turtle Bay. That's about 5 minutes from the hotel.
I figure that you can check in, wash your MINI if needed, and then go sit at the pool for a couple of hours before you need to come and meet us at Turtle Bay.

We will have distributed about 1/2 of the run packets by the time we leave Healdsburg. Jesse is bringing up the rest in the SUV. She is planning to leave about 10AM and should be at the Oxford Suites around 2PM.

After the news cameras are gone (7-7:30?), there is nothing "official" planned until we leave on Saturday at 9AM. Just kick back around to pool or there is a lot of stuff to go see if you want.

Logan's Roadhouse is right next door. It's a great place to grab dinner. They have the big barrels of peanuts that you crack open and throw the shells on the floor. I'll bet a bunch of us end up over there.

We already have all the stuff organized and loaded in Jesse's car. The hotel is providing a table so it should go pretty smoothly.

 

Thanks for the idea's. Depending on what time we leave on Thursday, will either do 128 to Healdsburg or River Road out of Calistoga. Took that route years ago in the Motor Home and it seemed to have good views of the valley and moderately twisty. Just didn't want to do the "freeway" thing.
Is it Thursday yet...??

 

Willum, If I were you I would strongly recommend Oakville Grade - Trinity Road to Glen Ellen if you have never driven it. Some of the greatest roads connecting Napa County to Sonoma County. It will put you right in the middle of the Sonoma Valley (north end anyway) as well.

If you have the time, there are terrific wineries in the Glen Ellen area. If you take the route thru Bennett Valley instead of SR-12 into Santa Rosa, you will enjoy the drive much more. Bennett Valley Road eventually will connect to SR-12 a couple of miles away from the merge to 101.

My second choice would be to drive north thru Calistoga, turn left on Petrified Forest Road but turn right at Franz Valley School Road. Take Franz Valley School Road to Franz Valley Road turn right to head north to 128. Turn left onto 128 (You will be in the middle of Knights Valley, the most beautiful valley in Sonoma County). Travel north on 128 5-8 miles and turn left on Chalk Hill Road. Chalk Hill Road will take you all the way into Windsor (providing you make a right on Pleasant Hill Road at the bottom of the hill - otherwise you will end up on the north end of Santa Rosa).

The maps I previously attached will show the routes listed above (but possibly in opposite order).

 

Cool....thanks,

 

Are you guys here yet can't wait to see you all

 

Wooohooo im getting excited. Lounging around the pool sounds nice

Oh yeah and that driving part

 

Gotta work tonight, then detail and prep the car tomorrow 'n LAUNCH outa here no later that 10am on Thursday

 

I am planning on showing up Thursday evening for dinner and will be staying in Healdsburg and doing the Friday run. So I will be looking for you guys.

 

Will be leaving Carson City around 930 am. We have one stop in Stead and then taking hiway 80 west to hiway 20. Hope to be at Yuba/sutter mall by 1pm. If you are planning to meet us there you can reach me tomorrow on cell phone 775-781-0184. If after arrival we will wait 1/2 hour. Then continue our drive to hiway 5 then north to Redding. No scenic route after 20. We wish to arrive and check in early, hit the Pool and start our cocktails.Glenn

 

Hey we had a good time at the Green in Windsor. There were eight Minis in the car show. Had a tasty dinner at KC's grill. Getting ready for the start in the morning. I'm in Healdsburg, they have public Wifi in the town square.

 

Glen, Ill give you a call either way. Dont want you waiting for us if we are early or late

Heather

 

Great Pre-run Send off:

Last night worked out great. Not tooooo hot, good food, good drink, good music, good friends.

I Hope I don't forget anybody but we had Gary & Leslie, Sean Franklin, Howard Canfield, Tom Eddy, Harvey Mendleson, Michael Leonard, Rob Hoopi, Stephan Sandoval & Mary, Willum Gagon and Terrie, Norm & Jesse, Peter, Janet, Ivy, and Elsa, Peter & Emily. That made at least 12 MINIs.

I know at least Janet and Tom won prizes from the raffel. at the Car Show.

Gary & Leslie brought the carboard MINI. Jesse loved her new car.

Sorry, gotta go and finish packing the car.

 

I made it home. It was a great run. I had a really good time. Nice to meet everyone. Hope all of you enjoyed it too.

 

Anyone hear from Willium yet? Is he a Grandpa?

 

First things First.....Willum please check in a let us know about your daughter and being a grandpa..will talk about my trip later after arrival home...still in Redding.. Glenn

 

The wife and I enjoyed the Run. I hope all of you did as well.

Here are some pic I snapped. http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/akmedg...lbum?.dir=674b


Joe