The date has been set in stone for the annual MidCal MINIs Morro Bay / Paso Robles / Winery Run. As in years past, the group of MINIs will head over to the coast by taking Highway 41 to the twisties on Highway 46 with a stop at Rotta Winery for some wine tasting. The date has been set for September 14th with the band of merry MINIs departing the Starbucks at 41 and Shaw at 8:00 a.m. The group will begin assembling at about 7:45 a.m. to coordinate and set walkie talkies on the same frequency. (These are important when traveling in a large group as it helps to keep us together, so don’t forget yours!)

The MINIs will arrive at the Winery at approximately 11:00 a.m.  Upon arrival there is a $5.00 wine tasting fee which will be credited toward any purchase you make in the winery store.  This year lunch will be a BYOL (Bring Your Own Lunch).  RSVPs will be needed no later than September 9th.

ROTTA WINERY

Rotta Winery, in Templeton California is located west of Hwy 101, just south of Hwy 46, at 250 Winery Road. The group spends several hours at the winery and then it is every MINI for itself. Several of the MINIs in the past have headed over to Cambria, Morro Bay, Hearst Castle and other nearby locations for the night and to take in some local sites and events, while others have headed back home.

Rotta Winery, founded in 1908 by the Rotta Family, is the only remaining family owned “original” winery in San Luis Obispo County. Mike Giubbini, grandson to the Rotta Family and Mark Caporale of Napa, combined their talents to “bring back to life” the historic and rustic winery. Today, Rotta Winery, just as in days of old, specializes in premium red and white wines along with flavorful and distinct dessert wines. The 20-acre Rotta estate vineyard has 15 acres in Zinfandel and five in Cabernet Sauvignon. For now the Rotta label is focusing on red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Merlot, and Black Monukka– a dessert wine and Zinfandel Port. All of the fruit for the label is being sourced from local vineyards, especially those from the Westside.

For those traveling to the coastal area for the first time, below is just a bit of history related to the area.

MORRO BAY

Morro Bay, a favorite of the MINI group, generally provides the much needed cooler weather for those from Fresno who have endured enough  days of temps over 100 degrees. Now predominately a tourist town, Morro Bay was founded by Franklin Riley in 1870 as a port for the export of dairy and ranch products. He was instrumental in the building of a wharf which has now become the Embarcadero. During the 1870s, schooners could often be seen at the Embarcadero picking up wool, potatoes, barley, and dairy products. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the town has been a center for beach holidays. Tourism is the city’s largest industry. The most popular beach is on the north side of Morro Rock, north of the harbor. There are also excellent beaches north and south of the town which are now owned by the State of California.

In the 1940s, Morro Bay developed an abalone fishing industry. Having peaked in 1957, stocks of abalone have now declined significantly due to overfishing, it remains a fishing port for halibut, sole, rockfish, albacore, and many other species for both commercial and sport vessels. The town now combines the fishing industry with coastal tourism. In addition, oysters are farmed artificially in the shallow back bay.

CAMBRIA

Another coastal area popular with folks living inland is Cambria. Early settlers were drawn to the area by its fertile lands, streams, and lumber. Additionally, miners were attracted to the area by the 1862 discovery of cinnabar, the mineral in which quicksilver is found. For awhile, Cambria was a boomtown, with $280,000 worth of quicksilver shipped out of San Simeon between 1867-70.

Originally an American settlement called Slab Town, it was centered at Leffingwell cove of today’s north Moonstone Beach, which also housed a wharf. As lumber, ranching and Quicksilver (mercury) mining increased in the area, the village adopted the more dignified name of Cambria, influence by a local transplant surveyor from Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

Other notable locations in the town include the historical Old Santa Rosa Chapel which was built in 1870, and as one of the oldest churches in the county of San Luis Obispo, held Catholic mass until May 26, 1963. The church fell into neglect until 1978, when the chapel and cemetery were restored.

The primary economic activity of Cambria is tourism. Located on the Pacific Ocean the area has rocky cliffs and beaches. There are many hotels and bed & breakfasts, especially along Moonstone Beach Drive. Cambria is home to the Cambria Historical Museum in the historic East Village and Hearst Castle is located approximately six miles north of Cambria with the Northern Elephant Seal rookery at Piedras Blancas just fifteen miles north.

A favorite spot for visitors to Cambria is the J. Patrick House. J. Patrick House Bed & Breakfast Inn is an authentic Early American-style log home decorated in country decor and features a garden tucked in the forest, and a charming carriage house with eight guest rooms with fireplaces and private baths offered. A full breakfast and evening wine and hors d’ouvres are included, and if you are lucky enough, you might even have the Stuffed French toast with Pure Maple syrup!

So if you are looking for cooler weather, an easy drive with twisties thrown in and perhaps a night out of town, this is your run.

Friday night at Mother Mary’s was a reunion of sorts with numerous MidCal MINI members getting re-acquainted with other Club members separated this year by a host of summer activities that kept us all occupied with non-MINI activities.  The MINI event also welcomed several new MINI owners eager to share their passion with other MINI lovers.  Club President Tina Kell announced that several club members will be assisting her with organizing events aid in planning and coordination responsibilities.  Tina’s time is appropriately being fully absorbed by her daughter and our youngest club member Zoie these days.  Jon Brothers, Steve Phillips and Robert Fisher will be assisting in planning runs, coordinating dates and reaching out to other Club members for ideas and suggestions for MidCal events.  We want to hear what Club members are interested in, but  more importantly, this is your Club and members are encouraged to take part in assisting with Club events as well.  The group is looking to organize various types of events which appeal to those who love to drive the curves, those who don’t, those looking for car care information and anything else the members would like to see on the Club roster of events.  Tina reviewed upcoming events for the balance of 2013 and shared a preview of preliminary items calendared for 2014.  She also handed out a suggestion form and asked attendees to share ideas, thoughts and suggestions for what the group would like to see in 2014.

