Mini Meet West 2008 Trip Victoria to Irvine

The last leg home..through Seattle and on the ferry.

2008-07-03T20:05:00.000-07:00

Richards present from the sea gulls at the ferry terminal!

Really heavy storms over night but we have a lie in breakfast at 8pm Terry & Linda went at 6am, a short walk to breakfast, rain and thunder as we pack up the Pick Up and Moke, we are off just out of the hotel Richard slows down and stops we are behind and stop too a little damp in the ignition is quickly fixed.,On to the motorway, its bucketing down so much so we have difficulties seeing some times when a truck went by we could not see anything at all for a second or two, water pours in from the windscreen seal but we keep going. It rains with thunder till we get to the ferry, we have spot of lunch then queue for the ferry for an hour still raining.

Rog “The Hat”

Rain, did you say rain? It was raining outside and raining inside the Moke as we flew along the I405 on the way north..it was raining so hard, we had difficulty seeing the road, and getting passed by semis spraying .. the rain was flowing up and into the car through the front top of the top, then dripping onto our shoes! We had to pull over and fix the truck s there was a carbon arc across the distributor cap.a bit of cleanup and some black take over the latch and we were off again, but now soaked from standing in the rain! The rain came in sheets and followed us all the way to the ferry terminal in Anacortes..where we have boarded the ferry for the last leg home..Mike

Moving North via Mount Ranier July 2

2008-07-03T19:59:00.000-07:00

Up and away from Bend at 6am Rog Rog was asked to navigate to breakfast as its got a nose far better than Tom Tom so down highway 97 about 10 miles nose come into action a Food sign is also noticed at Terrebourn a motor bike, and couple of trucks once inside its just one table left for the five of us a very tasty breakfast and cheap only 3 pounds including as much coffee as you could drink, Rog Rog received full praise. The rest of the day was uneventful, lunch in a MacDonald, with old American classics as tables, next door to Sears tool shop some goodies are bought then onto Enumclaw for the night, we say good by to Terry & Linda as the have to get up early 6am to go shopping in Seattle.
As we clime into bed the thunderstorms are starting what will the morning bring?

Rog “The Hat”

This was the day we headed out for Enumclaw..we were going to head off with Terry and his family, but 6am came and went and there was no sign of them, so we moved on stopping for breakfast.As we pulled in for gas at the border of Oregon and Washington state, they had just arrived at the same place, as they had left an hour after us, and must have passed by while we were eating. The trip up 97 was kind of like the Desert Bus game (the worlds worst video game, you drive a bus from Vegas to Reno in real time, and the bus pulls to one side so you constantly have to correct the steering..one way trip take 8 hours!) The day got warmer and warmer and as we pulled into Yakima, it was scorching again..but cooled off as we headed out of town and onto the 410 through Mount Ranier National Park, where we had some great roads. The rest of the trip was good into Enumclaw, where after a great dinner at a local bar and grill, we watched the thunderstorms. Good thing we put the side curtains on the Moke as it rained heavy all night..The Moke was running a bit rough, so we changed the plus and adjusted the valves, which made a big difference.. Tomorrow a short leg…and home..Mike

Onward to Bend via Crater Lake and Lassen

2008-07-01T22:13:00.000-07:00

Up early again, and off the breakfast at the local Mexican place..where we had a huge breakfast for $5.95! We continued on via 89, through Mount Lassen /volcanic National Park, where we had spectacular views and a small delay due to road construction at the top. No issues with any of the cars, even though there is a long winding climb up to the top at around 8000 feet again. Then down the mountain and off to I5 and up to 97, where we grabbed a quick lunch at Weed. Back onto 97 and into Crater Lake..we had hoped to do the Pinnicles Observation road, but the east side of the lake road was still closed due to snow and slides. There was still a lot of snow on the sides of the roads and off in the fields surrounding the park. They were expecting to open the east side within the next two weeks. After that we headed down and onto Bend Oregon, where we drove through a blinding rainstorm..in one day in the Moke, I have experienced cold at 56 degrees in the morning, heat up to 86, blinding rain, and at the top snow..and cold again..the rest of the crew in the cars don't seem to feel it as much! After heading out for dinner in Bend, we arrived back to find another Mini in the parking lot of the hotel..it was Terry from Pentiction, so we will hook up for part of the trip home tomorrow. We were planning to go to mount St Helens, but the roads are still closed due to snow and there is one bridge washed out, so we have had a change in plans..and will be heading home via Yakima...Mike

