one more thing

Felix finally made it home after a long, long ride back on an auto transport.  He deserved it after logging 5549 miles of motoring across America.

2 baths, a clay barring and waxing later...  Today he's getting his tires rotated and re-acclimating to the chaos of Los Angeles traffic.  Can't say this enough, regardless of how weird it may sound, "I love this car!"

He made it all the way.  And for that I'm very thankful.

what now?

It feels so strange to be back in Los Angeles, cooking my own meals and washing dishes.  For the last  15 days or so I was being fed, responsible in some cases only to "bus" my own plate and cup to the nearest waste can.  It's while I stand, soap suds up to elbows at the kitchen sink that the finality of being home sinks in.   MINI Takes the States 2014 - the epic road adventure is over.  It's over!

Now what?

Well, there is still laundry to be washed, gear stowed, photographs to sort and be resized for web posting.  And the love bubble of the rally still thrives on Facebook, where participants continue to post their daily musings of life as we all settle back into what we were doing pre-MTTS.  There is that job I need to find...

I have a palpable feeling of life never being what it was before.  That somehow this journey was magic and I am changed forever.  I was touched by so many amazingly wonderful, kind people:
from Kevin, who waved us in each day with the biggest smile and the happiest, most polite greetings;  Justine always cheerful at check in; Jodie egging me on to "confess more" in the Cab Chronicles; John, Claude and Matt (Coyote) Wolf making sure broken down cars got immediate attention; Caryn who waited for me to catch up to the gang headed to Canada - really all the MINI USA staff and the gang from TPGevents - you rocked it.   And to my fellow merry band of motorers that I fell in line with - I just have to keep pinching myself at the luck, at the serendipity as the journey unfolded.  If this road trip is a metaphor for living - the lesson I take away is this - read the map, but be willing to take the side roads, follow someone in the wrong direction for a little while, but be brave enough to change course and set out on your own.  You will always be surprised and delighted.

In the days to follow, my plan is to update posts with more recaps, recollections and photos of the events along the way.  Bear with me, it could take awhile.  I will be talking about this for the rest of my life.  Or 2016 when I do all again.  Thanks for reading.

photo courtesy of MINI USA news

the party is over

And just like that, 15 days of road travel ended.  More than one of my new MINI family members remarked that the wait for this journey seemed to take forever - but the actual trip went by in a flash.  What remains are photographs, videos, buttons, swag, memories and now life long friendships with folks who came together for the love of a little car that I think has a sense of humor and joie de vivre like no other.   I'm so very lucky to have gone on this adventure.  It's been a ride of a lifetime!

A parade-like ending with confetti and the placement of the final star on the map by David Duncan.

Our official road photographers celebrate the finish with a chance to be on the other side of the lens.

A marriage proposal that left not a dry eye in the "house" - congratulations to Mike and Steph!

Me and Julie on the "victory" stage - this was kind of like running a half marathon every day only without UnderArmour or BodyGlide... whew!  done!

highway to hell

or what will be forever known as the hellish drive to Boston...

Post for August 9, 2014  Bethlehem, PA to Boston MA

I vaguely recall AC/DC on the iPod, rocking out to Highway to Hell because it's a good tune and fun to drive to.  Not because we thought the drive would be of a traffic jam packed nature.

M. Sitbon took the wheel, as I was feeling very sleepy (and grumpy) after staying up well past midnight chatting with one of my new motoring friends.   Absolutley no one in our little caravan was in a chipper mood that morning.  Is this what happens when the end is near?

A long long line of MINIs was already in the queue waiting for the Rise and Shine festivities to commence.  After a little coffee, I felt better.  Even more so when I found this guy...

Everyday is a holiday with a PEEP, a fantastic cure for the grumpiest of travelers!

As we prepared to follow the crowd out of Bethlehem we discovered that Alex had misplaced the key to Felix.  No worries, I had a spare and was confident that the missing key would turn up in DB and Todd's car (Alex had been helping to repack luggage in their car just prior to launch - jeez sounds like we were departing in space ships...).  Anyway, I remained amazingly calm - we radioed our travel companions ahead, requesting a stop to find the missing key and viola! It was found.

And then the stupid traveling began.  Can you say traffic jam?  We played the game What is Worse?  

A) Being buried alive enclosed in a room of brick?

B) driving your manual transmission MINI while stuck in stop and go traffic?

