Just finished planning the “MINI Meander”, an easy drive from MINI Peabody around Cape Ann, finishing at Woodmans in Essex. It will be similar to the 2002 drive but a longer version of the route.
Here is the route for MINI Meander 2003 – printed directions & maps will be provided before the start!
The first section of the drive takes us from MINI Peabody to our first stop at West Beach in Beverly
Please zero your trip counter before beginning this section!
There is a lot of traffic on route 1; Exiting MINI Peabody is tricky – but the long section of route 128 (2 or 3 lanes) will allow ample time for everyone to gather together.
| DISTANCE | Directions (comments) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (1) | 0 | RIGHT. 1 south out of MINI Peabody | |||||
| Merge with 95 – stay to right! | |||||||
| 1.6 | Bear right off 1 to 95/128 North | ||||||
| 2.1 | Stay left on 95/128 ramps, for north directions |
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| 2.7 | Merge onto 95/128 North | ||||||
| CAREFUL: 128 splits from 95 – follow 128 (avoid rightmost lane) | |||||||
| 3.4 | Now on 128 north signed “Gloucester” | ||||||
| GROUP TOGETHER HERE! | |||||||
| Follow 128 north to exit 17 | |||||||
| 10.5 | (Gas) | ||||||
| 13.4 | EXIT 17. Right onto Grapevine Rd (signed “Endicott College” at STOP) | ||||||
| 14 | “Welcome to Beverly” | ||||||
| 15.3 | TIGHT TURNS | ||||||
| Roadworks – holes in road (“proceed at own risk”) | |||||||
| 15.5 | STOP. Right over rail crossing onto 127 South | ||||||
| LEFT into West Beach | |||||||
| (2) | PHOTOS! | ||||||
The second section of the drive is the main tour, through Manchester, Gloucester and Rockport, ending in Essex
Please zero your trip counter before beginning this section!
| DISTANCE | Directions (comments) | |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Right back onto 127 North; over rail crossing again | |
| 0.7 | “Entering Manchester” | |
| 1.8 | SLOW. Road bears right through town | |
| 2.1 | Road turns right, then immediate left into Summer St | |
| 2.3 | Road bears right – still 127 North | |
| 2.9 | Under Rail bridge | |
| 3.7 | RIGHT. Ocean St (as road bears left) | |
| (3) | 4.3 | Stop on road in second bay for PHOTOS! |
| 4.5 | RIGHT. Back onto 127 North | |
| 4.9 | Duck pond on left | |
| 5.4 | LEFT at + junction into Magnolia Ave (immediately after pedestrian crossing) | |
| 7.3 | Bear right under bridge | |
| Beware raised manhole covers | ||
| 7.5 | LEFT onto 133 | |
| Regroup on right | ||
| 8.4 | LEFT. 128 North signed “Gloucester” | |
| 10.3 | Over A.Piatt Andrew Bridge | |
| 11.1 | YIELD AT ROTARY. Right into Washington St | |
| 11.4 | RIGHT. Centennial Ave (“Georges Coffee Shop” on corner) | |
| 12 | LEFT onto Stacy Boulevard | |
| 12.1 | MAN AT WHEEL statue (Stacy Boulevard) | |
| (4) | PEOPLE PHOTOS! | |
| Through Gloucester on route 127 | ||
| 12.5 | RESTROOM STOP! Parking in front of Gloucester House Restaurant; restrooms to rear | |
| 13.4 | Lights. Junction with 128. Right turn signed “East Gloucester / Rocky Neck” | |
| Harbor Views | ||
| (5) | 14.9 | Niles Beach – view to Boston! |
| 15.5 | Sharp left turn | |
| Atlantic coastline. Beware Joggers / Cyclists | ||
| Two Sisters Island (twin lighthouses) | ||
| 17.5 | STOP. Straight over onto 127A signed “Rockport” | |
| 18.8 | “Entering Rockport” | |
| 21.7 | Rockport town – 20mph. Yield to pedestrians! | |
| 22.1 | Follow “THRU TRAFFIC” past Bear Skin Neck | |
| 22.3 | RIGHT FORK into Bridge St | |
| (6) | 22.6 | Back Beach |
| 22.7 | STOP. Right onto 127 North signed “Pigeon Cove / Annisquam” | |
| 23 | Right into Wharf Rd to Old Granite Pier | |
| (7) | PHOTOS | |
| 23.5 | Right out of Wharf Rd back onto 127 | |
| 24.1 | Past Cape Ann Tool Company | |
| 25.2 | Pigeon Cove | |
| 25.4 | “Entering Gloucester” | |
| 26.4 | TIGHT TURNS – Lanesville (residential) | |
| 27 | Plum Cove | |
| 27.95 | TIGHT TURNS – Annisquam | |
| 29.5 | (Gee Ave on left!) | |
| 30.9 | YIELD AT ROTARY. Right onto 128 South | |
| Over A.Piatt Andrew Bridge | ||
| 32.5 | EXIT 13. Right onto Concord St | |
| BEWARE potholes – risk of wheel damage | ||
| 34.3 | TIGHT TURNS | |
| 35.1 | VERY VERY BUMPY! | |
| 35.4 | Right fork over Lawrence Parsons Memorial Bridge | |
| 35.9 | Past Conomo Point Road (omit scenic loop (8) due to road conditions) | |
| 36.4 | STOP. Right onto 133 | |
| (9) | “Red Barrel” pub across road (classic Mini) | |
| 37 | Essex River views | |
| (10) | 37.8 | LEFT TURN INTO WOODMANS – parking at rear |
This section describes the easy return to route 128, for people not joining Keith after lunch
| Back to 128 from Woodmans: | ||
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Right onto 133 | |
| 0.2 | First right onto Southern Ave signed “Manchester” | |
| 3.1 | Left onto 128 south – all roads (Boston, 95, 93, etc) |
M&I / GBMINI 