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13th October 2005, 08:19
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#1 (permalink)
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m5board.comoholic (>1000 posts)
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It's The Great Pumpkin!: Z8/M5s In Pursuit Of Autumn's Splendor(MANY PICS)
Yes, that IS the Great Pumpkin in the background, but I am getting ahead of myself...
Autumn is a splendid season. The crisp early morning air and haze giving way to a day of brilliant sunshine and vivid blue skies. The pastoral countryside splashed with the rich palette of Fall foliage and laced with winding ribbons of asphalt. It was in pursuit of this ephemeral treat for the senses that we undertook a full day of driving the backroads of Southeastern Minnesota and Western Wisconsin this past Sunday.
Driving in formation on The Great River Road. Minnesota side of the Mississippi.
Stacey and Charmille in their stunning and perfectly detailed '03 Carbon Black beast.
Side by side on The Great River Road. Thanks to Skip and Tracy for this photo.
Along a narrow and winding country road, Stacey/Charmille on point.
The dense canopy and intermittent sunshine made for moody lighting on this little road, parts of which were recently repaired with fresh asphalt.
Too many 2nd and 3rd gear corners to count.
Dappled sunlight...
...giving way to grey overcast skies.
Just as I was cursing the cloud cover, the sun re-appeared for a brief moment. I was beginning to worry that the entire day would be overcast.
The Z8 looks great in ANY light.
Fleeting sunlight dramatically illuminated part of the valley below.
Roadside break. Taking in the fresh morning air, moody skies and bucolic splendor.
Moving out again. Many more country roads to explore and hoping the sun will drench the landscape soon.
Patience rewarded!
Bathed in color. Unfortunately I had to keep my eyes on the road.
Someone was in a hurry to get to lunch. Picture taken by Skip's wife Tracy. Note top speed mark of ONLY 155!
Along the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi, heading for lunch at the Pier 4 Cafe in Alma.
In front of the Alma Area Museum following lunch. The ladies attended a Quilt Show within. Luckily for the fellows it was ONLY an exhibition and not a sale.
Back on the attack after lunch. This was a perfect road, covered here by a towering canopy of majestic oaks.
Many elevation changes and off-camber corners on this little road that seemed to go nowhere.
At speed...
On the descent to a tight, 2nd gear corner.
Approaching the corner.
Diving into the corner.
Amongst a sea of leaves.
Stacey starting the turn-in.
Approaching an uphill left-hander.
A final reflection. We ended the day with a stop at a road-side pumpkin patch, and came home with a trunk full of gourds and pumpkins of different sizes and colors, as well as a bundle of 7-8 foot long corn-flower stalks that I managed to fit into the trunk thanks to the trunk pass-through and ski sack.
We were blessed to be able to spend a glorious day driving the backroads of Minnesota and Wisconsin with fellow enthusiasts, enjoying our wonderful Bavarian machines in Autumn's splendor. Although Winter will soon be upon us, we are already looking forward to another great season of driving that Spring will usher in...
Thank you for reading.
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Al
2003 M5 CB/Silverstone (all options except spoiler deletion), HOME AT LAST!
2008 X5 4.8i Sport Space Gray/Tobacco/Bamboo
2002 540ia Sapphire Black
2004 FX35
1999 MB ML430 (3rd row seats)
1992 Jeep Grand Cherokee
1981 320i 5-speed Henna Red
Last edited by schnelleM5; 13th October 2005 at 08:35.
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13th October 2005, 08:48
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#2 (permalink)
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Member, P500 Sport, MDM on (>800)
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Re: It's The Great Pumpkin!: Z8/M5s In Pursuit Of Autumn's Splendor(MANY PICS)
Nice pics, its always good to see someone tearing up the Mn backroads, thanks for sharing, Josh
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I just love the smell of JP-5 in the morning
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13th October 2005, 08:50
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#3 (permalink)
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m5board.comoholic (>1000 posts)
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Re: It's The Great Pumpkin!: Z8/M5s In Pursuit Of Autumn's Splendor(MANY PICS)
Great write up and pictures! Thanks for sharing.
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Kevin
2002 M5, Sterling Gray/Caramel
2007 M Coupe, Silver/Black
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13th October 2005, 09:02
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#4 (permalink)
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Re: It's The Great Pumpkin!: Z8/M5s In Pursuit Of Autumn's Splendor(MANY PICS)
Al, you did it again with yet another spectacular driving report. Many thanks!
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13th October 2005, 09:41
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#5 (permalink)
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Re: It's The Great Pumpkin!: Z8/M5s In Pursuit Of Autumn's Splendor(MANY PICS)
Awesome pictures (as usual) Al - I especially like the one with the leaves 
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Ashok
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13th October 2005, 10:05
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#6 (permalink)
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Re: It's The Great Pumpkin!: Z8/M5s In Pursuit Of Autumn's Splendor(MANY PICS)
loved the pictures and the story! Especially liked the picture of the cars "amongst a sea of leaves". Would you mind sending me a full res copy?? paologaspar @ shaw . ca
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Paolo Gaspar
"Aerodynamics ... is for people who can't build engines"
- Enzo Ferrari
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13th October 2005, 11:10
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#7 (permalink)
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Re: It's The Great Pumpkin!: Z8/M5s In Pursuit Of Autumn's Splendor(MANY PICS)
Its always a pleasure viewing your story & pictures of your road trips.
Many Thanks for sharing.
C.
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13th October 2005, 12:40
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#8 (permalink)
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Re: It's The Great Pumpkin!: Z8/M5s In Pursuit Of Autumn's Splendor(MANY PICS)
What I wouldnt give to hear three different S62's at full song while their drivers play on some great roads. Wonderful pics as usual, and another fantastic writeup.
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-Brendan
'01 540/6
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13th October 2005, 16:50
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#9 (permalink)
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Re: It's The Great Pumpkin!: Z8/M5s In Pursuit Of Autumn's Splendor(MANY PICS)
That M-color Ferrari-esque fender shield badge is interesting... Never seen that before...
-Matthew
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13th October 2005, 17:02
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#10 (permalink)
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Re: It's The Great Pumpkin!: Z8/M5s In Pursuit Of Autumn's Splendor(MANY PICS)
Great pictures, thanks for sharing. You have to love the foliage and crispness this time of year.
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