This while attempting to navigate our way across the GW Bridge.   

Following the White Roof Radios gents was somewhat comical - as their nav system rerouted us away from traffic only to send us into more traffic.  After multiple gas stops, bathroom breaks and a wonderful lunch that our resident food guide found for us it was lights out for me.

My deep thanks and appreciation to Alex Sitbon for motoring us into Boston.  The nap was essential, there was still a party to attend...

please pass the bacon

Day 13 -  Buffalo, NY to Bethlehem, PA

How many miles have I traveled?  I honestly do not know.  Perhaps tomorrow I'll remember to check the odometer.  I do know that Felix hit his milestone 75,000 mile mark today somewhere along the route.  At this point I'm over photographing such events.

I woke up too early (hence my hello goodbye post this morning.)  Made the Rise and Shine and had the interesting experience of parallel parking my car into the lineup.  (Yesterday, I had the opposite experience of having to get myself out of the rally line to hop ahead with the group leaving for Canada.)  Call it a full circle experience.

In any event - the day began with full plate of BACON!  I love Buffalo - how can you not love a city that loves meat.  And how can you not love a breakfast that isn't a burrito or a sandwich?  Sorry, no photos of the bacon plate.

The first stop on today's route was LeRoy, NY - the birthplace of JELL-O brand gelatin dessert.  What an amazing welcome the town gave us!  I felt like I was driving a parade.  Literally the whole way folks were sitting along the road waving at us, taking photographs and making videos.  It was very heartwarming.    The JELL-O Museum was quite fun and educational.  And I scored a box of my favorite flavor GREEN (lime).

From the museum, we set off with the Philadelphia MINI car club on a very nice over the hills drive... which turned into a fail when we lost our friends in the last car.  Not lost in the permanent sense but lost in the "can't find group, please come save us" - so Todd and DB in the F-56 and Frenchie and I in Felix formed a search party.   The lost party was found conveniently located in the parking lot of Wegmans in Corning.

Those of you familiar with my Paris escapades know I'm a sucker for giant food emporiums - Wegmans fit that bill and then some.

After a refueling of the motorers and a little shopping in Wegmans, we headed off for a brief stop at the Corning Museum of Glass

After the backtracking adventure our merry band decided to skip the Steel Stacks evening for a quiet evening of cocktails, followed by a robust Italian meal.  Alex Sitbon of the White Roof Radio crew gets major points for his dining selections.  I don't know how he does it - the man has some extraterrestrial skills at finding excellent food.  Maybe it's a French thing? 

hello goodbye

Good morning Buffalo,

Today we jet off to Bethlehem, PA -it  hardly seems fair that we just met and are now leaving each other.   The party at the Riverworks was divine.   I will remember the scent of your cereal factory, the groovy Brit band and the Canadians who invaded our parade.

xo AJ

Holy shit!  Only 2 days left to motor.  2 days.  2 DAYS!!!!!
Like life, nothing on this adventure went completely by the book.  I couldn't seem to write here everyday.  Some photographs were never made.   Food and drinks and nights on the town were often eschewed for sleep.  This has been a driving marathon - one I hadn't trained for.   And a time to reflect and rejoice upon all the surprises life can give to you if you just relax.

A funny thing happens when you venture off by yourself - you find your people.  Every time I travel it happens.  Here now are just a few of those I found.

don't look now, we're being invaded...

Day 12 - Cleveland, OH to Buffalo, NY

Or the day I almost missed my chance to go to Canada...

Ahem.  Sometimes, despite the best laid plans things can go awry.  Prior to leaving on MTTS I had received an email from the MINI Takes the States people notifying me of my selection as an "ambassador" to Canada (I entered a contest) - I thought cool, I get to go hang with some Canadians for their own MINI Invasion of the US.  The email said I'd get more details in St. Louis, but SL came and went and nothing.  I asked around, but being somewhat sleep deprived, hot lap high and just plain  stupid from all the motoring I didn't ask the right people and found myself in the line up for the regular rally on this sunny morning.

Todd Pearson to the rescue!  Todd notices I'm not lined up with the gang going to Canada and inquires why.  Making it happen is what this man is about - he quickly gets help and lucky for me, my position in the rally line has an escape exit.  I get moved over to the line headed for the border and minutes later madly scramble my way to Canada.