Great drives and views..on to Quincy

2008-06-30T22:04:00.001-07:00

No updates tonight, as Rog says..we are knackerd and going to bed..the gang from Quincy.CA

Off after breakfast up route 395 stop off at old Japanese internment camp then to Yosemite Nat. Pk. they wanted 20 dollars to get so after a drive of 10 miles we turned round and returned to 395, on the way up over one of the hills Terry's Mini over heated just caught it in time, it needed about 4 pints of water.
After lunch we drive round the massive Lake Tahoe about 20 miles long and wide, Linda and I get lost my navigating went to pot rog rog had to ask tom tom to get us back on the right road were we meet up with the others who had been waiting for us for 15 minutes.
We arrive at Quincey at 6pm and all jump in the pool and off to a Mexican restaurant, the slide into bed.

Happy and sleepy Rog "The Hat"

After a run up 395 and the quick stop atthe internment camp we headed up 89 on the way to Lake Tahoe . The highway starts with a 2 mile climb up to 9000 feet, This proved to be too mch for Toots who decidied just near the top to blow off some steam. Richard's truck was hot, but finr and the Moke just watched the action.. We let the automatic mini cool down, refilled the rad and off we went..with no more issues .. We had a beautiful trip around the west side of Lake Tahoe, and then a long run up 89 to Quincy..it was a long day with about 13 hours on the road including our stops..Mike

On the Flipside..heading home..

2008-06-29T19:39:00.000-07:00

We were up early this morning to head out of LA early and try to beat the heat as we were planning on heading up 395 with a jaunt into the Death Valley National Park. Roger and I led the way out of LA and as I don’t have a Tom Tom or any other GPS, I used by Rog Rog and our trusty maps.. which ended up with a flawless exit from LA..stopping for a western breakfast in Hisperia. All was going well until the heat started to increase and while climbing some of the hills Richards truck started to climb into the H. As we were carrying a spare heater matrix, we pulled into a small town gas station, topped up and added the matrix to the front of Richards car..looking good Richard! This solved the heating problem, but now it was 38.5 degrees Celsius(101F) and we were stating to bake in the Moke and the truck. It was 19 degrees inside the MINI, but more like 40 plus in the rest of the cars, so we kept on 395 to Lone Pine. While there we had a few dips in the pool and then went off on a tour up a 22 mile road to 8,500 feet above the desert, with some stunning views and a windy twisty road. There must have been a 30F degree to Quincy via Lake Tahoe..Mike

I must admit I changed Minis for the New Mini Cooper with Linda ( she won the show and shine yesterday) as the heat was getting to me, a lovely drive through the dessert. Death Valley a 115, we arrive at Lone Pine. Lunch was a salad for me also the football was on. The whole of the restaurant customers all cheered when Spain won, lot of Hispanics in this part of the Sierra Nevada After lunch we head for the swimming in the pool, The temp in the pool area is 100 in the shade, we have to get back in the pool every ½ hour to cool down. At 4pm it’s cooled down a little we drive up to Mt Whitney the highest mountain in the world, or should I say round here, its cooler up the top with lot of nats biting so its not worth stopping for long, we drive down into the heat, so another break at the ice cream parlor. Its time to fill up with gas for the drive tomorrow, we will be starting early aging tomorrow, now its off for dinner to a little restaurant that sells fish and steak.
Happy Moke, MINI-ing Rog “The Hat”

The Banquet and we win some prizes!

2008-06-29T05:06:00.000-07:00

The banquet was held in the hotel and as per usual, ended up going late into the night..as they had soooooo many prizes..and a lot of big ones,l ike brake kits from Brembo and Heritiage, Tires from Falken, Yokohama, and great stuff donated by Rog from the Mini Cooper Register. The Canadians did well..Rick Higgs, 1st place, Terry Snell 1st place, Linda 1stplace, Richard 2nd place, Mike, 3rd place. Murray seemed to take 1/2 the doorprizes! Thanks to all the folks at MOLA for putting on a good show..tae some well desrved time off and relax!It's early on Sunday, and we are hitting the road, to beat the heat and any traffic out of LA, as we head up towards Death Valley..Mike

Questions we have been asked on the road?

