Jim and Joanne Tuckwood treated 40+ BMC members to a delightful weekend event beginning in Platteville, driving through beautiful and curvy roads of southwestern Wisconsin, a bit of Iowa, and a bit of Illinois. Jim and Marcy Hotz, the consummate Sweeps kept the group together despite a couple of missed signals. Hank Netzinger and Terry Rieck helped in the planning of a really great Miata event, too.

We arrived on Friday evening, most of us staying at a very nice, new Holiday Inn Express while others stayed elsewhere. Since "Steve's Pizza" is just across the street from the HIE, we gathered there for some food and lots of conversation and laughter. Of course we had a "guys table" and a "gals table" so that each group could focus on its favorite topics, including the inevitable stories of various updated body parts and wellness/illness issues. As I said, we laughed a lot! We ended the night early and looked forward to the good free breakfast at HIE followed by the 8:30am drivers' meeting.

Once out of Platteville, we traveled at a leisurely pace which enabled the drivers to see the surrounding scenery while still keeping eyes on the roads. Spectacular vistas of rolling hills, valleys of lush vegetation, cows (mostly Angus) grazing contently, and fields of cornstalks and soybeans. Along with the blue skies and occasional clouds, it was a panorama of color.

Unfortunately, our visit to Bellevue State Park wasn't as restful as it could have been due to the ravenous mosquitoes!! Still, we enjoyed the view of the Mississippi River town of Bellevue, Iowa.

We had lunch at the "world-famous" Poopy's near Savanah, Illinois. It had become hot and more humid as the day moved on, so the large and numerous fans in the outdoor restaurant were welcomed (kept the flies and mosquitoes away, too!). Thanks to Tuckwoods for an exceptional Miata event!