Nothing like a pretty Sunday morning, the sunroof open, George Strait on the 'jukebox', and driving some local, back roads in Southern St. Mary's county, Maryland. The only thing better would have been with a bunch of MINIs. We would have been the only traffic.

 

If we ever transfer to Pax we would love to join you for a Sunday drive. We love that area and have several close friends there.

 

Pax is a nice area, but is getting a little crowded with all the new military systems moving in. There are still a lot of nice back roads to explore. There are also some nice roads within a few hours drive on the Virginia Northern Neck and towards Fredericksburg. The DCMM and Philly MINI club are planning a joint tour to the Ingleside Winery sometime in July. It is just across the 301 bridge into the Northern Neck and we are planning to join the convey when it goes by.

 

sounds like a peaceful drive!

 

Can you be a little more specific as to your likely routes. I live in MD and would love to know of some great roads, just made for the MINI.

 

I just got a new job in Atlanta and my daily drive is always full of adventure. I won't bore you with the traffic details, but I do take Riverside Dr which is an amazing curvey road which leads me to I285 which in the morning can always be an adventure. I go east so traffic is not that heavy. I normally weave in and out of traffic till I find that opening to cruise at about 100mph. Then I get onto I85, slow down a bit, then get off the 1st exit. I take Dekalb Tech Parkway which is the real adventure. If you are ever driving down (south) I85 right past I285 look to your right. You will see a stretch of road where a corvette dealership sits... That stretch is a straight shot and as it is the end of my journey everyday and my car is nice and warm, I push it just a bit to get my adrenaline pumping in order to start my day off right... (note: I do not do this everyday). There's a stop sign that starts the fun. After the stop sign is a slight curve which is just enough to bend yet still allow for great acceleration. I am normally chirping tires through the curve. I then get to the straight shot!!! So far I have only pushed it to 122MPH in that strech before I decelerate to cruise on into work. If you need a good stretch, try it out!!! If you see me out there, let's run!!!

 

In my younger days, I loved driving on Muncaster Mill Road, around Derwood, MD and beyond. Upon my return to the area, I was saddened to learn the most fun curves and hills have been "re-engineered", that the farm fields have been filled with McMansions and that lonely intersections have sprouted strip malls and stop lights.