My thanks to Todd and the guys lining us up that morning for setting me straight.  And to Caryn Grun from MINI USA for waiting for me to catch up on the highway so that I wasn't motoring alone into Canada.

This was a terrific experience!   I finally got to see Niagara Falls.   MINI Canada threw an awesome party complete with delicious food truck fare, a cannon blast launch, photo ops, a MINI Cooper roof to sign and the poshest outhouses ever.   And thankfully, I didn't have to even mention the crazy speech I wrote for the contest...

A few notes about getting into Canada... odd traffic lanes funneling cars into the border patrol - takes what seems like forever!   Very friendly border guards (I told 3 jokes to the one checking my passport); all speeds are noted in kilometers per hour - which to all my running friends will make for easy conversions; it is not ok to speed in the Canada; once inside it was pretty smooth sailing, er I mean motoring.  

A few notes about getting back into the United States.  Much faster process, but very sourpuss like border agents who make you feel like you are sneaking back into your own country.  WTF!  I swear I want to write the President and say really?  It might be easier to swim across...  

After we collected our entire party just inside the US border, we hightailed it to Buffalo for the party going on at the Riverworks.  Cool venue, great atmosphere and way to end a day that could have gone completely wrong, but didn't due to the help of many friends.   Jackpot!

monster bugs and bleep bleep truckers

4124 - remember this number.  There will be a quiz later.

Day 11 - Chicago, IL to Cleveland, OH or is this day 12?...  I don't know anymore because I think I'm living in a time warp.  Driving across the country can do that to you. And all of this is one happy blur.  AustinDALLASMemphisST.LOUISChicago and today Cleveland.

While the journey is great fun, there are certain road hazards I'd like to point out to anyone considering zooming across the US in their favorite automobile.  Monster bugs the size of small birds thrive in the Midwest.  I've never seen as many giant bugs splattered on windshields, grills and bumpers.  Huge, sticky, messy globs of bug guts served on windows daily.  Eeewwwwww!
And then, there are the trucks.  I'm talking semi-trucks.  BIG ones - the kind that could eat a MINI.   Luckily, (for the most part) they play nice.  But it is nerve wrecking to constantly be stuck next to a big rig who is going faster than the speed limit and swaying slightly with the weight of its load.  Thanks to several of these guys, the coins are piling up in the jar.

My new, adopted big brothers on this trip insisted that I had a driver today in the form of my now favorite Frenchman, Alex Sitbon.  We had a great time cursing truck drivers and marveling at the size of the insects that kept splattering themselves on the windshield.

The motoring group today included Seattle motorers Ryan and Tracey, Philly motorers Jen and Matt and WRR men DB and Todd - only I think we lost DB and Todd early in the adventure leaving Chicago (they caught up with us later.)

Toll roads were the order of the day - something we don't have too many of here in California.  Thank god I'd discovered Illinois' I-Pass prior to setting out on MTTS.   Best $40 I ever spent!  We literally jetted through the toll road stations, slowing down only to wait for our friends who had to throw money at the gate.

Today's route appeared to be uneventful - a straight shot through farmland to Cleveland.  But we were in for a little surprise...

It seems there is museum for just about everything here in America, including one for Recreational and Motor Home vehicles.   The stop of the day landed us at the RV/MH Hall of Fame in Elkhart, IN.

Which actually was pretty cool.  Many of the old motor homes, campers and such are 1 or 3 of a kind.   Apparently we have always been a land of campers...

Honestly, I would have never come here - despite a not so secret desire to build a Teardrop trailer and to live in an Airstream.   It was well worth the visit.

After lunch at the Chubby Trout - the gang set out determined to get to Ohio.  But road construction seemed to get in the way, forcing a late arrival.  We went directly to the evening event at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

A sensory overload experience for certain!   I could have spent a week in this space.   I got to hop on board Johnny Cash's 1979 Tour Bus, the JC Unit One!  Talk about a piece of history.   If you are ever in Cleveland you must visit.

Calling it an early night - I slipped out before the sunset to my room at the Hyatt Cleveland Arcade.

Bonus!  I was upgraded to a suite.  Luck is riding with me for sure.

Good night Cleveland - you do really ROCK!

luck is a lady

Day 10 - St. Louis, MO to Chicago, IL

If I knew when I got up this morning all the things that would happen today - I'd have done an Elaine Benes imitation, shoved someone and said, "Get out!".

