The BMWCCA Wine Country Tour will assemble in two locations for those in the northern counties and those in the southern

We have the first hurdle of our Washington DC trip planned. We have chosen the Marriott Fairview Park (3111 Fairview Park Drive Falls Church, VA, 22042) as our hotel of choice this year. Our plan will be to arrive at the hotel and stay Friday and Saturday night, April 15 and 16. http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/WASFP

The Drive to Washington will be similar to the route last year, leaving Friday morning from the Cracker Barrel @ Rt76 and Rt 44 in Rootstown. Departure time is @ 8 AM. I'll try to mix the route up a bit so it's somewhat different for the folks that came last year. One change this year is staying in just one hotel so we wouldn't have to pack again and move Saturday morning. That's nice, but makes the drive a tad longer on Friday.

Dinner Friday will be at Copeland's in the vicinity of Centreville, VA, a New Orleans's style restaurant. There may be a evening top down drive around the sites of DC after dinner followed by some time in the hotel bar (depending on weather, the events and tiredness of the day).

Saturday, everyone is free to see and do whatever they wish. We'll gather together on Saturday evening in time for a group dinner at 7:30 in the Washington Harbor area at Tony and Joe's, http://www.tonyandjoes.com.

The Zs plan to leave DC on Sunday about 9 AM which will get folks back to NE Ohio around 4 or 5 PM.

Please call and reserve your room. The room rate is $84 plus tax and other typical charges. Mention the Ohio BMW Roadster Room Block to get this rate. Marriott reservations at 1 (800) 228-9290 or (703) 849-9400. Feel free to stay another day or two. The hotel would love to have you. They do have suites available if you are interested. Not at the same price, but available. If you experience problems getting a non-smoking room with the 800 #, just call the hotel directly.

Reservations by attendees must be received on or before Friday, April 01, 2005. After the Cut-Off Date, the hotel will review the reservations for the Event, release the unreserved rooms for general sale, and determine whether or not it can accept reservations based on a space and rate-available basis at this group rate after this date .

Please let me know if you are going with us. Jeff.ball@alltel.com. Restaurants that take reservations are scarce and we need accurate counts or risk being in line.

Here's the standard boilerplate from the DC Spring Weekender. Please join us for the entire trip or just the part that's convenient for you. Bring along all the Zs that you can find. Dress appropriately for the temperature because we drive regardless of weather. Don't forget sunscreen and sun glasses if it's bright. Have a full tank of gas to start the drive. Bring your Talkabouts tuned to channel 7,5. Be sure the camera has batteries or film. Remember your tank of gas donation for Make A Wish.