Day 8 - July 26, 2014 - Winnemucca, Nv. to San Fransisco, Ca. MINI Takes the States begins!
So today was a long day. I started out from Winnemucca, about 140 miles east of Reno and drove all the way to San Fransisco for the start of MINI Takes the States. I made sure to get out early because I wanted to get there and meet with Sami and Brian, the MINI couple who met through their love of MINIs and is getting married in Reno while on the trip. I get to take their wedding photos! So I set out to find some decaf. And found a little shop, Global Coffee, that just said "Espresso" on the outside. Expecting something much less than a true coffee bar I walked in. I believe the first words out of my mouth were "Oh my God it's a fucking oasis".
The cops that were sitting in the corner thought that was really funny. This was a coffee shop you would expect to see in a major city, not in
the middle of the Nevada desert along the so called "loneliest road". So
after grabbing and iced decaf and some cinnamon mini scones I set out.
The drive was easy through Nevada.Traveling through the desert, I saw some salt flats. It appears that the locals like to write messages and names and what not with rocks on top of the salt. The desert water towers I guess you could say.
After the desert came Reno came the Donner Pass and then in to Sacramento and California traffic. Ugh.
After sitting in about an hour of traffic I finally made it to the outskirts of San Fransisco and Mecca. That is right, the sighting of the first In N Out burger!!
If you don't know what In N Out is you have not lived. It makes Five Guys look like McDonalds. And animal style is the way to go. Trust me.
I arrived in a cute little town called Fairfax shortly after seeing Mecca. It really is the epitome of "crunchy" California. Adorable little organic restaurants, plant stores that sell only native species, 25 mph signs galore. But in this place I found Brooklyn the MINI!!
This means that Brian and Sami are not far. Brian and Sami met when Brian posted something in the MINI Countryman Owners Lounge on facebook and Sami was the first to comment. The rest is history, love, marriage and who knows, a baby carriage? Brian and Sami asked me to take pictures for their wedding in Reno on Sunday at the second MINI Takes the States stop. So we had a quick chat about the plans, talked a few details, had a Pellegrino and then I went in search of food and a car wash for serial bug killer Tycoon. Food was the first priority and Rose Vally Restaurant delivered!
A portobello mushroom sandwich with roasted peppers and mozzarella, with a side salad of kale, tomatoes, green beens and some long grain rice. OMG, this is where they crunchies have it spot on. Dag gone that stuff is good.
So Winnie fed and kicking the crap out of me I found a brushless car wash. I thought for sure with the carnage on the front of Tycoon there was no way they were going to be able to get her clean. So she waited her turn.
While I was waiting I was reminded I was in California. Look closely...Why...
Anyway, so I was pleasantly surprised when Tycoon came back sparkling clean and bug free. They really did do a great job. I went back up to see what Sami and Brian were up to and guess who I found! Kyle and Kowalski! It was officially a Countryman reunion.
After visiting and chatting for awhile we decided it was time to go take some pictures of the cars at the Golden Gate Bridge and then head in to the city for the kickoff party for MINI Takes the States. We motored down to the Golden Gate Bridge, having a blast in our MINI Countryman caravan. Honking and revving engines in tunnels like we were kids. The locals seemed to think it was kind of fun as well and at times joined in and waved. I guess when you have over 700 MINIs invade your town it is kind of obvious we are all together.
We arrived at a great location just below the Golden Gate Bridge just as the fog was rolling in to the bay. It was perfect, the light was just starting to turn golden and the fog was just starting to cover the top of the bridge and it was just gorgeous.
After blowing our minds with beautiful pictures, Sami, Brian, Kyle, Hannah and I made our way in to the heart of San Fransisco for the kick off party of MINI Takes the States at San Fransisco MINI. Hannah took this picture of Tycoon and me crossing the Golden Gate Bridge. I may have edited slightly.
Now this party, let me tell you, this was the party to end all parties. Almost 1,000 people packing in to a double decked MINI dealer in down town San Fran. The party was complete with British character actors, kick ass food, a Countryman turned DJ, a flip book maker, and to top it all off...TONY HAWK!!! Tony just became a spokesman for MINI since he bought his own Countryman a couple of years ago and has become just as obsessed with his as we all are with our MINIs.
The group of us mingled at the party, ate some food, those of us who could drink had adult beverages, those of us preggo or under 21 stuck with water and sodas. Around 945 Sami, Brian and I decided that we were going to try and go take pictures of Tycoon and Brooklyn on Lombard Street. Lets give it a shot, if it's shut down it's shut down. But hey, at least we tried. We went up the steepest hills you have ever seen. Now, in a manual car this can cause a certain amount of anxiety if you know what I mean. I admit it, I coasted through a couple stop signs here and there. But lets keep it real, the alternative could have gotten ugly really fast. It turned out great! Lombard was open! So Sami drove Tycoon for me and Brian drove Brooklyn and we got great shots of the cars at night on Lombard Street, the curviest city street in the U.S.
