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Avenue of the Giants Weekend Run - Sat. March 23, 2024

Saturday will be a very full day of cruising from Novato up through the Avenue of the Giants and ending at Eel River Brewing in Fortuna. Sun...

Mt. Hamilton Run for Absent Friends















DATE:
Sunday April 15, 2018
 
MEETING/DEPARTURE TIME: 
9:30am / 10:00am

Starbucks
2707 McKee Rd, San Jose, CA 95127

ROUTE:
https://goo.gl/maps/8ddQvWepC5t

Hello NorCal Friends!
 
Join us for the NorCal MINIs annual Mt. Hamilton Run for Absent Friends to remember loved ones who have passed. This charity run benefits the American Cancer Society and the Valley Humane Society. 

We are dedicating this year’s run to long time NorCal MINIs member Tom Geiger who passed away last June. He was a member since July 2007. Many of you will remember Tom and his wife Didi from the runs over the years.

Of all the routes driven on the NorCal runs, this annual run is one of the most challenging to drive. Be cautious on Mt. Hamilton Road. The drive is scenic, but the road is narrow in some areas and has many sharp curves. Fill up BEFORE meeting in the morning. There are no gasoline or automotive services at Mt. Hamilton or anywhere along the road outside of San Jose until we arrive in Livermore. Caution is also advised on Mines Road leading to Livermore. Mines Road is less than a 2 lane road in some places, and there can be standing water covering parts of the road.

This year's run will start in San Jose. Meeting at 9:30am at:  2707 McKee Rd, San Jose, CA 95127 . Drivers meeting at 9:45am. Departing at 10:00am. From there, we will drive up to Mt. Hamilton with the run ending in Livermore. For those interested, we will meet for lunch after the run at:

First Street Alehouse
2106 First St, Livermore, CA 94550

https://www.firststreetalehouse.com/ 


We don't have a reservation for the group. For groups, they expect a prepayment for a buffet. There are other places in the area for those wanting a different option for lunch.

As always for this run, the charities for this run are the American Cancer Society, and the Valley Humane Society. Please donate directly to both at these web sites:

American Cancer Society -

https://www.crowdrise.com/2018-norcal-minis-run-for-absent-friends

Valley Humane Society -

http://donate.valleyhumane.org/campaigns/6459-2018-norcal-minis-run-for-absent-friends

The County Road Department claims Highway 130 is open only on Sundays during construction. Passable through 2 one lane road sections about 7 miles East of Mt. Hamilton. If the road is open, we'll proceed to Livermore as planned. However, in case it is not open, we will have to double back over Mt. Hamilton. We have worked out a double back route back toward San Jose to end the run at The Great Mall in Milpitas instead. We can gather at Dave and Buster's at the mall afterward.

This is the Alternate Route for the run if we have to double back from Mt. Hamilton. SAME new Starting Place and Meeting Time as above:

https://goo.gl/maps/tUSWN17NG5J2

Hopefully, we can run the intended route, but be prepared for this alternate route in case the road is closed.

Apologies, but the roads in the mountains are still recovering from last Winter's rains, and road construction is hard to anticipate.

Just for fun drive to the pub!!! (Non-official NorCal event)



















DATE/TIME: Sunday March 25th @ 9:30 AM

MEET UP: Pleasant Hill City Hall, 100 Gregory Ln, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523

As the club made a decision to postpone the Mt Hamilton run due to road safety - one of our new members, Michel Charest, has offered to host a drive from Pleasant Hill to Cameron's Pub on Hwy1 in Half Moon Bay.
This is a non-official club event but is intended as an alternative drive for those who had made plans to support the original dive this weekend.

 
The route will take us across the Bay Bridge, through the city and down Hwy 1 past Pacifica. On arrival at Cameron's we can grab a bite to eat before heading off home
 

https://goo.gl/maps/Ah65hwRMHLr
 
Thank you Michel for stepping up and proposing this drive.

