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When we gathered at Roaring River State Park in June of 2009 we discussed a 2010 Midwest gathering.

I stuck my hand up and said that I would like to organize the event in the South East part of Minnesota along the Mississippi river and Lake Pepin area. This area basically runs from Red Wing to Winona.

Here is a google map of the area: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=44.358224,-91.980286&spn=0.617597,0.992889&z=10

This weekend a few buddies and I went down to Wabasha MN and spent the whole day touring and coming up with driving routes. Overall it was an excellent day. We found many beautiful rides (I put almost 450 miles on the bike). We tried a few great places to eat. One of the highlights was lunch at "Slipperys" which is the bar and grill made famous in the movie "Grumpy Old Men".

I have maps with the routes on them. I have a few restaurants and other attractions picked out. I intend to make a couple more trips down there to discover more things like hotels, restaurants, etc.

The big thing remaining is to come up with a weekend next spring/early summer to host the event. I will eventually pick a date but would like to open up a discussion so that I can take input from others.

Current thoughts on dates:
* Last Weekend in June (25, 26, 27 June)
* Second Weekend in July (9, 10, 11 July)

Here is an update with some of the routes I took on the Minnesota side:

Red Wing to Hastings and Back:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Main+St&daddr=Hwy+19+Blvd%2FMN-19+to:County+Hwy-7+to:Hwy+61+Blvd%2FUS-61+to:200th+St+E+to:Ravenna+Trail+to:Vermillion+St+to:Hastings+Rd+S%2FUS-61+to:State+Rd+35%2FWI-35+to:State+Rd+35%2FWI-35+to:44.568128,-92.529802&hl=en&geocode=FYQI%20qAIdSAp8-g%3BFQ4NpwIdeC55-g%3BFTkBqAIdg_B4-g%3BFUuOqAIdQWl4-g%3BFXGBqQIdLeR4-g%3BFaBqqgIdvht4-g%3BFcKaqgIdsC53-g%3BFW8UqwIdIxd3-g%3BFd5eqQIdhH56-g%3BFX6QqAIdfCF8-g%3B&mra=mi&mrcr=7&mrsp=10&sz=13&via=2,5&sll=44.588756,-92.558441&sspn=0.087287,0.146084&ie=UTF8&ll=44.658397,-92.673111&spn=0.34873,0.584335&z=11

Red Wing to Frontenac:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Main+St&daddr=Hwy+58+Blvd%2FMN-58+to:County+Hwy-3+to:44.509397,-92.358484&hl=en&geocode=FYQIqAIdSAp8-g%3BFayRpgIdRKp7-g%3BFfo5pgIdJpJ8-g%3B&mra=mi&mrcr=2&mrsp=3&sz=13&sll=44.480585,-92.420082&sspn=0.08745,0.146084&ie=UTF8&ll=44.489893,-92.450123&spn=0.087436,0.146084&z=13

Lake City to Wabasha: (Highway 60 is fantastic)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=US-61&daddr=US-63+to:MN-60+to:US-61&hl=en&geocode=FYjapAId6r-D-g%3BFRi1owIdZL99-g%3BFehmpAId4J-A-g%3BFbUGpQIdupmD-g&mra=mr&via=2&sll=44.299282,-92.186279&sspn=0.350883,0.584335&ie=UTF8&ll=44.352332,-92.262497&spn=0.350566,0.584335&z=11

Wabasha to Winona and back on Wisconsin side:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=US-61&daddr=US-61+to:Hwy-42+NE%2FMN-42+to:County+Hwy-39+to:W+Hwy-248%2FMN-248+to:WI-54+to:WI-35+to:44.416273,-92.008553&hl=en&geocode=FYjapAId6r-D-g%3BFU73owIdxDCE-g%3BFXKkoAIdLnWA-g%3BFSR_oAIdTpiD-g%3BFaznoAIdwOCH-g%3BFZBtoAIdysWJ-g%3BFUytpAIdKFOF-g%3B&mra=mi&mrcr=6&mrsp=7&sz=11&sll=44.314023,-91.94046&sspn=0.350795,0.584335&ie=UTF8&ll=44.227488,-91.764679&am%20p;spn=0.702624,1.168671&z=10

Breakfast was at Liberty's in Red Wing. http://www.libertysonline.com/
Lunch was at Slippery's in Wabasha. http://www.slipperysumr.com/

I'll post the Wisconsin side tomorrow.

Any more thoughts on the dates? Right now any of those are OK by me but I would prefer the July one the best. I would like to arrange my vacation to Door County, Wi. around the gathering so I can kill two birds with one stone. Who else is thinking about going??? Any cheap hotels with secure parking for Se7ens and trailers?? Russ

I think either date should work for me. I plan on attending.

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Mike Stieff

I vote for June

Doesn't matter much to me...I'll be there if at all possible!

-dave

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...nowadays people are so intellectually lazy and lethargic that they can't build ANYTHING with their hands. They'll spend hours watching whiny people marooned on an island, but won't spend a second adding anything to the world. -weconway
Visit my [Locost 7 build log]

How 'bout you Canuks?? The Canada contingent should be there in force, eh?

Pretty sure I will be there. Not too far away from me.

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Graham,
www.earleymotorsports.com

If you guys get this organized I WILL be there. I've never gotten to ride in one, so maybe one of you fellas could give me an opportunity?!?

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Daily Driver: 2006 Cobalt SS/SC
Good in the corners, good in the straights, but it's FWD...
Locost to the rescue!

I am sure that can be arranged.

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Graham,
www.earleymotorsports.com

If in June I'll be there, but the July dates conflict with the truck race at Iowa Speedway, where I work. My car is done (well, driveable anyway...) so I'm good to go. Would be neat to get a good group of us together! I may also take my car on the first day of the Hot Rod Power Tour (Newton, IA to Springfield, IL) on June 5th.

Xromad,

I will be up for the Gathering if it is on June 25, 26, & 27. I am still just looking at the Westfield in my garage and not getting anywhere because of other commitments. Thus I bought a running Stalker and am raring to go somewhere. I have had the car for 3 weeks and have been buried in snow since Christmas Eve. I did get to run it around the neighborhood before it went in the garage but that is it.

I can’t even get a good picture of my old trailer covered with snow, that I have on craigslist, so I can sell it. The forecast in KC is for more cold, snow and below freezing temps in the next 7 day’s.
Harry

Looks like my schedule is filling up a little (lot). The June dates will work better for me now.

Mike

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Mike Stieff

Hi everyone.

I've been out of the loop for a few months.

I did more scouting in the area last fall and am going to start actively working this thread again

Thanks and I look forward to seeing everyone!

Brent

Keeping my eye on this one.

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Ford 5.0 into an M3
mikaelvroom.com | @MikaelVroom