Bessie missed out on a chance to break the world record! Luckily, we were over a hundred short at 1,319 Minis making their way to the Mackinac Bridge for the World’s Longest Parade of Minis. Whew! Allen, my boyfriend, and I travelled back to St. Ignace for our anniversary of our first impromptu date. Allen even won me a ring from the Gold Mine jewelry store of the Mackinac Bridge. We also took the ferry over to Mackinac Island where no motorized vehicles are allowed. Sorry, Minis – no ice cream escapades photos for you! However, we did enjoy the ice cream at Sadie’s Ice Cream Parlor, Mini golf on real grass and butterflies, lots of butterflies.
The Brew City Car Cruise was the usual intriguing turnout of Minis, BMWs and more.
And now, what you’ve all been waiting for, MINI on the Mack! Bessie started off the trip by turning 150,000 miles on the odometer while driving through Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin. Her luck continued for a wonderful time up in St. Ignace and Mackinaw City. She meandered around the backroads with her fellow 847.5 Minis before continuing across the Mackinaw Bridge. The Minis gathered for a round of horn honking to the tune of Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water” which achieved a World Record for Largest Car Horn Ensemble. To round out the weekend, Bessie has now been in three countries, adding Canada to her list of destinations visited.
Fred’s Drive-In
The Menu.
The Menu.
The Menu. Continued.
The Menu. Continued.
Corned beef on rye! Yum!
Corned beef on rye! Yum!
Jenny enjoys her custard.
Jenny enjoys her custard.
Outside Fred's.
Outside Fred's.
Our merry band of MINIs.
Our merry band of MINIs.
Our mascots for the evening.
Our mascots for the evening.
Custard at Fred's!
Custard at Fred's!
Fred's at night.
Fred's at night.
Gilles Frozen Custard
Gilles burger! Delicious!
Gilles burger! Delicious!
Not just for Minis anymore, a few vintage Fiats join the crowd.
Not just for Minis anymore, a few vintage Fiats join the crowd.
Bessie at Gilles
Bessie at Gilles
Yum! Sundae!
Yum! Sundae!
Brew City Car Cruise
Mini on the Mack
Bessie hits 150,000 miles on her way to Michigan!
Bessie hits 150,000 miles on her way to Michigan!
Along the lake in St. Ignace.
Along the lake in St. Ignace.
A flock of MINIs is forming!
A flock of MINIs is forming!
The Mackinac Bridge
The Mackinac Bridge
Bessie arrives nice an early and gets a great spot!
Bessie arrives nice an early and gets a great spot!
A steady stream of MINIs just pouring in!
A steady stream of MINIs just pouring in!
Two fields of MINIs!
Two fields of MINIs!
Obligatory Not Normal shot.
Obligatory Not Normal shot.
We're rolling through the backroads before hitting the bridge!
We're rolling through the backroads before hitting the bridge!
A short stop. Why? I don't know. Let's use this opportunity for photos!
A short stop. Why? I don't know. Let's use this opportunity for photos!
To the Bridge!
To the Bridge!
Just one of the many crowds out to see the grand MINI parade!
Just one of the many crowds out to see the grand MINI parade!
Steve's bridge!
Steve's bridge!
Where's Waldo?
Where's Waldo?
The streets are filled with MINIs!
The streets are filled with MINIs!
Sunset over the lake.
Sunset over the lake.
Fireworks over the lake!
Fireworks over the lake!
Bessie's Pasties. She wasn't open on Sunday morning when I visited 🙁
Bessie's Pasties. She wasn't open on Sunday morning when I visited 🙁
To Canada!
To Canada!
Ok, not much to see in Sault St. Marie, let's head back home.
Ok, not much to see in Sault St. Marie, let's head back home.
The Milwaukee Minis ventured north this month to gather at Scoop deVille in Hartford. For dinner, it was hot dogs all around, followed by homemade Ice Cream. The ice cream parlor also has old-fashioned fountain sodas, candy, roasted nuts and chocolates wrapped up in a 1950’s themed diner. You’ll know you’re near it when you smell the wonderful aroma of cinnamon wafting out from the door! View Photos…
Finally, the beauty of Fall was painting the land and the Milwaukee Minis were ready to take in the colors. The Fall Foliage Drive and Poker Run took us around the hills surrounding the Holy Hill area, well known for it’s fall colors and twisty roads. Our final destination brought us to Revere’s Wells Street Tavern in Delafield for poker door prizes, merry drinks, and a much relished lunch. View Photos…
Scoop deVille
Scoop deVille in Harford, Wisconsin. The best part is the powerful aroma of cinnamon outside.
Scoop deVille in Harford, Wisconsin. The best part is the powerful aroma of cinnamon outside.
All sort of candy, ice cream and fountain soda, wrapped up in a 1950's theme.
All sort of candy, ice cream and fountain soda, wrapped up in a 1950's theme.
So many flavors!
So many flavors!
They even have Nehi and Green River in bottles.
They even have Nehi and Green River in bottles.
There's one brain that would turn me into a zombie!
There's one brain that would turn me into a zombie!
