Finish Line

 
D had a checkered flag waiting for us when we arrived home. The trip has ended and new road trips are in the future. The Mini GP is getting its first washing after successfully completing its cross country trip from Monterey and the Laguna Seca Track to the oldest city in the United States. 

Say Hello to My Little Friend and Minitakesthestates

Well, 3400 miles later and the GP performed on good roads, bad roads, scenic roads, detour roads, roads under construction and roads to nowhere!!

It was a great cross country trip beginning in Monterey, California and ending at the Oldest City where the trip began. Along the way there were new friends, old friends and many adventures. Now it was time for GP to meet "my little friend." One of my friends has asked to buy Mini Cooper S. And the Minitakesthestates continues to Connecticut while we returned to the motoring in Florida in the GP!!

Biloxi to Nation's Oldest City (St. Augustine)

We had a relaxing evening at Biloxi after the fake Beau Rivage opening was revealed. Short story was that we pulled in to the Beau Rivage because our friend in Palatka regularly stayed there. I was asked by the parking attendant whether we wanted our GP valet parked. I told him that I was uncertain until I went in to the front desk. While trying to get a room one of the supervisors from the parking came in and told me that Beau Rivage was not opening until Tuesday.They were only practicing for the opening.So we stayed at the Grand and left this morning before President Bush was to arrive. We headed to Tallahassee, after passing Mobile and Pensacola. The Pensacola bridge was still under construction and had grated temporary bridge sections while they were building new a new bridge.
We looked for Tupelo honey along the way and finally called Lanier, the original Yulee's Gold. They told us one of the health stores in Tallahassee had some honey and we stopped and picked up a honey bear before heading to the Capitol.
Then it was on to St. Augustine and the oldest city and the Castillo san Marco. The Mini takes the states and its detour was just about over!!

From the Alamo to Cafe du Monde

After arriving at San Antonio we stayed at the new Marriot Rivercenter where Lori who just returned from a Florida vacation that included St. Augustine, checked us in and gave us some recommendations for dinner. We ate dinner at Luciano's with the manager Chris and his wait staff Russ who were just phenmomenal. We sat outside and watched the canal boats take tourists on the San Antonio "river". We shared some Napa Vino with Chris and Russ and had a great time discussing Luciano's new restaurant. This morning we remembered the Alamo and also remembered we wanted to have some quality time in New Orleans. We tried to find a Texas Barbeque restaurant before leaving Texas but ended up eating vegetarian again at a road side chain that lets you borrow talking books. After witnessing the devastation one year later in New Orleans and stopping in the French Quarter at Cafe du Monde and oysters at Mesparou before heading to Biloxi.
Tonight it is with Jim Cantore of the Weather Channel at Biloxi, Mississippi and tomorrow Florida and return to St. Augustine. Go motoring for just two more states: Alabama and then Florida. We wish the Minitakesthestates much further success.

Carlsbad Caverns

Day 2 of Mini Detour took us this morning to the Big Room at Carlsbad. Because we were the first in the cave this morning we received a personal tour by Kevin, one of the National Park Rangers. Spectacular is too lame a description for the natural formations we saw this morning. Now off to San Antonio and the Alamo. Go Motoring!!

Minitakesthestates-detour to Santa Fe, Chimayo, Roswell and White's City

Today was a sad day as we knew we were going to split off from the "official" Minitakesthestates road trip. We got our passport stamped and then headed to the Sandia Mini dealer to find out what was happening with the engine light. Good news -no problems! After being challenged by the parts department to name any accessory, we finally settled on a Sandia Mini tee shirt.
Then after a late start it was off to Chimayo to visit the Santuario. We prayed at the chapel and left Chimayo. We missed calling to Charlie and his family and the other Spanish Market artists; and to Ernie in Santa Fe. If they read this blog please forgive us as our schedule was just too tight to stop and it didn't seem right to call and say we couldn't meet. We owe you and the other Spanish Market artists a special return trip-soon.
After leaving Chimayo we decided to just have lunch and head to Roswell; and then Carlsbad on our way back to Florida. Anyway we ate lunch in three parts at three of our favorite Santa Fe hangouts: Gabriel's for fresh made (at the table) guacamole; green chile cheesburger at Bert's Burger Bowl; and fruit dessert at Harry's Roadhouse (which was on the way out of town).
Then we headed to Roswell where we made a couple photo ops. Finally we headed to Carlsbad and learned that the famous caverns are actually located near White's City some 17 miles from Carlsbad. Tomorrow we visit the caverns when they open early in the morning and then head to San Antonio on our Mini Detour heading home on our go motoring trip!!
Best wishes to all of the Mini trekkers on to Connecticut!!It has been a hoot!!