2008-06-28T17:32:00.000-07:00

This section we will update as we go as we get asked a lot of questions when we pullinto parking lots and gas stations.
Is that legal to drive?
Is that a kit car?
What kind of milage does it get?
Where is that thing from?
Why did you cut up a Mini to make that truck?
How many miles to the gallon do you get?
Why are you driving on the wrong side of the road?
Is it legal to drive on that side of the car?
Does that get good milage?
Is this a real car?
Do you get good gas mileage?
Are all cars in Canada that small?
While changing the radiator.. Is that an air cooled car?
Is that a golf cart?
In the rest stop just off the highway... Do you drive these on the highway?
What kind of mileage do you get in these little cars?
What did you pay for that tiny baby car?

The Show and Shine

2008-06-28T17:17:00.000-07:00

The Red Bull girls were on hand handing out samples..

The lunch truck...

The vendors..

Back at the hotel, the number of cars started to grow and by 10:00 the lot was filled and the cars were parking in the isles. So it was now feeling like a Mini Meet with all the cars and more vendors. The day started out cloudy, then got blistering hot, at least for us folks from Victoria. We spent the day wandering about the cars, and Linda and Terry were shopping the vendors. Richard spent time helping out Rick Higgs solve his turn signal problem, which died on his trip down. Rick ended up changing the turn signal switch and problem was solved. After the show, I changed the clutch arm and set the clutch back up and things feel better..we added the Moke 'trunk backon and headed off for a dip in the pool..dinner is on at 7:00 with the banquest, then off to a quick sllep and on the road early in the morning..to head up 395 and follow the interior route home..will keep the blog updated as we can find internet access along the way...Mike

Cars and Coffee

2008-06-28T17:08:00.000-07:00

So up at 5:00 this morning,and then down to line up to head over to the Cars and Coffee just down the road. The Minis showed up early and were the featured car of the show.. I think I counted over 60 cars so more than just the gang from Victoria was crazy enough to get up that early! There were a lot of great cars, Ferraris, Lambos, Noble GT, Cobras, Porches, etc, but a lot of attention was paid to the Minis. I found a few British cars there including, a TR6, two Austin Healys, and a Triumph Herald. We grabbed a coffe and quick breakfast wandered around , and then the whole lot of us, all headed back to the hotel around 8:00..it was a lot of fun to be in a group of 60 plus Minis , all headede out of the show in a line, with everyone crowded arouynd the exit and watching.. a good (but early) start to the day..Mike

Day one - Autocross and Funkana

2008-06-27T21:08:00.001-07:00

Is there anybody in there?

Entance to the hotel, following Richard..

A Pinic in the lobby..

Boris and his Moke..very quick

Richard and Terry tearing around the course in the automatic..

I was taken out for an all American Breakfast, to Burger King, not what I call a breakfast at all still the coffee was not to bad, after we drive along to the Auto Cross, & Funkana, which Mike and I in the Moke, Terry and Richard in the automatic. We took part in the Funkana, what a laugh driving blind fold, dressing up in woman’s clothes, such fun. I think we won by about 3 seconds over Terry and Richard..
We then go over to the Autoccross, we did not enter as we wished to keep the Minis in one piece, by the time we left the temperature was up in the 90s, so we go back to the hotel and eat our picnic in the reception which has air con.
We then go outside to look at some of the Minis that have turned up look at the VTEC Mini, also Mikes clutch is playing up it seems the arm is worn we look in the traders stores one traders said he would bring one tomorrow, Mike will fit it in about 10 minuets, I will take the stop watch.
Again we are heating up so it time for swim in the pool, warm water, lovely, the temperature is in the high 80s to 90s, better that London I see at about 60, we jump out the onto the loungers to soak up the sun and watch the California Babes.
Time fly’s by, its off to dinner at the In N Out burger house, well it has to be tried, not bad but steak & kidney pie is better. It’s back to the hotel to do the blog then to bed for an early start of a local car meet at 5am.