As usual, I woke up way, way too early.  My room mate at the time wanted to have breakfast - a proper breakfast, tired of the fare at the Rise and Shines.   Outside, it was raining softly.   The valet brought around our cars and I decided that I didn't really want any breakfast - driving in St. Louis made me a bit tense and the rain now was coming down with more authority - so I begged off, proceeding to Gateway Motorsports Park for the Rise and Shine.

I followed several MINIs into the parking area, finding myself in the first line of cars.  Rain was pouring down at this point - lucky for me, I had the rain jacket that MINI USA gave to those of us traveling Coast 2 Coast.   I like puddle stomping and walking in the rain - oh god that sounds like a cheesy profile for online dating, doesn't it?   Anyway - I found my umbrella, put on the rain coat and got myself out of my car and over to check in.   And this is where I learned I'm pretty darn lucky...

The previous night's event had included a raffle for 30 or 40 highly coveted spots for hot laps with professional race car drivers in MINI Coopers.   My standing joke is that in raffles, I only win the booby prizes.   And somehow I had managed to miss the raffle that night.    Weeeelllll, as I checked in I was told that they had a surprise for me... as one of the first 15 people to check in I could sign up for a hot lap.   Holy Cow!  Hell yes, sign me up!  Making it even sweeter, I was able to ride along with fellow native Californian, Tyler Palmer who is the "official MINI supported driver in this years Pirelli World Challenge Season".  Terrific young man who has been racing since he was 8 years old.   Get out!   Here's video proof of how much fun the ride was.

I will never ever forget this morning!   Amazing.  Talk about putting a shit eating grin on my face for the victory lap that each and every MINI got to take on our way out of the park.

photo courtesy of Go11

Although I'd been keen to drive the Route 66 portion from St. Louis to Chicago, one look at the route sheet told me that this wasn't going to mesh with what by now was my route going style ROGUE.   And being at the front of the pack in my trusty Justa, I figured my friends in their S's would catch up to me along the way.   Off I set alone.

A remarkable facet of this rally is that when you're alone, you're not really alone.  There are other drivers who follow the same roads and at a rest stop just outside of Springfield, IL,  I found a bunch of MINI Coopers and their owners who invited me to join their group for the day.    I followed them with the intention of perhaps peeling off to catch a portion of Route 66, but had so much fun with their group that I had lunch with them and followed along all the way to the outskirts of Chicago.

the merry band of  motorers enjoys Culver's Butter Burgers - yum!

Into the Windy City I motored alone after waving farewell to these wonderful people.   Avoiding potholes the size of sink holes and cursing at the GPS which goes wonky among all the tall buildings in downtown Chicago - I found the parking garage where I had used SpotHero to prepay parking.

Checked into the historic Allerton Hotel, debating whether I wanted to go to the nighttime event at U.S. Cellular Field to watch the Chicago White Sox battle against the Texas Rangers.

The White Sox got spanked.  Bad.  But we, the MINI motorers of the USA had a ball.  

photo courtesy of Go11

in search of lemonade

Day 9 - Memphis, TN to St. Louis, MO

It's Monday.  Really?  Now into our final week of trekking across America, it is true what I'd been told: that by this time the days would completely melt together; referencing time by a day or date would be futile.

Good morning FedEx Forum!  Here in the lobby, breakfast biscuits the size of small cakes stuffed with eggs, eggs and cheese, eggs, cheese and bacon were served up buffet style along with coffee!!!
Outside, motorers convened for the daily words of wisdom from Des and the White Roof Radio personalities, Todd and DB.

I stole an opportunity to take another photo for the Mosaic - with a special message for my new friend John Paulsen.

When you get to know people on the road, stories abound, as do private jokes - and John's story is a bit of both and a great one!  Buy me a drink and I'll share...

And what is this mosaic pictured above?  Sort of a photographic quilt of everyone who participated in this rally across the United States.   At ever Rise and Shine, participants were encouraged to have their photo taken and then that day you could view the map of the US and find yourself.

::

Now back to the day's adventures.  Which included a bridge, an 8 car pile-up, losing my travel companions, finding my companions, nearly being run off the road by a semi-trailer, a great big St. Louis sized lunch, a kidnapping to Target, go-carts and pinball machines.

From the rooftop of the parking structure adjacent to the FedEx Forum we motored out of Memphis with the usual police assistance (traffic stopped, flashing lights, waving).  Our instructions this morning were to stay tight and keep moving due to the number of participants leaving the Forum.