Just as we were finishing up at the bottom of Lombard street La Sara called and said her plane had landed early!! OMG MINI! So I sped through the city of San Fransisco to get the to the airport to pick up my navigator for the next week of motoring.
After all of this I found out some good news and some bad news. Bad news from one of my favorite MINIs on the trip. The MINI Goes All Around guys from Germany who are taking their new F56 all around the world had their MINI broken in to and bags stolen out of the back. Their back window was smashed in and almost $2,000 stolen along with a leather bound hand written journal of their trip. So that was a bit discouraging. But the good news is that another of my favorite MINIs, 4 Guys 1 MINI, who had broken down 3 days earlier in Wisconsin, made it to the party just as it was ending!! So happy that everything got fixed on their hardtop Cooper and they made it in time to check in.
To end the night La Sara and I drove to Alameda to crash with her Coastie friend Coen "Coco" at her apartment. We stayed up until almost 130 in the morning just chatting and laughing until I about crashed.
So tomorrow WE MOTOR!!
So today was a long day. I started out from Winnemucca, about 140 miles east of Reno and drove all the way to San Fransisco for the start of MINI Takes the States. I made sure to get out early because I wanted to get there and meet with Sami and Brian, the MINI couple who met through their love of MINIs and is getting married in Reno while on the trip. I get to take their wedding photos! So I set out to find some decaf. And found a little shop, Global Coffee, that just said "Espresso" on the outside. Expecting something much less than a true coffee bar I walked in. I believe the first words out of my mouth were "Oh my God it's a fucking oasis".
After the desert came Reno came the Donner Pass and then in to Sacramento and California traffic. Ugh.
I arrived in a cute little town called Fairfax shortly after seeing Mecca. It really is the epitome of "crunchy" California. Adorable little organic restaurants, plant stores that sell only native species, 25 mph signs galore. But in this place I found Brooklyn the MINI!!
So Winnie fed and kicking the crap out of me I found a brushless car wash. I thought for sure with the carnage on the front of Tycoon there was no way they were going to be able to get her clean. So she waited her turn.
While I was waiting I was reminded I was in California. Look closely...Why...
After visiting and chatting for awhile we decided it was time to go take some pictures of the cars at the Golden Gate Bridge and then head in to the city for the kickoff party for MINI Takes the States. We motored down to the Golden Gate Bridge, having a blast in our MINI Countryman caravan. Honking and revving engines in tunnels like we were kids. The locals seemed to think it was kind of fun as well and at times joined in and waved. I guess when you have over 700 MINIs invade your town it is kind of obvious we are all together.
We arrived at a great location just below the Golden Gate Bridge just as the fog was rolling in to the bay. It was perfect, the light was just starting to turn golden and the fog was just starting to cover the top of the bridge and it was just gorgeous.
After blowing our minds with beautiful pictures, Sami, Brian, Kyle, Hannah and I made our way in to the heart of San Fransisco for the kick off party of MINI Takes the States at San Fransisco MINI. Hannah took this picture of Tycoon and me crossing the Golden Gate Bridge. I may have edited slightly.
Now this party, let me tell you, this was the party to end all parties. Almost 1,000 people packing in to a double decked MINI dealer in down town San Fran. The party was complete with British character actors, kick ass food, a Countryman turned DJ, a flip book maker, and to top it all off...TONY HAWK!!! Tony just became a spokesman for MINI since he bought his own Countryman a couple of years ago and has become just as obsessed with his as we all are with our MINIs.
selfie with Tony Hawk!
Kyle and Hannah both on their phones...
Waiting to get in at San Fransisco MINI
Brian and Sami, everyone is excited for the wedding tomorrow!
registration
DCMM Member Melissa getting registered
Kyle talking to the MINI film crew while Hannah photobombs
Brian and Sami
Little guy looking at the DJ booth
The mayhem
A mini
Our MC while on the trip
MINI Corporate rep.
The flip book maker
The miniest motorer
Just as we were finishing up at the bottom of Lombard street La Sara called and said her plane had landed early!! OMG MINI! So I sped through the city of San Fransisco to get the to the airport to pick up my navigator for the next week of motoring.
After all of this I found out some good news and some bad news. Bad news from one of my favorite MINIs on the trip. The MINI Goes All Around guys from Germany who are taking their new F56 all around the world had their MINI broken in to and bags stolen out of the back. Their back window was smashed in and almost $2,000 stolen along with a leather bound hand written journal of their trip. So that was a bit discouraging. But the good news is that another of my favorite MINIs, 4 Guys 1 MINI, who had broken down 3 days earlier in Wisconsin, made it to the party just as it was ending!! So happy that everything got fixed on their hardtop Cooper and they made it in time to check in.
To end the night La Sara and I drove to Alameda to crash with her Coastie friend Coen "Coco" at her apartment. We stayed up until almost 130 in the morning just chatting and laughing until I about crashed.
So tomorrow WE MOTOR!!
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