A Beautiful Island Drive

What a gorgeous day. From the time we gathered at the capital until we put the cars away into the garage, we just could not have asked for a better day. Not only was the weather great, but we didn't have any bugs to contend with, either. I don't know if it was the slight breeze, or the earlier-in-the-month timing of the event, or maybe the midges don't fly about on Sunday. Whatever the reason, the lack of bugs and the great weather made for a wonderful drive.

The Salt Lake bunch included 12 cars, plus a few other club members who stopped in at the capital to see us off. It was fun leading the pack from Salt Lake up I-15 at a steady 55 with little traffic for us to worry about. We were able to 'fly in formation' without any non-Brit cars getting into the line. It looked and felt just like a parade.

Another three cars joined us in Layton at the meeting point behind the Burger King. After a bit of talk and looking at the cars, we had Jon Hermance sound the horn and we drove out to the island. It was there that we learned that the causeway fee is now $9 instead of last year's $8. But no one complained, probably because it such a nice day.

After we crossed the causeway, we drove to the Garr ranch for lunch. I was looking forward to that road over to the ranch. It's smooth but twisty, with a few hills, made just to order for our cars. But to my disappointment, we got behind someone who obeyed the 25 MPH speed limit. And there was just enough oncoming traffic and bicycle traffic to keep us from passing. So the whole group of us had to follow along. I nearly cried. On the plus side, Roger Davis reported seeing some antelope, and someone mentioned that they rebuilt an SU during the slow drive.

At the ranch, we pulled a few picnic tables together and had lunch. After lunch, we played a rousing game of Great Salt Lake trivia, which included a few new questions along with the ones from previous years. The commotion got the attention of the ranger, who helped flesh out some of the more sensational trivia questions, such as the story of a certain prisoner who was banished to an island, and
who disappeared a few weeks later. Some think he died in the harsh climate. Or drowned trying to swim to shore. But it's entirely possible he bought a basket-case MG, retired to the garage to put it together and hasn't been seen since.

After leaving the ranch, we headed around the island in a clockwise fashion --- and caught up with the same slooow pickup that we followed to the ranch. We visited Buffalo Point, then drove past the beach, and finally, back to the marina and onto the causeway for the drive home.

Sharing the fun were: Clayton and Sharon Merchant, Barb and John Progress, Michael and Mary Scoggins, Nathan Massie, Paul and Elizabeth Jaroch (and Wiley), Roger and Jill Davis, Kent Topham, Rob and Nan Green, Jon and Susan Hermance; Brandon and Shellie Prusse, Mike and Sharon Bailey, Larry Farrington, Rich and Don Goodman, Becky and Mike Chambers, and Pam and Kimberly Owens (the Mini Girls).

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