[bmwexecutive]

Guys, if you're looking for a good photo opp. we should meet just under the Memorial Causeway that you take over to Clearwater Beach. That's where I took the pictures in the link in my signature. In order to get to that area you have to take the road aside Coachman Park and it leads to a parking lot underneath the bridge. As you can see from my pics, great place to take pictures. I say we all line up our cars and take a group photo there.

[Nikki]

Originally Posted by bmwexecutive

Guys, if you're looking for a good photo opp. we should meet just under the Memorial Causeway that you take over to Clearwater Beach. That's where I took the pictures in the link in my signature. In order to get to that area you have to take the road aside Coachman Park and it leads to a parking lot underneath the bridge. As you can see from my pics, great place to take pictures. I say we all line up our cars and take a group photo there.

Ok maybe that is the one I am talking about lol

[Ninjaneer]

Originally Posted by Nikki

Ok maybe that is the one I am talking about lol

Cool, I liked that area in bmwexec's pics before.

Ok so now I have a question: should we visit Memorial Causeway before or after Ft. DeSoto? Check out the map from Guppy's to the beach (MAP HERE), it's only 6 miles away (~12 mins). If we go to DeSoto first, then all the way back to the beach, it's about 45-50 mins each way (and that trip would look like this MAP).

The plan was to catch the sunset at Ft. DeSoto. Are afternoon shots at the causeway what we want (it would save on time and gas I think)? Or night shots after DeSoto (and an equal trip back where we started essentially). Either way is fine with me, just speak up so we can agree on the plan.

BTW: I updated the map for DeSoto in the meet/initial posts, had Guppy's map twice by mistake.

[Nikki]

I was originally thinking night shots at the bridge because the lights on them look fantastic. Day shots would just be eh I think. I know meeting up at the Memorial Causeway is a little far but it is a driving meet right? I love driving around that area because I can actually drive compared to the boring straight bumper to bumper traffic roads here.

[Ninjaneer]

Originally Posted by Nikki

I was originally thinking night shots at the bridge because the lights on them look fantastic. Day shots would just be eh I think. I know meeting up at the Memorial Causeway is a little far but it is a driving meet right? I love driving around that area because I can actually drive compared to the boring straight bumper to bumper traffic roads here.

I'm interested in some nice night shots too. My agenda times are estimates, so who knows, we might get done with minigolf / food earlier, head over to DeSoto and chill there till sunset (which is around 5:40 lately). Take enough sunset / car shots and maybe we'd make it to the causeway by 7:30ish or 8ish depending on how long we take after sunset and traffic.

[bmwexecutive]

Originally Posted by Ninjaneer

Cool, I liked that area in bmwexec's pics before.

Ok so now I have a question: should we visit Memorial Causeway before or after Ft. DeSoto? Check out the map from Guppy's to the beach (MAP HERE), it's only 6 miles away (~12 mins). If we go to DeSoto first, then all the way back to the beach, it's about 45-50 mins each way (and that trip would look like this MAP).

The plan was to catch the sunset at Ft. DeSoto. Are afternoon shots at the causeway what we want (it would save on time and gas I think)? Or night shots after DeSoto (and an equal trip back where we started essentially). Either way is fine with me, just speak up so we can agree on the plan.

BTW: I updated the map for DeSoto in the meet/initial posts, had Guppy's map twice by mistake.

You have to take the Memorial Causeway to get to Guppy's. Unless you're coming from Indian Rocks Beach, there is no way around it as that is the main hub to Clearwater Beach. Therefore, before we go to Guppy's we could meet under the bridge. If we're all starving though, lets just go to Guppy's, go back over the bridge to take the pictures underneath and then cross is again to go to Ft. Desoto. There's plenty of time. It takes about 2 or 3 minutes to get across Memorial Causeway---it's a short bridge.

[bmwexecutive]

Ninjaneer, you're bringing your 335i, aren't you? Better hid it from me or I'll cry. Just kidding. I'd love to drive it though. Not sure how you are when it comes to other people driving your car. To be fair, I don't let anyone drive mine. But maybe you will since I'm a graduate of the 2-Day Driving School at the BMW Performance Center.

[Ninjaneer]

Originally Posted by bmwexecutive

Ninjaneer, you're bringing your 335i, aren't you? Better hid it from me or I'll cry. Just kidding. I'd love to drive it though. Not sure how you are when it comes to other people driving your car. To be fair, I don't let anyone drive mine. But maybe you will since I'm a graduate of the 2-Day Driving School at the BMW Performance Center.

I knew I should've kept my '96 Nissan 200SX

Yep, I'll be in my 335i (my only car). I'm really not too comfortable with letting others drive it though, sorry If I say yes then maybe someone else will want to... then I could start charging $50/10 mins and profit... hmmm

I wanna check out the driving school. I regret not doing PDC but the timing wasn't right and my Nissan was falling apart so I couldn't wait any longer.

BTW in response to your earlier question, I don't have a V1. Was planning to get one and do the hardwire mod, but haven't gotten around to it and so far, despite short bursts of speed, I've been pretty safe.

[bmwexecutive]

Originally Posted by Ninjaneer

BTW in response to your earlier question, I don't have a V1. Was planning to get one and do the hardwire mod, but haven't gotten around to it and so far, despite short bursts of speed, I've been pretty safe.

