Dynamic MiNi Collective

Ok, Really it is closer to 1500 Miles. Debbie and I have been talking about our annual offbeat road trip and my boys won't be going with us so we are back to the MINI for this year. The boys got too big to ride in the back seat for extended travel two years ago so we haven't been using the MINI for our normal summer adventures. Tentative departure date from Tucson June 6, 2008.

Heres the deal folks, we are going to take a "Fun-Run" to Graceland with a visit to Tupelo Mississippi the birthplace of the King. Our intention is to only be on the Interstate from Tucson to El Paso Texas, then it will be two lane highways all the way. We would welcome any of our fellow DMC members who want to join us on our road trip. But we have a few rules besides trying to stay on the two lanes.



No set in stone schedule or reservations for lodging. Must be adventourous and willing to see what and where we find to stay. Could be 5 star, or wish it had a star, or maybe we should have slept under the stars.



Dining will be at local eateries when possible. If you have any questions I suggest you watch TV shows on the Food Network like Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, or Feasting on Asphalt. If you like safe, chain, or familiar food thats fine, lets just hope there is one of those across the street from the "Mom & Pop" place.



This route will take us through Paris Texas, so we will stop at the "Second Largest Eiffel Tower in the Second Largest Paris"


So if you want to join us on this trip be ready to have some fun, take your time and enjoy the view. We may see something that takes us even farther off the beaten path, be willing to stop and see the "worlds largest ball of bandaids" or wrestle an alligator, see the reptiles, what ever looks fun.

We have to be back in Tucson by June 15, so the trip back may be mostly Interstate Highways and if you think this sounds kind of fun but don't want to commit to the whole trip, thats fine too, we just plan on a quirky drive and if there is time when we get to Memphis I might want to make it to Nashville too.

Anyway, I am throwing this out for any adventurous folks out there who don't want to live by a day planner for a few days in June!

A couple of more thoughts on this, if you don't already own HUGE Gold sunglasses don't worry, they sell them at the gift shops at Graceland. Guys if you want to come, I would really like to see some sideburns on this trip, already starting mine.

I can also bring along a portable DVD player and some evening entertainment and diversion, Blue Hawaii-GI Blues-Spinout-Girls, Girls, Girls-Viva Las Vegas- that should round out the plan to keep us focused.

Also participants will be encouraged to help find any deviations necessary to see as much roadside attraction as possible along the way. You may also be called on to help me catch a live armadillo in Texas, I maintain that the highway department raises them and drives around at night throwing dead ones onto the roadways as I have never seen one live in the wild, one of my goals will be to find a live one (in the wild) and I know me, I will want to try and catch it.


If you have read this post all the way to this point, Thank you, Thank you very much.

I got enough Elvis this past weekend... think that I'll pass on this one and visit him again *next year* - Same bat time, same bat channel.

Hmmmm.... Two might like to come votes already, thats encouraging.

My 85 year old mother said she wished she could come along on an adventure like this, too bad we don't have MINI Clubman that would have a little more room for her to come along.

She also said she would like to go to the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC after seeing a picture in the paper today. She's never been, I asked if she was serious, and she said yes. We leave Friday morning. She will get her drop of the hat road trip this month!

You will end up 9 hrs away from me.... hmmm.. Maybe I can meet you.

OK, I made it to Graceland today on my "dry run" I have scoped out the parking, picked up some brochures, and took a few photos with my MINI in front of Graceland. Did not do the tours, saving that for June.

Ok, I know who the one is who says they wouldn't miss it. Those of you who said you might think about it, PM me, post here or email me so I know who may be thinking about it and we can discuss this a little more to fine tune what you want to do and how to make this work.

Thankx

ohh if money only grew on trees . i would be there this summer

Got back last night from my DC trip....a little over 4,800 miles on the MINI in 12 days. Averaged about 31.8 MPG, Highest gas prices were in New Mexico.

Now I can't wait for my summer "fun trip". So far it looks like a one MINI run unless that money starts falling off the trees for "pepegrande008". I may have to start a blog thread when I leave just to irritate you all.

ive come nose to nose with a live armodillo on greanade course. scared the scrap out of me. i thought it was a dinosaur.

jax archillies wrote:ive come nose to nose with a live armodillo on greanade course. scared the scrap out of me. i thought it was a dinosaur.

Did you donate it to Texas Highway Dept to kill and throw on the highway? Saw a ton of dead ones again but no live ones......

Jon, noticed the new personal avatar you are sporting there. Did you know Kenton TN is home to a bunch of the white squirrels? Only two hours or so from Graceland!

Also in Memphis:

Sun Studio
Rock 'N Soul Museum
Gibson Guitar Factory
Stax Museum of American Soul Music
Beal Street, Home of the Blues-Birthplace of Rock and Roll
A.Schwabs "If you can't find it at A. Schwabs, you are better off without it"

Still no takers? The one who said they wouldn't miss it is Debbie, so I don't count her.

This past weekend we made a new friend, Chance. He is from Phoenix and he said he would like to go to Graceland in June, but doesn't have a MINI, too bad nobody here is going that way with an empty front seat. I think he would be to crowded in the back seat of ours, not enough leg room.

Have a safe trip, Barney and Deb!

So should I start a thread as a personal blog of our adventures?
Would that be too annoying?

Anyway we will be on the road in about an hour and a half, take care!