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June 28th, 2003
How many Minis can fit onto the Bolivar
Ferry? (answer below)
Don't expect an essay here, people. I'm too
exhausted to string two coherent sentences together. |
Members and prospective members of the HMMS
met at Kelley's for breakfast. I counted 4 Coopers and 11 Cooper S's. VooD handed out two poker cards to anyone who came up
with $5. |
We motored to
Bolivar via Anahuac. HMMS
President FlyBoy (currently on probation for purchasing a large truck --
"it's for my wife," he pleads) led the convoy. Bill
from Austin joined us en route to increase the count to sixteen. |
 We stopped at a Shell station, but only one Mini needed petrol.
The station owner looked rather sad, so John bought a bottle of water. |
The road from Anahuac to Bolivar was all ours, and the
Miniacs in front of me took advantage of this by standing on
their accelerators rather than slowing down to look for alligators. I
saw a fisherman's hat blow off as the
Miniac two cars ahead of me swept over a rural bridge.
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When
we reached Bolivar the traffic was heavier and, ignoring John's
restrained impatience (oxymoron?), I was almost last in the convoy. I really
didn't understand the need to overtake large cars and trucks which were already
travelling at 70 mph. Other Minis thought differently, and Wendy and
I were passed by three of them. A certain chili red Mini in front of
me actually smoked its tyres pulling away from an intersection. |
We stopped for lunch at Stingaree
Restaurant. VooD distributed two more poker cards each.
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Fortunately, Frankie (yellow Mini) arrived from
Brookshire with his
owners. I've said this before and will say it again: Mini
meets are dull without the presence of a yellow Mini. You yellow
owners have an obligation to show up for these events. |
Our Minis waited patiently in the Stingaree car park. |
 The
restaurant was on the water. Not only did we have a great view, but
the food was excellent. I had delicious soft shell crabs and two
Stingaritas which knocked me so sideways that I had to hand Wendy's keys
to John (once they'd been found). |
Probably due to the change in drivers, Wendy kept up with the convoy after lunch. |
In fact, some of the Minis were so slow we had to stop and wait . . .
(yawn) . . . (toes tapping) . . . |
. . . and wait for them to catch up. |
Here we are on the ferry (from Bolivar to Galveston). |
Here we are (still on the ferry) |
And here we are again (guess where) |
This is TheInca's Mini (Atualpa). For you foreigners, that's a
Texas flag. He installed it himself and he can still open his
sunroof. I sat inside and could see the light coming through
the flag. Absolutely cool!
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Wendy was the only Mini to have chocks behind her wheels. I
didn't understand why. Was she given the responsibility of holding
back all the Minis in front of her from rolling into the sea if the ferry
tipped up longways? |
 When
we reached Galveston we stopped to say "good bye" in a
Walgreen's car park. VooD distributed our remaining poker
cards. In spite of holding a full house, I still didn't win. |
Some stayed in Galveston for the Art Parade and some headed home to
Houston. Here's Frankie heading up I-45. |
We didn't take any
more pictures, and I think I'd have been killed if I'd taken one of John
driving Wendy through the "exact change" lane on Beltway
8. Since when did the toll go up to $2? Has anyone ever tried
to reverse out of one of these lanes when they find themselves a dollar
short? And why do people have to be in such a hurry and get their
knickers in such a twist when they find themselves behind a car that needs
to do this? Heck, it's the weekend. Lighten up!
The Mini handbook suggests that Mini owners pay the toll
of the car following them. HAH!
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| John
and I and Wendy had a blast. It was like a two-week
vacation jampacked into one day. Every aspect of it was fun.
I only wish I could remember everyone's names and had a picture of
everyone's Mini. If you were there yesterday and have a picture, please
send it to me so I can add it to this page.
And now for the answer you've all been anxiously
awaiting: 97
The Bolivar Ferry holds 85 standard cars.
There are three lanes on each side, so that makes 14 cars per lane plus 1. We lined up
13 Minis in an outside lane but had room for three more if we hadn't left
gaps, so that means there's
room for 96 Minis plus one. Perhaps by this time next year we'll be able to
put my calculations to the test. |
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| OUR NEXT TRIP WILL
BE TO THE DR PEPPER MUSEUM NEAR WACO |
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