Same here. I seem to have a knack for spotting police from miles away. I usually have a cop in my sights a full 30 seconds (long time when driving... 1......2......3......4.....) before my buddys do. I think there have only been two times when a cop snuck up on me and I didn't see him coming. Luckily, I wasn't stopped.

[bmwexecutive]

Originally Posted by Ninjaneer

I knew I should've kept my '96 Nissan 200SX

Yep, I'll be in my 335i (my only car). I'm really not too comfortable with letting others drive it though, sorry If I say yes then maybe someone else will want to... then I could start charging $50/10 mins and profit... hmmm

^^^*animation in your signature*^^^ Is that what you do to someone that screws with your car?

[Ninjaneer]

Originally Posted by bmwexecutive

^^^*animation in your signature*^^^ Is that what you do to someone that screws with your car?

LOL! I dunno what I'd do if someone messed with it I am a black belt though, so beware haha

One of these days I'll get around to making a real sig.

[bmwexecutive]

Originally Posted by Ninjaneer

LOL! I dunno what I'd do if someone messed with it I am a black belt though, so beware haha

One of these days I'll get around to making a real sig.

I am a blue belt. Blue looks cooler than black so I can take you.

[Ninjaneer]

Originally Posted by bmwexecutive

You have to take the Memorial Causeway to get to Guppy's. Unless you're coming from Indian Rocks Beach, there is no way around it as that is the main hub to Clearwater Beach. Therefore, before we go to Guppy's we could meet under the bridge. If we're all starving though, lets just go to Guppy's, go back over the bridge to take the pictures underneath and then cross is again to go to Ft. Desoto. There's plenty of time. It takes about 2 or 3 minutes to get across Memorial Causeway---it's a short bridge.

bmwexec: could you give more details about the causeway location? Where to go to get under, is there an opening to get there from either side of the bridge? All I can get for a map are driving directions from Guppy's to Clearwater Beach, and the causeway is right there.

I think it'd be better to meet for minigolf / Guppy's as an easier location to start off the meet and find each other, then head on over to the causeway after that.

[Driv3r]

uhhhhhh, all this guppys here, memorial there, desoto right over ther!?! this is a long agenda! whoah

[Ninjaneer]

Originally Posted by Driv3r

uhhhhhh, all this guppys here, memorial there, desoto right over ther!?! this is a long agenda! whoah

The only long part will be the drive to DeSoto, about 45 mins, but it will be worth it. Everything else is no more than ~10 mins apart.

[bmwexecutive]

Originally Posted by Ninjaneer

bmwexec: could you give more details about the causeway location? Where to go to get under, is there an opening to get there from either side of the bridge? All I can get for a map are driving directions from Guppy's to Clearwater Beach, and the causeway is right there.

I think it'd be better to meet for minigolf / Guppy's as an easier location to start off the meet and find each other, then head on over to the causeway after that.

Just get to Coachman Park. Once you're there follow the road around the bend---head towards the water and you'll see it. It's about 1,000 feet from Coachman Park.

[bmwexecutive]

Hey anybody want a 5 series iDrive Knob for their car? If I've got at least two people interested I'll give you guys a special deal because I won't have to ship them and I can just bring them to you.

Ninjaneer, you know you want one for your 335i.

Here are pictures: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...=idrive+series

PM me if you're interested.

[Ninjaneer]

UPDATE

The agenda has been updated. Please check the initial post or meet post.

We'll meet up at the mini-golf location, which is right next to the Memorial Causeway... so it makes sense to head over there right after it, then we can head down to Guppy's. From there we'll go to Ft. DeSoto.

We could alter our route, versus the driving directions I posted a link for to make use of US-19 (or I-275) from Guppy's to Ft. DeSoto, but I'm not sure about this yet. Doing so looks like it adds 10 miles to the trip and some extra time. I think the benefit of US-19 / I-275 is 2-3 lanes, while the current route is a 2 lane road.

[Nikki]

wait, the mini golf and restaurant are like 1/4 mile if that from each other, why would we leave and then go back?

[ZuerstBMW]

Originally Posted by bmwexecutive

Hey anybody want a 5 series iDrive Knob for their car? If I've got at least two people interested I'll give you guys a special deal because I won't have to ship them and I can just bring them to you.

Ninjaneer, you know you want one for your 335i.

Here are pictures: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...=idrive+series

PM me if you're interested.

I love my knob, its one of my most fav. mods to date.
Any other cool mods Logan?
Thanks for the update Ninjaneer.

[Ninjaneer]

Originally Posted by Nikki

wait, the mini golf and restaurant are like 1/4 mile if that from each other, why would we leave and then go back?

We can change it up. Hmm maybe I will again lol

When I looked at the map, minigolf is right next to the causeway. Guppy's is south, then we got to go back north to get to the causeway. Originally I actually had it where the causeway was after Guppy's since I didn't know if we should push the food out so far.

Everything is REALLY close to each other, ~10 mins apart, so it's really easy to change it up on the fly once we're there. Nothing is set in stone

* edit: if we go to Guppy's then the causeway we can continue to US-19 and head down to Ft. DeSoto. Either way works, and I think US-19 or I-275 will give us more breathing room than the other road.

*edit #2: btw it shows up as 5.2 miles apart (MAP from Mini-golf to Guppy's), that's what I used to come up with the order

[Nikki]

Oh we were talking about different bridges, ok I guess that is fine.