Auburn WA to Victoria via Coho - 190km (118miles)

We have arrived home today. We scooted up from Auburn to Port Angeles and then caught the 12:45 Coho ferry to Victoria.. the car gets a bit of a bath, with detailing on it this weekend.. all unpacked and sitting back with a glass of wine, thinking about the trip. We met a lot of old friends, had a great time at the meet and once again experienced some fabulous roads and scenery through the US.. another great trip to Mini Meet West. Thanks for following along.. now back to our regular channel...

Some Stats...

We traveled a total of 3579km or 2223 miles

The Mini VTEC pulling the trailer got
6.3l/100km, or
37.6mpg (us gallon) or
45.2mpg(Imperial gallon)

On the trip to Winona without the trailer, I got 45.5 mpg (Imperial gallon)

The Dalles to Auburn WA - 392km(242miles)

Another great day on the road, as we headed up 97 to 12 and then over the Chinook Pass. We left early to beat the heat, but as it turns out the day was quite cool anyway..We had several stops along the way for photo shoots, had a great lunch in Enumclaw and ended out day early. Terry and Linda pushed on to Blaine, and will be returning from there. So it's down to Brian and I, and we are heading off in the morning and driving around the inlet through Tacoma and up to Port Angeles to take the Coho ferry back to Victoria.

The local Chinook pass mountain goat..




Pictures of the day

2011-06-27

Klamath Falls to The Dalles - via Crater Lake - 475km (295 miles)

We headed out early today, so that we could spend some time at Crater Lake and at the Lava fields near Bend. John and Anna left before us and were heading straight for home. We got into the Crater Lake roads, and all was clear, including the Northern gate, so we did not have to back track at all. The day was incredible and clear and by the time we reached the lodge, it was a balmy 7 degrees... dropping form close to 17 near the bottom. After a long stay and lots of pictures we headed off to Bend. We planned on visiting the Lava Lands visitor center and driving up to the top of the hill.. we could not access the center from the highway due to construction,so we had to go 8 miles past, turnaround and come back. After doing that, we found out that they were only allowing cars up in small groups and we would have to book and wait for 2 hour or so.. so we pushed on. this time heading in the wrong direction again, until we could turn around and head into Bend for lunch. We planned on eating at the Deschutes brew pub, and as we arrived in downtown Bend, we found the entire downtown blocked off for a street party of sorts.. so we parked a ways away, and tried to walk for lunch.. and of course it was closed for an employee day off! So we ate at another place and headed out of town, bypassing all the closed off streets...

As we headed up 97, it's aloooong climb and it was in the mid 80s, Dan started to over heat in the truck..so we pulled over to let things cool off and repeated this until we made it to the top of the hill, where the rest was all downhill.. after that everything seemed to be fine, and we made it late to the Dalles.. quite a day!

Links to today's photos...

2011-06-26

Return Trip - Lake Tahoe to Klamath Falls 510km(317miles)

A great day for driving as not quite so hot, but we still hit mid 80's coming North along 139. We left Tahoe early in the morning and had a leisurely drive up 89, and along 36, stopped at the Hart Cafe for lunch. We met a bunch of other car owners who were in town for a car show. They invited us to go along, but we really did not have the time. We headed off to 139 and had a few small diversion en-route.. ie we got off track once or twice, and had a couple of jerks almost kill themselves trying to pass, but other than that a great drive. We checked into the motel in Klamath Falls and found out there was a major car parade tonight.. 500 or so cars driving around and around the main streets of the town, and out motel was one block away! So after a dinner at the local brew pub, we spent the evening watching the hot rods cruise around. A nice way to end the day. there a lot of pics of the hot rods in the Picassa link .








Link to more pictures

2011-06-25

MMW2011 - Banquet

The banquet was a lot of fun with a good cover band to start out the evening, followed by dinner and door prizes...and the Victoria and SAMOA gang take home trophies.. or plaques...or plasma cut Mini plaques... Dan takes first place in class for his pickup, Linda takes 1st place in class for her new MINI and Mike takes 1st in class for customized classic Minis. With last nights 2nd place in the Funkhana for Brian and Mike, the team was well represented. Other Canadian wins from Murry Oshea for his woody wagon, Rick Higgs for autocross, and Warren from Edmonton also picked up a trophy.. so a good Canadian representation...

The Shasta Minis and O2 gang won a mitfull of plaques as well, with the surfer van taking home the best of show. Great job Steve and the gang at O2!

Next years meet is June 19,20,21 at the Hampton Inn and Suites in Prescott Valley Arizona.

We are off early tomorrow on the way home. Dan has plotted a great route north ending our day in Klamath Falls.

MMW2011 - Third Day. Autocross, and Car Museum

Another fun day starting with autocross event in the morning as well as a drive to the new MINI dealership in Reno, where we had lunch. Then a quick run into Reno for the auto museum, which was fabulous. We stopped back at the autocross and then headed back to the host hotel.







Links to more pictures..

2011-06-24

MMW2011- Second Day

Just got back from the rally, and what great scenery and a nice route.. we did not get lost.. so the instructions were pretty clear for us Canadians anyway.. We went from warm weather at the lodge to 15 degrees c with snow still hanging around the Mt Rose ski area off to lunch and then the funkhana this afternoon.. will post pics later in the day.

Did the funkhana this afternoon, first in my car with Brian as co-driver, then we flipped around and Brian drove his 2008 Clubman and I was co-driver. We had a blast and put in some respectable times. Most of all we got to squeal the tires and make noise and got some laughs from my screw ups on the course. At the last station, my inside door handle snapped off as I was trying to exit the car to stop the clock. I'll be getting some pics to post, but as I was driving, it was hard for me to take any!

