Tour du Nord II: St. John's Newfoundland Feb 17-22

[NHRef]

I just voted, so the count is up to 16. Can you guess for which option?

All kidding aside, the accident last year and the fact that in the last three track days I've (1) run out of gas, (2) broken a belt and (3) wore out the rear brake pads leads me to the conclusion:

We will need adequate first aid supplies, vehicle parts and tools!

Last year, with all the new cars and all, I think that aside from the accident the worst MINI problem was my flat tire. (I now carry a repair kit, thanks to Joe Rose's advice). If the top had been up, I truly believe we would have been dealing with two injured parties after the accident.

We don't necessarily need a dozen duplicates but between us there must be, IMO, first aid supplies (and people reasonably well-trained in basic first aid), parts such as brake pads and serpentine belts, and the appropriate tools (such as the belt de-tensioner).

[yellowmininy]

Good idea, Pete. I'm still thinking I should line up our burn/hypothermia specialist as an event sponsor.

Franz and Mary King are moving to California on Saturday, away from beautiful upstate NY (and their snow tires are for sale, according to their post on the WNY Mini board). I guess that means they're not planning to return just for this! The Big Yin has been traveling a lot, but I'll have to see if he's been checking in here at all.

[iBlue]

you can see my other posts on nemini in the poll thread - but it seems everyone is woosing out - what the hell?!?!?!? vote the the cold, north trips!!!

[NoNo]

Several things:

1) Under the Newfoundland trip's expenses section, am I reading correctly that the ferry ride is $150 per person? Ouch. That 16.5 hour drive back the last day isn't too inviting, either. I remember when we drove from Amos home and I was nearly comatose by the end of it. Several hours more on top of that?!

2) Trans-Labrador sounds fun, don't get me wrong, but I have several problems that only affect me. One, that extra day of travel, as my vacation days are stretched thin as it is. Two, I would absolutely, positively have to buy snow tires, which I'm not sure I could afford at this time seeing as I am also due for a set of regular tires. Plus there's that deductible from the deer incident looming over my head. Three, that one day break in Radisson was much-needed. It gave us time to explore, as well as to recollect ourselves and prepare for the long drive home. Trans-Lab is just driving, driving, driving. Doesn't give you much chance to stop and experience the area, which was such a large part of why HB was so great. Come on! How much fun was it to talk to the locals? "You're not French *hic* are you?" Then again, maybe there isn't much to see on this trip and it's more of an endurance test.

3) Where are these snow tires, and how much are they asking?

4) I've tried to ignore it, I've counted to 10, I've done all I could but I can't take it anymore. Peter, please stop whinning about how this isn't "hard-core" enough! None of these trips are a walk in the park. You have weather, unforseen mechanical issues, accidents, not to mention the many, many hours of driving which is trying in itself. Any of these trips present a wonderful opportunity to visit places most people wouldn't at a time of the year they definitely wouldn't. You will see incredible things and have stories to tell no matter where we end up. If that's not enough for you, then go run your own "hard-core" expedition. And it's "wussing" not "woosing". There, now I feel better.

[yellowmininy]

Quote: Originally Posted by NoNo

3) Where are these snow tires, and how much are they asking?

4) I've tried to ignore it, I've counted to 10, I've done all I could but I can't take it anymore. And it's "wussing" not "woosing". There, now I feel better.

Nono, their thread on the snow tires is on the WNY board here, no price listed but I can ask
http://minicooperclubofwny.com/forum...opic.php?t=405

Whew, thanks, that misspelling of 'wuss' has been bugging me forever!

[NoNo]

Thanks for the link. And I knew I wasn't the only spelling/grammar freak around here.

[yellowmininy]

And you never know when the apostrophe police will show up!

[squid]

Quote: Originally Posted by iBlue

you can see my other posts on nemini in the poll thread - but it seems
everyone is woosing out - what the hell?!?!?!? vote the the cold, north trips!!!

Happy birthday, iBlue.

I voted for cold.

But if you want French, notice NFNL is so close to France
that there is a Drive To France Contest in 2006.

[iBlue]

Quote: Originally Posted by squid

Happy birthday, iBlue.

I voted for cold.

But if you want French, notice NFNL is so close to France
that there is a Drive To France Contest in 2006.

thanks for the bday, and i appreciate you voting for the cold.

sorry you think i'm whining, and maybe i am, but it's how i feel. and as for the spelling, i don't spell well, and you understand what i meant, so it shouldn't matter.

I see your point about it still being cold and about the other unforeseen things that can happen on any trip, but what made this trip so unique and the stories so great was the extremes, the extreme north, the extreme cold, the grooved ice that passed for a maintained road, the lack of civilization. For me, those elements are what made the trip.

And I'm campaigning as such.

[Oldpaint]

I see nothing has been decided yet, but I'm still planning on going wherever and whenever and for whatever length of time this trip will take.

Right now I'm about to pack up my computer in preparation for moving so I'll be out of touch for several weeks. But count me in!

[LordWinslow]

What is this with Dangerous Mini runs and me being on business trips?

I am out as I will be in England (as it looks now) for the next 3 to 6 months working with two customers there. So at this point count me out...however I wouldn't mind doint the Trans-Labrador Highway thingy in the late spring before summer hits...

GW

[DUCTTAPE]

Chris, do we have to speak with the president of the company this year? You HAVE to make it!

And Peter, I thought the excitement of the trip was stopping for jerky on the way

Seriously, I know what you mean. I got an email that I'll post later from a guy who drove his Miata on the Dawson Rd to the North Slope. He is leaving this weekend for Raddison. And, I might add, he drives the Miata with the top down!

However, ANY of these trips are not cake walks as we will be off the beaten path, no matter what. Sure, one may be more 'adventurous' than another, but I think no matter which 'wins' once we are all in the cars, driving there, the feeling will be the same: we will be having a blast, and soon thinking about where to drive to in 07 (when maybe, just maybe, Chris will have his calendar cleared)

[LordWinslow]

Quote: Originally Posted by DUCTTAPE

Chris, do we have to speak with the president of the company this year? You HAVE to make it!

However, ANY of these trips are not cake walks as we will be off the beaten path, no matter what. Sure, one may be more 'adventurous' than another, but I think no matter which 'wins' once we are all in the cars, driving there, the feeling will be the same: we will be having a blast, and soon thinking about where to drive to in 07 (when maybe, just maybe, Chris will have his calendar cleared)

Not much I can do there, I was requested by one of the customers I am currently supporting. However I might be able to get a weekend home to do this. Not sure yet, I am thinking I will be home by early Feb. If not it is April. What is going to suck is not driving for the better part of 3-6 months, but that is good for the warranty though.

Now if I am home I am coming on the trip. As after all that time over there with little time off I am sure I can grab a week off to do this insane run...

GW

[squid]

Quote: Originally Posted by NoNo

Several things:
3) Where are these snow tires, and how much are they asking?

16 inch Blizzaks: on nemini

[squid]

Quote: Originally Posted by LordWinslow

Not much I can do there, I was requested by one of the customers
I am currently supporting. However I might be able to get a weekend home to do this. Not
sure yet, I am thinking I will be home by early Feb.

The flight from UK to Gander is shorter than the trip to JFK.
A good excuse to join in midway...

http://gc.kls2.com/cgi-bin/gcmap?PATH=JFK-SNN