Lunch Run to Niffer’s

On Saturday, December 3, 2011, British Motoring Club members and guests met at the Burlington Coat Factory parking lot for a lunch run to Niffer’s on Lake Martin. It was a beautiful late-fall day with high temperatures reaching the mid-sixties. Our route up took us up US 231N to Redland Road, Flat Rock Road, Cherokee Trail, Alabama  highways 229, 50, and 49. We had ten British cars with fourteen friends:

 
BMC members:
  • David Price, ’59 MGA
  • Bobby Gunter, ’63 Austin Healey 3000 Mk II
  • Bob & Marion Smith, ’74 MGB
  • Andy Martin, Triumph TR6
  • Ron & Lyn Pardo, ’92 Jaguar XJS V-12
  • Nani Bhalla, ’08 Lotus Elise Type 25 Jim Clark Edition
  • Tracy Bhalla, ’10 Jaguar XF
  • Russell Whigham, ’10 MINI Cooper S
And guests:
  • Bill & Mary Steffan, ’07 MINI Cooper S
  • Cris & Mitch Moody, ’07 MINI Cooper S
Bob & Marion had a prior commitment for a house blessing that just happened to be just off Redland Road, so they peeled off there and caught up with us at Niffer’s a little later. Redland Road has always been a good drive, but it’s even better with the fresh layer of asphalt.   Ron and Lyn met us at Niffer’s as well. The Bhallas were a little late getting away, but caught up with us at the Walnut Hill intersection.
 

We arrived at Niffer’s well ahead of schedule, despite a “rolling speed bump” along some of the better sections of highway 50, and were among Niffer’s first lunch customers. They seated us together and made quick work of taking orders and serving. It probably helped that Ron, as a frequent diner, was on a first-name basis with our server. With appetites and thirsts slaked, we strolled back out to the parking lot to enjoy the sun and exchange some postprandial Little British Car tales.

The first leg of our trip home was back down highways 49 and 50 then south on Lovelady Road, Elkins Road, and Macedonia Road. We had a nice drive here except for another 45MPH escort for a little too long. It was then on to Alabama highway 14W through East Tallassee and across the curved truss bridge below Thurlow Dam into Tallassee where we were separated by an uncooperative traffic light. We regrouped as we turned onto on Rifle Range Road, and ran parallel to the Tallapoosa River. It was just before the Redland Road intersection that we met another Lotus Elise headed east. It looked like the same Elise that Bill Mitchell brought to the car show.

And finally, on to US 231 S and back home in time to be back in front of the TV for the SEC championship game. Good weather, good friends, good food, good ride, and good day.

Here are some photos.