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.
A MINI roadtrip without Bessie? Can it be true? Yes. Bessie stayed home while her owner, Caren, went gallivanting off to MINI Takes the States with her boyfriend.
We took the journey in an unlikely pairing of Allen’s MINI Coupe with tear-drop camper in tow. Our maiden roadtrip from Madison, Wisconsin, to Memphis, Tennessee and back via St. Louis and Chicago went wonderfully. From truck stops and camping grounds, the biggest adventure was where we would call home after a long day on the road. Allen and I enjoyed taking in the city lights of Memphis, playing vintage video games, go-karts, pink lemonade and trying to figure out how a baseball game works. But best of all, enjoying it all with so many other fellow MINI friends. View photos…
Taking in a White Sox game...
Taking in a White Sox game...
It's so easy to figure out where we're parked!
It's so easy to figure out where we're parked!
Getting our kicks..
Getting our kicks..
On our way to Chicago...
On our way to Chicago...
On the REAL track!
On the REAL track!
The food trucks.
The food trucks.
A night at the arcade!
A night at the arcade!
Allen takes to the track in a go-kart.
Allen takes to the track in a go-kart.
At Gateway Motorsports Park, our evening location.
At Gateway Motorsports Park, our evening location.
In St. Louis!
In St. Louis!
Pink Lemonade slushie. It's amazing! There's nothing like it. Even has a cherry in it!
Pink Lemonade slushie. It's amazing! There's nothing like it. Even has a cherry in it!
Stop of the day - Hayden's BBQ in Popular Grove, MO
Stop of the day - Hayden's BBQ in Popular Grove, MO
Everywhere you go - construction!
Everywhere you go - construction!
On the road to our next destination - St. Louis!
On the road to our next destination - St. Louis!
Rise and shine in Memphis!
Rise and shine in Memphis!
At our Memphis area campground with our other fellow campers.
At our Memphis area campground with our other fellow campers.
Allen and his camper get all set up in our first big road trip.
Allen and his camper get all set up in our first big road trip.
Rock star parking on Beale Street in Memphis. Thanks Mark Harper!
Rock star parking on Beale Street in Memphis. Thanks Mark Harper!
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 Art Museum had a British Invasion night at the museum. Of course, the Minis were invited to add a little color to the proceedings.
The Milwaukee Art Museum had a British Invasion night at the museum. Of course, the Minis were invited to add a little color to the proceedings.
Corgi!
Corgi!
Chili. Not so British.
Chili. Not so British.
Look! It's Bessie in the Milwaukee Art Museum! This is the closest I'll probably ever get to being a famous artist worthy of a gallery showing. And yes, that's my photo! I don't know where they got it.
Look! It's Bessie in the Milwaukee Art Museum! This is the closest I'll probably ever get to being a famous artist worthy of a gallery showing. And yes, that's my photo! I don't know where they got it.
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.