Dinner was a hot dog and Cherry fountain soda. The soda wasn't quite what I was expecting.
Dinner was a hot dog and Cherry fountain soda. The soda wasn't quite what I was expecting.
Checking out the juke box.
Checking out the juke box.
Apple pie ice cream. The apple pieces were nicely done; not too big so they don't freeze into hard little nuggets like other apple ice cream I've had. It could have used a little more on the pie flavor side. Should have gone for the baked alaska!
Apple pie ice cream. The apple pieces were nicely done; not too big so they don't freeze into hard little nuggets like other apple ice cream I've had. It could have used a little more on the pie flavor side. Should have gone for the baked alaska!
Fall Foliage Drive & Poker Run 2012
The Milwaukee Minis and friends meet up in Hartland for a drive around the countryside.
The Milwaukee Minis and friends meet up in Hartland for a drive around the countryside.
We're off! The color is just WONDERFUL!
We're off! The color is just WONDERFUL!
Our first stop at the Farmer's Market.
Our first stop at the Farmer's Market.
Holy Hill
Holy Hill
Stop two at the Fox and Hounds restaurant
Stop two at the Fox and Hounds restaurant
Stop three at the Monches Park.
Stop three at the Monches Park.
Cobra - Real or Fake?
Cobra - Real or Fake?
Final stop at Revere's Wells Street Tavern in Delafield.
Final stop at Revere's Wells Street Tavern in Delafield.
It’s double-header of nights on the town with the Milwaukee Minis! Our first night began at the humble Boy Blue of America. The last Boy Blue in Milwaukee took us back to simpler times of the chiller-diller, nut bar and fudge royale . A simple, soft-serve ice cream sundae with hot fudge and peanuts was just the treat for me. View photos…
The next evening, the club motored on to the Brew City Car Cruise held at the Highland House in Mequon. It was BMW night and a few Minis showed their expensive cousins what cool was all about. It’s not all German engineering though. Muscle cars, race cars and even an Amphicar also were at the scene. View photos…
Boy Blue of America
First order of business - what's for dessert?
First order of business - what's for dessert?
Boy Blue of America on Lincoln Ave, Milwaukee
Boy Blue of America on Lincoln Ave, Milwaukee
The Boy Blue Sign
The Boy Blue Sign
Just a few of the ice cream delights.
Just a few of the ice cream delights.
Small Hot Fudge Sundae with Peanuts!
Small Hot Fudge Sundae with Peanuts!
Puppy!
Puppy!
The Milwaukee Minians lining up for a treat.
The Milwaukee Minians lining up for a treat.
Linda with her ice cream bar.
Linda with her ice cream bar.
Sprinkles!
Sprinkles!
Bessie at Boy Blue of America
Bessie at Boy Blue of America
Boy Blue at Night.
Boy Blue at Night.
Brew City Car Cruise
Bessie at Highland House for the Brew City Car Cruise.
Bessie at Highland House for the Brew City Car Cruise.
Bessie delivers the usual suspects down to Adrian’s Custard in Burlington, Wisconsin, for dinner and custard with the Milwaukee Minis. Dinner was hot dogs all-around. If you don’t like hot dogs, you’ll just have Adrian’s custard for dinner. I had a delicious rocky road sundae for dessert. Thank goodness I only had one hot dog! View photos…
Continuing south, the Chicago MINI Motoring Club invited the Milwaukee Minis for a night out at Superdawg in Wheeling, Illinois. Luckily, the beautiful weather held and we enjoyed meeting with our friends below the border. For dinner, I had a rare treat – grilled cheese on dark rye. As the sun set, it was time for some cubes of ice cream. Yes, cubed ice cream made especially for Superdawg. I had mine in sundae form drizzled with fudge and surrounded by wafer cookies. I never learn not to eat too much ice cream! View photos…
Adrian’s Frozen Custard
Bessie joins the Milwaukee Minis for custard at Adrian's in Burlington, Wisconsin.
Bessie joins the Milwaukee Minis for custard at Adrian's in Burlington, Wisconsin.
The menu. What's for dinner - only hot dogs.
The menu. What's for dinner - only hot dogs.
Part of the club, reconnecting.
Part of the club, reconnecting.
Dinner!
Dinner!
Wade shows off their banana split.
Wade shows off their banana split.
My sundae - the Rocky Road.
My sundae - the Rocky Road.
Outside Adrian's.
Outside Adrian's.
Future Mini Driver.
Future Mini Driver.
Superdawg
The sky is full of surprises, including this rainbow. Hopefully, we won't run into any rain.
The sky is full of surprises, including this rainbow. Hopefully, we won't run into any rain.
Luckily, the rain doesn't catch us on this trip!
Luckily, the rain doesn't catch us on this trip!
The story of Superdawg.
The story of Superdawg.
My dinner.
My dinner.
Grilled cheese on dark rye and fries.
Grilled cheese on dark rye and fries.
Lily!
Lily!
The menu.
The menu.
Jenny gets a strawberry cone. The square ice cream is specially made for Superdawg.
Jenny gets a strawberry cone. The square ice cream is specially made for Superdawg.