Update! At tonight awards and guest speaker session, Brian and I took second place in the Funkhana for closed new Mini, Brian was driving, with me playing the co-driver role..

MMW2011 - first Day - Car Show

Well it was a scorcher, up to 38.5 in the sun and 34 in the shade.. the blacktop in the parking lot was soft.. and last week they had a snow dump in Tahoe! Had the group photo right after in the same parking lot as the show, so a bit of a logistics show.. but we all took off for a short run and came back in for re arranging.. great job by the host club.. as usual a little long.. but in my book, no complaints! I have taken a pic of each classic I could find at the show and uploaded them to picassa web.. will be adding the new MINIs as well, when I pull them off John's camera... check the photos here...

More photos added....

2011-06-21

Redding Ca to Crystal Bay NV 388km (241 miles)

A fun day, as the Victoria gang joined up with the Shasta Minis from the Redding area, and we had 6 classic and 15 new Minis in a convoy. We took a detour to Susanville and picked up 3 more classics, and and trailer combo towing two new Minis.. we ran down 395 and then cut across to 89 and down into Lake Tahoe.. no issues today, everyone ran well even in the heat that hit up to 100 on the flats and stayed in the 90s up in the higher elevations (5000 feet+). The VTEC mini is running well and no problems towing the trailer up the hills, still using 5th.. no need to gear down.. cars are still arriving as I type... so parking lot should be full by tomorrow when the show starts..
Don got his car towed to Redding, rented a car and has now joined us at MMW, so we are all here now.... The rest of the SAMOA gang took some backroads following Dan, and had an excellent cool drive..

not a lot of good pics from me today.. too hot.. but here's what i got! (will take lot's of pics at the show)

2011-06-21

Day 3 - Brookings OR to Redding Ca 414km (257 miles)

This was supposed to be a short day and started out with some great weather and nice road... and a walk through the Redwood Forest.. then we had a bit of a disaster as one of the cars blew it's engine while passing a truck loaded with hay.. there was a loud novice and huge cloud of smoke and nothing.. over to the side, and it looks like a rod blew out the back of the block on Don's 998. We managed to call AAA who arranged for a truck to pick up the car, and it will be delivered to O2 Motorsports in Redding in the next day or two. We loaded Don and his wife's luggage into the trailer, and Don in my car, his wife with Jerry and off we went to the Samoa Cook house for lunch

Yes i was there as well.. hard to get in the shot when you are taking it!

, and then onto Redding... running into traffic issues with one lane closures due to construction.. but some great curvy roads once we got moving..along the way about an hour from Redding Jame's car dies.. This turns out to be the fuse for the fuel pump, but the pump seems to be getting hot.. did I mention that it is 34 degrees Celsius (94 f) .. We also stop as there is a forest fire and the helicopters are pulling buckets of water out of the lake near the highway..after a few stops and starts the car seems to run fine until we arrive, very late in Redding.. we never made it to Fat Boys, but a few of us dropped into O2 and they were loading up the cars for tomorrows trip..

Photos here

2011-06-20

Day 2 Tillamook OR to Brookings OR 440km (273miles)

A great day today.. we headed out early leaving the Seattle team lollygagging around in leisure, sleeping in, polishing and tuning their cars or something. We drove 3.5 hours and headed out for a ride on the Oregon dunes in the sand rails. We had to wait no more than 10 minutes and had a fabulous ride.. right on the edge.. as Terry put it.. almost rolling over at a couple of points, but we had an exceptional driver.. just a blast! We hooked up with the now wide awake Seattle gang for lunch at a small diner... and then headed off in a convoy to Brookings, stopping for pictures along the way. There is nothing quite like the Oregon coast with beautiful rolling sands and huge crashing waves.. the weather has finally gotten warmer and minimal rain today..
More pictures from today click on the picture below...

2011-06-19

We find more Minis

Overnight several Minis appeared from the Seattle gang, as they had been out for dinner.. more are around at an alternate motel.. here's a few.. Apparently as they were charging here from Seattle are, Dan's truck was not... with a few stops to check wiring and charge up the battery, he eventually replaced the alternator with a spare he happened to bring along...or had previously buried along the way in case he needed it..
Off to Bookings today with a stop at the sand dunes for a ride!!!

Victoria to Tilamook - 455 km (283 miles)

Well we had a great drive today, although it was a bit wet off and on along the road. I am using Rain-x on the windshield and it is working great, no need for wipers or changing blades. Traffic was slow, and the police were out in force. I think we passed 10 or so radar traps, and about 7 had cars pulled over.. We had a late lunch at the RiverView Dining in South Bend, one of our favorite places for pulled pork and seafood..



We arrived in Tillamook around 7:45.. and found some of the SAMOA gang.. here is a link to some pictures from today.. I think some of us had our eyes closed when we were taking them.. so be gentle on the comments!

2011-06-18

yep, it's raining!

Just sitting in the rain at the ferry, wondering why the weather has to be so dismal. I suspect it's because the car was soooo clean! and I mean was... :)

Packed and ready to roll...

The cars are packed and gassed up, ready to head out in the morning to catch the Coho ferry from Victoria to Port Angeles. Checking the weather we could be in for rain on the first day along highway 101 and maybe even on day 2.. not the best way to start the trip. I have coated the windsheild with Rain-X, which works a treat, as the Mini wipers are about as useful and dragging a wet diaper across the glass. The inside is also coated in Rain-X anti-fog which I have never tried before. The heater/defroster in the Mini works pretty good with the extra engine heat from the VTEC, so things should be clear and fog free if we get the rains. Hopefully with sucessful wi-fi in the motel tomorrow night, we'll be posting from Tilamook, OR after meeting up with the Seattle gang of Minis.