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..