[wheyaye2]

Date: Sunday, 29th April 2007
Time: Meeting between 12pm and 1pm.

I'll periodically update this post with the latest news and attendance list.

WHOS COMING

wheyaye2
MyMiniTakesMyMoney
R53 Cooper S
wallace
yellow_mini_scott
mess
marcy
zorro
zicoal
Gary Bartle
vigilante
matty_p
minidriver2
delly
laura f (provisional)

Come on, sign up everyone who's interested and can come on the 29th!

VENUE

Does anyone have a preferred venue to meet up, obviously this will have to cater for what people want to do - see the next heading. Somewhere central preferably and relatively easy to find.

I initially recommend (and others are welcome to recommend others):
Brewer's Fayre. Derwent Crossing, Derwenthaugh Rd, Swalwell,

It's just past the Metrocentre.

I've had a meeting here before and it's easy to get to, easy to get back on the A1 if people want to do runs and the pub does good meals if people fancy some food or a drink.

See here for location:
brewers fayre loc: swalwell - Google Maps

What's Happening?

Draft Idea-

12pm to 1pm: Meeting up.
1pm to 1.30pm: Natter in car park, tyre kicking etc.
1.30pm to 2.30pm: Lunch, refreshment, natter continues inside *
2.30pm to 4.30pm: Run out (route to be confirmed)
4.30pm onwards: Natter and depart at leisure

* I will call Brewers Fayre to confirm kitchen times and opening hours for the 29th.

[MaTTy_P]

Looks good to me mate

Hoping I will have my S by then (supposed to be here next week earliest, week after latest) so it's all resting on that. I'm sure where ever we decide will be ideal, i'll just remmember to fetch my camera along

I was even thinking of clogging up traffic along a coastal route/city center, be it the 'makum' side or the 'geordie' side of the river

[Delly]

Hey, can u add me to the list cos hopefully i will be there. Do ya have a time at all??

[wheyaye2]

No, didn't think of that How about between 12.00 - 13.00 as a start? We can always change it later if it is difficult for some people.

[GARY GP]

you can stick me down mate and a couple of others too. all cooper s... i have a good run up by hart side pass if you are interested ? their is a cafe up their it does nice hot chocolate with marsh mellows....

[Mess]

sign me up for this.
Ill deffo come along.
If the weather is good, think we should deffo clogg up the roads along the cost.

[MaTTy_P]

^^ what he said.

I'm suren theres more of us from round these parts...comon guys!

[wheyaye2]

12 definites + 1 provisional now - looking good so far!

[wallace]

hi wheyaye2.just got your message about the north east mini club,thanks.have just put the baby up for sale but would love to attend the run(with or without the mini). i had a run out the other week to high force(via bishopaukland) the came back over the moors to stanhope (great fun) dont know if this is too much out the area. as for pubs the ravensworth at kibblesworth is good just off the A1 at the team valley.

[vigilante]

I'll be there depending on whats happening with the scran/run debate and how that fits in with family stuffage (can't feed a baby on a b-road )

[Mess]

Quote: Originally Posted by vigilante (original)

(can't feed a baby on a b-road )

cant feed a baby while driving either!!

[vigilante]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mess (original)

cant feed a baby while driving either!!

nice straight motorway and cruise control then push the seat back...on second thoughts

[MaTTy_P]

Came up with a Run...its a coastal route where I normally go for a run, it may be a bit too 'city/town' for some people, but were sure to attract plenty of head turning moments and there is ample opportunity for photographs/sight seeing. Depends on what we are after really.

routebuilder.org - Make your own cycling/hiking/driving directions with Route Builder!

1. Set off from Brewers Fair Carpark

2. Head towards the Queyside Swingbridge taking the river route

3. Over the Swingbridge to one of my favourate photograph areas, the Millenium Bridge.

4. After snaps and a little bit of attention from locals head down the old river route, passing segedenum (old roman fort) and all the way down to the coast. Chose this way instead of the boring 'coast road' route., and less traffic on a Sunday.

5. Continue then briefly onto the A19, then down the Coast Road, Beach Road and into Tynemouth.

6. Potential stop at the Carpark next to the Priory/Collingwoods Monument (this place gets busy on a Sunday).

7. From Tynemouth take a coastal route all the way past Cullercoats/Whitley Bay and onto Saint Mary's Lighthouse for yet more photo's and perhaps an icecream.

8. Then its onto Blyth via yet more coastal Roads (*note speed camera between Seaton Sluice and Blyth

9. Onto some B roads up to Shankhouse then hang a left and onto Seaton Delival (best Ice Cream in the North East...but no parking)

10. Hollywell via a nice B Road, then onto sleepy Earsdon Village backroad to Backworth via a Coal Pit - Nice opportunity for pictures.

11. Through Backworth then onto the A19 down to the Silverlink, and optionally head round to the Shiremoore House Farm pub (via the MINI garage if you should wish) for a nice pint of Stella (please note they do frozen glasses - yum)

12. Vacate and then head off home (via A19 North & South).

Just lemme know what you think. We can change a few options/directions...personally I'm not too sure on the Blyth bit - Don't fancy dodging smack needles

This is one option, we can always go inland or South side of the River - This is just a route I know

[GARY GP]

Hartside pass good roads for minis.... come on!

[wheyaye2]

Nice one matty_p, how long do you think that course would take from start to finish approximately?

From feedback so far, there's been two areas of thought. Some people are keen on a run, and some are keen on a bit tyre kicking possibly followed by a visit to a local establishment for lunch or so.

It might be worth us returning to the same point and that allows for the people who would like to have lunch and additional natter to do so.

[MaTTy_P]

I'm up for either mate

That run itself (minus photoshoots and/or traffic) would take about 45/60mins at a good guess.

Perhaps just a brief meet where we start off at Brewers...to the Queyside (North side first, then south next to the Baltic) then back to Brewers for some food & natter?

[GARY GP]

i hope we are not just going to stand in town traffic at the quayside or looking for other lost minis ... or just look at each others chrome stuff.... we have done it before! the run above will be full of sunday people doing 22 mph i have done this run on my Honda RR 600 and that was bad enough....

[MaTTy_P]

hehe sorry matey, aint met all you guys before. I'm up for just some food and a natter, but proposed that little run to let us drive and enjoy the scenery and other people staring at us...

Up to the general concensus though

[wheyaye2]

Yeah I'm not sure how keen people are for a massive run out, we can always arrange this for a later date. Laura F pointed me in the direction of the Hadrian's Wall Run, which I'm more than happy to organise if this upcoming meet goes well.

We can / should still do a run though, perhaps we could alter the route so it takes us through a few quicker roads and through less town traffic. Though some town traffic is good, there's nothing better than a convoy of MINIs rattling down the street turning heads

What do other people think? I'm all for the general consensus too, but I think as long as we have a general view of what we want to do then we can decide at the meeting.

[vigilante]

what about a route like this? similar mileage but more open roads....

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