Off darn Sarf
 

Off to a wedding in Essex leaving this Thursday for a Friday wedding. Are there any precautions I need to take? Am I likely to catch UKIP fever there this time of year with an election on the horizon? Are St George's Cross number plates compulsory? Should I be taking a white van?

Mr D: It's 411 miles to Great Dunmow, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark... and we're wearing sunglasses.

Mrs D: Hit it.

probably need to take at least one fuel stop then;)

Are your jabs up to date? Lol

Dunmow is lovely anyway.

It's a splendid place, famous for bacon - the Dunmow Flitch and all that.

Mate of mine (lives 150 yards away) has a daughter who is a teacher and lives there.
Guess what her husband is?

Yep, pig farmer! :ROFL:

If you're using the A1, then there's roadworks from Scotch Corner for about 20 miles with average speed cams.

That was the plan, thanks for the update Richard.

I am afraid it will take a tank and a bit - even with my cautious ;) driving! I never go above 95.

Have you packed your white stilettos?

As you come off the A1 to join the A14 towards the M11 you'll run into a permanent specs installation which goes on for miles and miles from the A1 to the start of the M11. That section of the A14 is a notorious accident black spot, so keep your eyes peeled.

The section of the A1(M) passed peterborough is nice and wide at 4 lanes, usually quiet and frequented by unmarked cars because its used regularly by certain motorists who like to see how fast their car can go.

Hopefully you'll have exited the A1 before you run into the miles of 60/50 limit with Gatso and Truvelo cameras.

What? :Confused:

You never seen The Blues Brother?

Thanks for that. It sounds like a great journey ahead :( .....

Sarg: I'll check the wife's luggage for contraband. +++

What about sun cream, Jake?

If you use the M1, there's also a long run of roadworks from just south of Leeds to past Sheffield.

Its dark, Dezzy.
Nice to hear from you. Where you been hiding?

Long is a feckin understatement. Its a joke.....

And then there's another long stretch further down.

Its *that* bad I nearly considered taking a train.

//nearly//.... :D

i nearly chose to fly to Stanstead but wanted the flexibility. Now you are making me wish I had chosen easyjet even tho it means being treated like cattle. :(

Let's face it, the UK roads are so fecked up, it doesn't matter where you go or which route you take, you're gonna hit roadworks and/or average speed cameras somewhere.

Roadworks I can live with, it's the freakin cameras that p!$$ me off - and how come some people seem to shoot through them well over the speed limit and seemingly get away with it? That annoys me that little bit more :mad: :mad: :mad:

Oh yeah of course, sorry i wasn't paying attention.

I've been living in the back of the Sprinter van of love, i'm a new age hippy or whatever they're called. I have Chumbawamba and The Wonder Stuff on my wireless and everything. But i don't have any wireless so no internet and therefore no Forum. Also moved house (not doing that again) just needed a bit of work, full rewire, walls ceilings skimmed and decorating top to bottom.

So many posts you guys have made for me to go through and a few newbies too +++
I'll try to keep my neck wound in :D

Just topped up with fuel - DIS shows 400miles. Well, am I feeling lucky? :rolleyes:

You would have been ok. . . .until the roadworks of doom all mess that up good and proper lol

welcome back Dezzy, hope we see you in Wales this year, some nice livestock round those parts for you country boys;)

The roadworks may help... the mpg, not the blood pressure

Ooow, David, you know how to chat me up. Fingers crossed we'll be there, well some of us the boy will be sitting his exams so one down. Daughters birthday too that wk-end so going to have a chat about it at the wk-end when i'm home. I think the zip wire would be a good birthday excursion.

Well, Back home after 850 miles round trip. The info about the A1 was right. Just as you turn onto it from the A66 its all road works and a highways agency vehicle turned down it right ahead of me and then put on the "Do Not Pass" (Obviously has Gandalf Syndrome) and then stuck in the centre of the two lanes at 15mph holding up a 2 mile long queue for 10miles before turning off. There was NOTHING going on and the road was clear ahead for as far as the eye could see. WTF?? :Confused:

Took the A14 and M6 home. The A1 is just too fecked up. :)

I'd always choose that route from the South-East to Glasgow/West of Scotland - it may be about 30 miles longer, and though not perfect, it's much, much better.

That it is. Chose the A66/A1 for the scenery :o Crossing the N York moors is always a treat.