Rog 'the Hat'

A few more cars showed up today, but in general there are not a lot of Minis. I suppose being a weekend meet, the local boys will all roll in for the Saturday events, which are all crammed into a single day. Shame as it does not have the same feeling as other meets that are fully attended during the week. The vendors are showing up as well and setting up in the parking lot. We found our way out to the autocross and funkana events, entered into the funkana, where Rog was trying to tell me which way to go while I was blindfolded. The hard part is that he was pointing and saying ‘go that way!” while I was blind as a bat. We had a great time, but it took us a while to get through the whole course. With the track temp hitting high 80’s we came back, ate and headed for the pool to cool off. The clutch is acting up a bit, so will replace the arm, as the end ball is looking a bit worn and flat. I have welded it up once already, so the new part would be a good idea. It would be no problem to drive it home the way it is, but as the parts are here and Rog wants to time me changing it, I may as well.. Up early for the coffee and cars meet, where the Minis will be featured, then the car show, followed by the rally, and banquet..a very busy day tomorrow..

Wehave arrived ! 1676 miles later..

2008-06-27T20:09:00.000-07:00

Damaged from a bad tow after a breakdown..

Surfs up for this Moke..

Terry arrives after having starting problems in our wait for the one way road opening..

An early start up at 6 off to breakfast 6.45 to Hoovers, a lovely place a big plate of fruit only 1 pound with a little fry up plus a pancake 2 pound 50p including coffe as much as you can drink. Then we leave Atascadero, off down 101 to the short cut saves us ½ an hour we are told. “what a mistake to make”, road works an hour waiting. Terry’s Mini over heated, we went through the road works he could not start his Mini, so Richard, Mike & Me went through, luckily he had a jump start kit and came through with the next few cars, much to our relief.
Its back on the 101 now a nice road not to much traffic we turn on to the 405 south we fly along there but 3,4, 5, 6, lanes of traffic some times, we have a time limit on, after 12am and make sure we are off be 2pm, there are trucks, pick ups most so big, some changing lanes with on regard to any one at all, we are lucky, we make the hotel by 1.45pm have missed the worst of the traffic. We book in for the show and rooms, then out we go to try and find a meal, you have to drive everywhere even round the shopping malls they are so big, we find a Panda a Chinese fast food a great meal, then find another mall for food for tomorrow lunch time. Back about 20 more Minis have arrived, some very nice ones indeed, there is a film on tonight the Italian Job so Mike and I are doing the blog which hopefully we can down load in the morning, please keep the comments coming in we love them.

Happy Mini-ing Rog “The Hat”
Today was to be an easy day, with a short dash down 101, hit the 405 and into Irvine. Then someone had a great idea about a shortcut using 154 to cut off a few mile.. a half hour saving said the cook at the Hoovers restaurant, who came out to look at the Minis. As Rog said , we ended up waiting for about 45 minutes as there was single lane traffic, then another 15 or so as Terry finally got the car started and found us waiting at the other end of the one way. The local police were there and offered to have him towed, but it all worked out. The rest of the trip was uneventful, but not enjoyable as the 101 and 405 are busy roads, but as we headed in during the quiet part of the day, we never stopped moving. The first leg of the trip is over, with us logging 1676 miles, according to our official chase car, Linda’s new MINI.. We spent some time cleaning the cars, and then headed out for shopping and a bite. Rick and Elaine, Patti and Bogden arrived later in the afternoon, and Rob Fram dropped by as he was at Disneyland with the kids.We are off to the autocross/funkana tomorrow morning. Mike

And then there were 5..and a closed highway

2008-06-25T20:28:00.000-07:00

We picked up Shawn and Brownie in the MPI, just after crossing the Golden Gate bridge. Shawn took us on the dime tour of San Francisco, where we saw houses we could not afford, nice parks, golf course, art gallery and oceanside, before heading off on the Great Highway...we headed out to highway 1 intending to follow all the way. We ended up lunching in Big Sur, where we had to tuurn around and head back up as the highway was closed due to the fires. The good part of this was we got to drive the same section of twisty highway 1 again, the bad part is we added 60 plus miles to the trip and about an hour and a half. (lot's of traffic). We had an uneventful run down the 101..and arrived in Atascadero early afternoon..off to dinner and then back to the hotel, planning for the last day,through LA and into Irvine..see you tommorrow at MMW...Mike

Day 4- Great Roads Highway 1!