Meteor Crater to Trading Posts

After departing Flagstaff we headed towards the first pit stop on the Arizona/New Mexico border at Yellow Horse Indian Trading Post and Tomahawk Indian Store near Lupton, Arizona. I thought we were going to have our picture taken with a Native American Indian but learned it was just a sign of Route 66. Oh well, we stopped first at the Meteor Crater that is over a mile across. Then we traveled to the photo op and saw other Mini drivers posing with the same sign.
Then we hunted for the nostalgic trailers where the best Navaho flat bread and other local delicacies tempted our sons. The ride to the location was phenomenal except for the occasional cow or horse coming on to the highway while we traveling at more than Mini speed! The place looked like it had been abandoned for years ala Montgomery Wards and other formerly famous places.
We then passed Navaho Nation and headed into Gallup,New Mexico. We then passed Navaho Nation and headed into Gallup where we went to the Ellis Tanner Trading Post where we visited with Lynn Tanner. We asked about Joe Tanner whom we had dealt with in years past when we had a gallery in Florida. Lynn asked if we knew Betty Jones at the American Indian Store in St. Augustine. We exchanged mutual greetings. Then Lynn wanted to take pictures of the GP since one of his friends had a Mini and he wanted to show him the latest. We also took a picture of him in his store in front of the famous September 11, 2001 rug that was hand- made at the Navaho radio station "Navaho all the Time" as part of a healing after the national tragedy. Ellis Tanner had acquired the rug on E-Bay out bidding others for the charity. The rug then went on a national tour. After spending some time at the Tanner trading Post we headed to Albuquerque in the rain. Just as we were entering the city on went the engine light again. When we parked the vehicle it went off. And so it goes. Tomorrow it is the sacred chapel at Chimayo and Santa Fe after leaving Albuquerque. We are probably leaving the "official Minitakesthestates tour and starting our own on the way back to Florida. Keep motoring!

Flagstaff without the Grand Canyon

We departed from Little America; headed into Flagstaff on the local roads. We headed to the Mini departure location this morning before breakfastand caught up with some of the the other GP owners and of course the Mini crew. (Thanks guys!!) After picking up a new Minitakesthestates car penant because our earlier one got shredded yesterday, we started our own engines at a downtown Flagstaff cafe. We were not sure of the route we wewre going to take to Albequerque and decided that we only wanted to have a chance to go back to "roastbeef a la trailer" at St. Michaels just outside of Window Rock, capitol of the Navaho Nation. That was one of the spots we took our sons on one of our trips.

Vegas to Flagstaff

After the party at House of Blues last night it was up early to meet Elvis and the showgirls before heading to Henderson and over the Hoover Dam. After arriving at the Hoover Dam there were inspections of random vehicles and no stopping on the Dam as we did on our last trip over the Dam. In fact a new highway is being built that will probably limit any driving on the dam once it is finished.
After crossing the Dam it was on to Flagstaff via a Mini detour. The route was to take us on to Prescott and then Jerome where Winston Churchill's mother was born; then Sedona and finally Flagstaff. Even with the Nuvi we found ourselves driving in locations that made no sense. We used the Mini Atlas but the routes had different names and of course our drive became confused.
But we motored on. After turning on the back roads from Kingman, Arizona we headed to Prescott. Unforunately just after we lost cell connection the Mini GP engine light came on and the more we pressed on the gas the less fuel went through. There were some Minis that passed us but we thought we were ok. Then came the construction and we missed our turn into Prescott. We motored on and finally found a road to Prescott. However it was remote and then the red gas warning light came on. Add a thunderstorm and you have Minifantastic day!
We finally spotted a gas station and learned it was under construction. You would think with gas prices as they are that they could quickly build more gas stations!!
We didn't know how much gas was remaining when a local told us the closest gas station was 9 miles up the mountain or otherwise 25 miles away. We knew we couldn't go back so up the mountain!
Obviously I am writing the blog from the motel so we made it with a stop at Sedona and then to the motel. The Mini traveling mechanics were at the motel and put the electronic gizmo on the Mini to find out what caused the engine light to go on. (Of course just like at home the light was off when they looked at it!) Nevertheless they gave us a loaner for dinner in Flagstaff and over dinner they replaced some electronic item and now we are going to be off motoring tomorrow in our GP. The MINI people were just phenomenal!!
After all of this I forgot to mention the showgirls and Elvis were terrific and and of course the red rocks and vortex in Sedona were just Mini Spectacular. Tomnorrow it is motoring to Santa Fe and hopefully meeting with some of the Spanish Market artists.

Leaving Las Vegas

Mini mania continued last night at the House of Blues at the Mandalay Bay Hotel. Jake and Elwood showed up after two bands played, including a rapper band and the cover band for the Blues Brothers. At the party we learned that one of the new GP owners got a Nevada ticket radar gunned at 102 but rumor was he was slowing down from 135. The Nevada trooper said that he didn't want to hear that the unnamed GP driver didn't know he was going over the speed limit. Heading to Flagstaff after the massage at the House of Blues. Elvis and one of the show girls are posing for photos this morning. Keep motoring!