And a not so funny thing happened...apparently several MINIs got a little too close, slamming into each other.  Luckily no one was injured, although sadly, a couple of the cars were damaged extensively.  In the spirit that was prevalent throughout the rally, MINI USA helped these folks and we all learned a valuable lesson that day about riding someone's boot.

I don't remember exactly how it happened.  But I became separated from the gang I was supposed to be following.  Then I decided that although the route sheet called for a stop at a lemonade stand - my GPS had other plans for me - I would press on towards St. Louis.  Eventually I found my guys and we pushed our way past big rigs along the road to the city.   Some a-hole in a semi even tried to run Felix into a ditch, but thanks to his nimble handling and my leaden foot I escaped unscathed.  Unfortunately, a pickup truck following behind me wasn't as lucky.   Todd and DB who were just ahead of me saw the guy go off the road in a cloud of dust.  I didn't see it - I was too busy trying to get the hell out of the way.   Whew!

As we made our approach into St. Louis, I made a wrong turn and rerouted myself through an old industrial area of the city, cool place for a photo shoot someday.   Made it to the Hyatt Regency at the Arch just around lunchtime.   And this is what I saw from my room:

Such a treat!  A corner suite with a fantastic view.   And the day only got better from here.

Next there was lunch with the White Roof Radio crew: DB, Todd and Alex at Seamus McDaniels with a side trip to Target.

A quick nap, shower/wardrobe change and it was time for the Owner's Evening Event at Gateway Motorsports Park.     I watched fellow motorers race go-carts, checked out the video arcade and admired more of the customization that other owners have done to their MINIs.   Then it was lights out on this day...

heading to memphis

Day 8 - Dallas, TX to Memphis, TN

[note - this post is completely after the fact and mostly from a besotted, cloudy memory - which means this is embellished and better than the first time]

I'm not much into football, so the Cotton Bowl is somewhat lost on me - although a little research of it's history tells me this is also the site of the Texas State Fair.  Being a former 4-H member, I can endorse this wholeheartedly...  But I digress.
This was the site of the morning Rise and Shine.  A Mister Toad's wild ride to get there I may add, as none of the directions lead us directly to our destination.  It truly was a case of follow that MINI!

 We packed in tight.  The MINIskirts provided very groovy goodie bags; there were the usual (suspect) breakfast sandwiches; the raffle; Todd's dumb joke of the day and more of the Texas hospitality we were becoming used to.   But it was time to say adios to Texas.

Off we ran towards the boyhood home of former President William Jefferson Clinton in Hope, Arkansas.  Where it was Sunday, and other than this landmark and the museum at the train station being open there was nothing other than fast food restaurants available to feed our hungry road crew.

After a stop at gasp! McDonald's we stepped on it to Memphis.  Yes, Memphis, Tennessee.  Not in search of Graceland, but Beale Street, where a party at Silky O'Sullivans awaited.

For me, this was the last of my Airbnb experiences.   A nice break from the hotels, from room sharing and it provided a chance to meet some of the locals.  It was a shame the stay was so quick.
I met my hosts Mary and Wes - then dashed off to the party at Silky's.  The next morning I slipped out before they were up.  And like that it was good bye to Memphis.

bigger than Texas

And on the 7th day... we motored from Austin, TX to Dallas, TX

This was a big day!  A long day.  An action packed, hot, sweaty Texan day.  Put on your seat belt please...

Gathered together for the rise and shine in Austin - a gigantic sea of MINIs right smack in front of the Texas State Capitol building, we noshed on breakfast tacos and admired the latest additions to our merry train.  Lots of horns!   Love all the Texas motorers joining us today.  Together we showed their great state that small is the new big ;)

Guest co-pilot today was Todd Pearson of White Roof Radio fame.   Great to have him on board.

We motored straight for Dallas to meet up with the Philly group having lunch at the Gas Monkey Bar and Grill.  

Things seen along the way...

After a little nap - it was onto Gilley's for crowd mingling, bull riding, beer quaffing and a little dancing.

Oh, but wait...there's more.   A nightcap or two or three or four at Lee Harvey's where a little MTTS after party commenced.  Which of course then required a little after drinking breakfast.  UGH!  The Rise and Shine the next morning was gonna be painful...