2008-06-24T21:49:00.000-07:00

We have decided to get up a little earlier today a quick coffee and a bun for breakfast, then its of to the Humboult National Park at 7.30 a stunning drive down the avenues of giants, the giants are of couse the redwood trees. We wind in and out of the trees, the sun shining through 22 miles of some of the worlds biggest trees.
A self-guided tour round the trail shows us some really tall, wide trees may be the biggest in the world. Out of the park we join US 1 the Coastal highway. This road take us down the coast, up hill, down valleys, round bends, great views, Fort Brag a light lunch was had by all, we carry on this beautiful road made for Minis till we arrive at Santa Rosa, at the Days Inn, wash the Minis at the wash next to the motel a good find. Dinner at Applebee’s, then its blog time.

Rog “The Hat”

A fabulous day for a drive which included the famous highway 1 from Leggatt CA until Bodega where we cut over to get to Santa Rosa for the night. We had a very spirited drive, with most people pulling over for four racing Minis..eyes open in disbelief as we fly bay. Richard lost a hubcap as he did the run through the twisting corners. We did also get through another drive through tree…you just can’t drive by! Believe it or not my arms are tired from turning the wheels so much as we drove down the coast highway..off to San Fran tomorrow to pick up Shawn by the golden gate bridge and then off to Atascadero..Mike

Mokes permitted here!

2008-06-24T06:42:00.000-07:00

We found a Moke friendly place here, with a Moking area just behind the restrooms!

As well they had the famous Mokey the Bear in the gift shop where we could take a picture of Rog haning out with the Bear... :)

Mokes and California

2008-06-24T06:34:00.000-07:00

Not sure why but Mokes do not seem welcome in California. We have started to see signs like this one every where.

Day 3 - getting to Eureka and lots of trees!

2008-06-23T22:23:00.000-07:00

Up and out for breakfast at the pancake house egg, bacon, and pancakes with maple syrup. All filled out it’s down the Redwood highway with some photos by the ocean making our way to California, you have to stop at the border as you are not allowed to bring in any fruit in. Not that it mattered, as all the guard wanted to do was look at the Minis.
Now it’s real Redwood country with some really big trees down the side of the road we drive into Myrtle Creek Nat. Park to see really big redwoods now the hunger is getting to us dinner is in a little diner, tea and strawberries for me.
A short drive down the road, is the Trees of Mystery Park, the biggest man in the world Paul Bunyan tries to step on the Moke, a walk round the park we see the biggest in the world of what ever you can think of in a redwood park. (That’s the American World) Finishing the walk there is a cable car ride to the summit of the mountain with the biggest fog in the world so you could hardly see anything. Another big tree you can drive through may be the biggest drive through tree in the world. Nearing the end of our drive for today we come to EUREKA and we have made it to the Super 8 motel, time to relax with a nice meal in town then to bed.

Rog “The Hat”

Another great day on the road, with lots of stops along the way for pictures of the Minis by the coast as well and a trip into the redwood trees. Terry is doing fantastic in the 998 automatic, keeping up and even passing us once and a while. Gassing up was a little better today as we were not even close to being on empty, except the Moke, which seems to be constantly on E. The cars are running great, and we seem to be able to cruise easily at 65 or so, and keeping up to 55 or 60 going up hill. We get some strange looks as 4 Minis fly up hills passing the slower traffic in the right hand lanes. So another 250 miles clocked off on the trip to Irvine..we’re getting closer…Mike

Day 2 - Sandy!