Something new in 2014 will be the “cross-pollination” of the MidCal group with the Valley British Auto Club and the invitation for the two groups to share information on runs and events that each club organizes.  One such combined event that has been a favorite of the MidCal group has been the tradition of participating in the annual Clovis British Car Round Up celebrating the British car hobby in the Central San Joaquin Valley. The Car Roundup is held once a year on the last weekend in September and is sponsored by the Valley British Auto Club. This year the Roundup celebrates its 11th Anniversary and continues its tradition of offering car enthusiasts the opportunity to see up close, British cars from around the state. Cars built-in England like Triumph, MG, Jaguar, Healey, Range Rover, Austin, Morris, Sunbeam, Riley, Lotus and MINI/Mini Cooper all out for a day of friendly competition. The car show held in conjunction with the annual Clovis Antique and Collectibles Fair provides attendees with plenty to see and do and is enhanced by the number of restaurants, coffee houses, live music and exceptional antiques and collectibles all within walking distance of the car show.  This year the event will be on September 28th and 29th.  More information can be found at http://www.valleybritish.org/.

The MidCal  group was also asked whether or not there is interest in holding the Annual Whoa Nellie Deli Run since participation has dwindled over the last several years.  This is a long run but if have never been, it is worth going at least once.  Saturday, October 12th has been tentatively selected as the date for the annual Tioga Pass Run to the World Famous Whoa Nellie Deli.  In the past the Fresno contingent meets at Starbuck’s at Shaw just east of 41 at 7 am. At 7:30 am sharp,  the group leaves to caravan to the second meeting location in Oakhurst and then rendezvous at about 8:00 – 8:15. The Oakhurst meeting location is the Raley’s Parking lot on the corner of HWY 41 & HWY 49. After a brief pit stop, the expanding caravan heads back onto 41 and takes the scenic drive through the edge of Yosemite National Park. Upon entering the park and paying the $20 entry fee it is then on to Tuolumne Meadows and over Tioga Pass into the town of Lee Vining and the Famous “Whoa Nellie Deli”!

The Whoa Nellie Deli is located in a Mobil gas station on a hilltop just west of the intersection of U.S. Route 395 and California State Route 120, one mile south of the business district of the small town of Lee Vining, California. (22 Vista Point Road, Lee Vining CA.)  Geographically, this location is where the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada meets the western edge of the Great Basin. Mount Dana and other High Sierra peaks are visible to the west. The eastern entrance of Yosemite National Park, located at Tioga Pass, is 12 miles to the west. Mono Lake, a uniquely salty and mineral saturated body of water, is visible from the restaurant to the northeast. The gas station also offers a gift shop, a small grocery store, and picnic facilities. Live musical performances are featured about 30 times each year from late spring to early autumn, usually on Thursday and Sunday evenings. The restaurant is closed in the winter.

Also discussed was either an alternative run to the Whoa Nellie Deli or an additional run on October 19th.  This run would be in the Bass Lake Powerhouse area , so what this site for more information.

And of course the Annual MidCal  MINIs Christmas Party was announced for December 14th.  Tom and Tina (MINIEOR) are hosting another Annual MidCal MINI Potluck Christmas Party.   The party will again have an early start to extend the time to enjoy the beautiful California foothill scenery, wonderful weather and to enhance  quality chat time with your MINI family. All are welcomed to stay as long as you want and those partaking of the Holiday libations (drinking) and those not wanting to drive home, are encouraged to bring a sleeping bag and to stay the night. There are two bedrooms available, one with a futon and one with an air bed (with first come – first serve, so early sign up will be encouraged) and of course the living room floor is once again open for business.  The party venue also has room for someone to bring a trailer or motor home however there are no hookups.

As per tradition for those wishing to participate, there is the ever popular gift exchange. The ONLY RULES: Don’t spend more than $20 to $25 and preferably something with a MINI theme (for a MINI or having to do with a MINI or even for the MINI owner).

Watch this website for more information on each of the above referenced events with even more to come.  A calendar of currently proposed events for 2014 will be posted in the next few days.

Hey all MidCal MINIs, don’t forget that the club meeting for August is Friday, August 23rd at 6:30 p.m. at a new location.  Join us at Mother Mary’s Italian Kitchen and Pizzeria, located at 1345 North Willow, Clovis. If you have not heard, their claim to fame is daily fresh dough and sauce made from scratch! Please RSVP no later than Friday, August 16th.    This is a new location and we would like to give them as much of an early head count as possible; we don’t want to be banned from ever coming back after only one meeting! Please note that the meeting is one week later than usual. Mark your calendar now, so you don’t forget!

We have 22 people signed up so far with lots of new members!  It has been a while since we have all gotten together so let’s make this a great get-together.  This will be a big planning meeting with lots of items and scheduling being put on the table. We hope this to be a very productive night with a new system being introduced to assist in the organization of the MidCal group. Come with your ideas for meetings, events, runs, scheduling and anything else you can think of. Come be a part of the planning for the MidCal group as we head into our Fall and Winter season.

WHAT: MidCal MINI’s Monthly Meeting:

WHEN: Friday, August 23, 2013 @ 6:30PM

WHERE: Mother Mary’s: 1345 N Willow Ave Clovis, CA 93611

DIRECTIONS: Take 41 to Nees and then head east to North Willow. Make a left turn onto North Willow, turning right into the parking lot.

PARKING: Look for all the MINIs!

RSVP: mcm@midcalminis.org