 
Please along your charged radios on the day


Paso Robles/Solvang Weekend Run (w/a-MINI-zing Race 2) Run






 











DATE:  
Saturday April 28, 2018 - Sunday April 29, 2018

MEETING/DEPARTURE TIME:
 
Mini of Stevens Creek

Meet up at 7:45 am leave dealership at 8:30 am

Park at the dealership (they are clearing out the front for NorCal).

Gas up before arriving. There is a 76 gas station across from the dealership (corner of Stevens Creek and Kiely).
 
Dealership to provide coffee and Danish.

ROUTE:


FIRST LEG - Mini of Stevens Creek to San Luis Obispo:

Since this will be a long day we will take 101 for a good portion. 3 hrs approx. @ 190 miles traveled.


Gas stop and lunch 1 hour in San Luis Obispo.
2 Gas Stations and food and the four corners of intersection.

296 Santa Rosa St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
 
https://goo.gl/maps/HXjYDHUnfRn


SECOND LEG- San Luis Obispo to Buellton:
 
https://goo.gl/maps/4BR9oMNYTFR2


ABOUT THE RUN:

Join us on a fun run south to Solvang. This overnight trip will have lots of sights along the way and at our final destination. Solvang has a rich Danish heritage. Founded by Danish immigrants in 1911, Solvang boasts authentic architecture, thatched roofs, old-world craftsmanship and traditional windmills.Named by Sunset magazine as one of the "10 Most Beautiful Small Towns in the Western United States," Solvang's rich heritage dates back to 1911 when adventurous Danish-Americans traversed the plains from Iowa to establish a settlement in the golden state of California. Over 1 million visitors come each year to experience the northern European culture, cuisine and unique boutique shopping. The pedestrian-friendly village hosts three museums, 15 inns and hotels, a full-service guest ranch, meeting facilities, 30+ restaurants and bakeries, 150 retail shops and the Solvang Theaterfest, an alfresco 700-seat theater. The feature film "Sideways" was filmed in Solvang and highlighted the regions' celebrated world-class wines.

The Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau staffs a Visitors Center in Downtown Solvang. Visitor Center, open 7 days a week, 9 AM - 5 PM, is located at:
 

1639 Copenhagen Drive
Solvang, California 93463 
Phone - 805-688-6144


Where to stay:

 

http://www.solvangusa.com/where-to-stay/

Hotels in area that will do one night reservation:

Holiday Inn Solvang 805.688.2018
Solvang Garden Boutique 805.688.4404
Quality Inn Buellton 805.688.0022
Anderson Pea Soup Inn Buellton 508.688.3216
Santa Ynez Marriott Buellton 805.688.100

Rates range from $125 to $225 depending on room type.  I would call and make reservation if you are considering the run.  All other hotel require 2 night stay for weekends.



Hike for Hope (with SVM)




















DATE:
Saturday May 19, 2018

MEETING PLACE and TIME:
8:00AM

Del Valle Regional Park
7000 Del Valle Rd, Livermore, California 94550

https://goo.gl/maps/rXWF5HUNv7E2

Hope Hospice is a non-profit organization based in in Dublin who provide respite care for terminally ill people. This organization relies on events such as the Hike for Hope to acquire funds to provide the much needed care to the patients.. Details about Hope Hospice can be found at:

https://www.hopehospice.com/
 

NorCal Mini's and Silicon Valley Mini's have joined forces to support this event and as a result will be entering a team aptly named "MINI's 4 Hope". Please can I urge as many of you as possible to sign up to the team at:

http://events.hopehospice.com/site/TR/Hike/General?team_id=1670&pg=team&fr_id=1120
 
Last time we did this in 2016 - we managed to win the trophy for the most money collected by a community organization. It would be great if we could do this again.

 
The walk itself - will be proceeded by a short drive. If you cannot make the walk itself - then you can still donate to the team funds.

 
Any questions - please PM me on Facebook. Thanks Simon.