2008-06-23T18:12:00.001-07:00

The Mongolian Grill

We are up at 7.30 off to breakfast, at the Big Wave café ½ an hour down the road from Seaside, a very taste meal was had by all, next it’s the Tilamook cheese factory making cheddar cheese and it tasted just like English cheddar. Terry is asked to get on the phone to the dune buggie hire at ,160 miles down the road. We book for the 1.30pm ride it’s a long drive but we make it by the skin of our teeth with Richad leading the way hitting 75mph on the straights. When we arrive, we pay our 25 dollars each, jump in the this oversize buggy with 8 seats, Dave our driver straps us in, Dave is like a man possessed flying up, down and sideways on the sand dunes, if you open your mouth at the wrong time you get a mouth full of sand. A ½ an hour later with just getting our breath back its all over a fantastic ride.
It’s another search for petrol. There always seem long stretches of road without any petrol stations. Then there are .the about 3 all at once. We fill up and off again down a pine tree lined road we arrive at Coos Bay at the 6 motel with internet but not working so this article is a little late sorry for that bloger. …. Roger

We had a great time on the sand rail car, but we’ll be picking sand out of our ears and hair for the next few days. Rog was a bit apprehensive at first, but in the end was beaming like the rest of us. We arrived in Coos Bay, and were not able to find any internet access so this is late..but we did find a Mongolian Grill, where we stuffed ourselves full of assorted food and rolled back to the hotel..then back on the road early in the morning…Mike

The Cars

2008-06-22T06:39:00.000-07:00

1968 Mini pickup, 1275cc, 7.0 discs, 10 inch wheels
1988 Mini Mayfair, 998cc, automatic, 12 inch wheels. 8.4 discs
1980 Mini Moke, 1275cc, 13 inch wheels, 8.4 discs
2003 Mini Cooper, 1600cc, automatic

The Adventure Begins

2008-06-21T18:52:00.001-07:00

The shirt made for us be Jean and Allan just for this trip...Thanks guys!

227 miles, plus ferry across done today.

Rog and I were up at the crack of dawn, (earlier than that I think!) threw the bags into the Moke and headed off to the ferry for 5:00. There Linda and Terry were just a car in front of us in the line a Richard joined a few3 minutes later. After the usal questions from immigration..Where are you headed and why..Irvine CA for a Car show…In That?! , we passed the test and headed to immigration so Rog could get his Visa sorted, being a UK citizen, he needs more than us Canadians. With the Coho headed out of port, my friend ‘Captain Doug’ could be seen frantically waving from the top of his houseboat, and when he realized we were waving back, he ushered out of the harbour with a fire hose salute from his garden hose. I suspect he was hosing off the otter droppings! Another round of questions at the other end from customs, a collecting of the cars and we were off down the 101. We had a great drive down the coast, with a few short stops, we then started to look for gas. The cars were running well, with no problems. As we pulled into the station, we realized that they could not take credit cards, so we though we would head for the lunch stop and gas up in South Bend..Richard and Terry were reading less than 1/4tank, and I had been showing empty for miles, as the sender has a mind of it’s own these days. After a great lunch of pulled pork all around, giant onion rings and milk shakes, we asked where the nearest gas station was in town…well, it appears there is no longer one in town and the nearest one was 50 miles farther down the road…After 50+nervous miles we finally found a gas station in Astoria where we all took on gas. I think Terry and Richard were down to fumes. I had more left due to the larger tank. But Rog would not check it out with the match I gave him, so I am not really sure. A quick jaunt down the highway and we arrived at the hotel in Seaside. We wandered the tacky shops and then the seaside promenade which was great to stretch the legs.

Rog 'the Hat' arrives from the UK - his story

2008-06-20T19:41:00.000-07:00

Hi, Blogers,

That some how does not seen quite right, still never mind.

I am at Mike's house in Victoria Canada, no trouble getting here, I went through terminal 5 trembling with the thought of it, will I lose my bags, what will the ques be like, should I have worried NO, there are more BA staff than customers at the check in, more walking about. I was early and could not check in for an hour, so I go for a coffee thinking to myself by the time I go back in an hour there will be ques. Sitting reading my paper, I could not help hearing on the next table a girl being interviewed for a job with BA. I thought, what more staff, I can't believe it. On going to the check in desk again no ques, I have my boarding pass from my home computer so simple then its straight through the security check with no trouble. Into the departure lounge I find a Japanese Restaurant called Wagamama, which dose a full English all day breakfast, a cup of tea and a free juice from a token in the lounge map, for 6.80p not bad. Finishing that a look round at all the shops. A Mini in the British shop to promote all things British plus Paddington Bear.
Time now to to find gate B47, the terminal is on about 6 levels, I have been up and down lifts and escalators about 20 times its now on to a little train for about 5 minutes, to gate B47, lovely and air-ie a 1/2 an hour wait then onto the plane for the long flight to Vancouver, a quick bite to eat as I change planes then a Hopper flight over to Victoria, to be meet by Mike who had arrived just as the plane was coming into land, in 5 minutes I had collected my bags ( no I had not lost them like last time) Its a short drive to Mike and Debbie's house time for a coffee and talk its time for bed after long day.

Next morning I go down to Victoria Ferry terminal to check out if they will let me into the USA on Saturday no trouble just fill in the green form they say, so that should be easy, and will cause no hold ups.
In the evening a quick drive in the Moke to Alan's house to see his bright yellow Moke he has more or less finished the restoration on hes not coming down to MMW but he wishes us luck on our adventure.

Happy Moke-ing Rog "The Hat"

Another Mini Joins the Trip

2008-06-19T21:25:00.000-07:00

We are picking up Shawn, his dog and Mini..heres a pic of his MPI..great looking car! Rog and I picked up some t-shirts today made for us by Jean and Allan in our club. They are appropriate for a Moke trip to MMW, I'll post picture later on our trip, so you can see them. Thanks to both of you!

Route Planning

2008-06-17T19:11:00.001-07:00

The route is set for the trip down.. Starting Saturday, we will be up at 4:00am or so to be in line for the Ferry by 5:10..then over to Port Angles in Washington State, with a drive along Highway 101 to Seaside Oregon as the first nights stop. From there we go to Coos Bay stopping at the Tilamook Cheese factory and a planned trip on the sand rail cars in the Oregon dunes. Hang onto your hat for that ride! (and you'll be picking sand out of your teeth for days) From Coos Bay, we continue along 101 to Eureka, stopping off to see giant redwoods and driving through the center of a tree. After overnight in Eureka, we follow the coast until stopping overnight in Santa Rosa. From there we leave early in the morning, picking up Shawn, his dog and the 1.3mpi Mini just over the Golden gate bridge. We end this day in Atascadero, with the last day a short jaunt from there through LA to Irvine and MMW...yea!

Packing Begins

2008-06-16T21:52:00.000-07:00

The spare parts are tucked away in the side pods along with the tools. The Moke 'trunk' I use for traveling is bolted into place, giving us a dry and secure place for our stuff. Route maps and directions are getting sorted, and all the hotels are booked..so we are now ready to go. As usual, something on the car has to give some problems! The gas sender works until the gas tank is about 2/3 full, then drops to zero, so with not enough time to get one from Australia, we'll have to watch the mileage on the odometer. It should not be an issue though as I have the largest tank of the classic Minis, so as long as their gauges are working, we can gas up at the same time. We do carry a 5l can of gas anyway.

More Preparations

2008-06-08T20:47:00.000-07:00

Well spent the morning at Richard's garage doing the back brakes on the Moke, as well as an oil and filter change, new headlights, and an added heater core to provide additional cooling. Terry and Linda were there as well, with Terry and Richard redoing the front end on Toots. New wheel bearings, cones, hi-los, discs, pads, shocks, adjustable control arms , adjustable strut rods, and a new steering rack! There were more bits for the rear, but not enough time to get it all done in a day. We have compiled a good spare parts list and should be able to handle most things at the side of the road if there are any problems en route.

Getting the Moke ready

2008-05-24T22:45:00.000-07:00

I have updated the wheels to some Sunraysa mags with new tires. The wheels were sandblasted and powder coated bright white. My new roof and side curtains from Australia have now been installed and the Moke looks like a new ride!

Planning the Trip

2008-05-12T08:09:00.000-07:00

I thought we would try to share photos and details of our Trip to Mini Meet West this year for those of you who could not make it. We are traveling from Victoria BC to Irvine, CA and back again with three other Minis. We plan on driving the coastal highways 101 and highway 1 most of the way down and returning via the interior route through the mountains.