stewartwillsher
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 15, 2017
- Messages
- 1,111
- Reaction score
- 98
- Points
- 48
- Location
- Western Spain and Costa de la Luz
You RCZedders Have my admiration and respect for some of the mammoth trips you do.
In my youth I thought nothing of twelve hour night rallies usually criss-crossing East Anglia.
Also back in those halcyon days of low traffic volumes, extensive driving holidays, either camping or using B&Bs were no effort and a pleasure.
Twelve years ago I did the run from mid-Essex (Braintree) to Western Spain (Jarandilla) in about 24 hours and 2,000kms, stopping for a half an hour or so every couple of hours or thereabouts, with grub and refreshment as appropriate.
That was in a German built Mondeo Estate.
Did it three times - dry run in April via ferry with return, and actual emigration in July by tunnel.
Did similar end of 2010, from Yorkshire, with Zero on trailer (Ifor Williams - the best) loaned by son's father-in-law, behind son's Audi Q5 by ferry.
Shared the driving, but son flaked out before I did.
Don't think I could tackle anything like either of those now.
I would certainly avoid using the Paris Peripherique ever again!
I regularly do Madrid (daughter & family or Barajas airport), sometimes returning the same day, 250kms each way, no probs.
Even the traffic volume on the M40 round Madrid (equivalent to M25 round London) pales into insignificance compared to the real M25.
Our journey South to our holiday home in Rota, several times a year is 500kms each way; stopping twice for grub, etc. we do it in about six hours.
Apart from the failure of the road planners/builders to link the Autovias (Motorways) around Seville, the journey is a breeze with cruise control operating for most of the time.
I will openly admit, without condescension I promise, to feeling sorry for motoring enthusiasts of any type in the UK today.
My trips back to Blighty are getting less frequent, and if possible, as was the case earlier this year, we will use taxis where possible.
Sister-in-law is not too far from Gatwick so that is doable, but son and family are East Riding of Yorkshire, so hire car or long round trip for him.
Our last visit used Liverpool airport, and the journey across the Pennines, not helped by torrential rain, was dreadful, with the M62 closely resembling the M25!
Our earlier returns to the UK would often take in visits to friends and relations in mid-Essex, Surrey/Sussex and Yorkshire.
As the years passed, so that would be from 2005 to present, M23, M25, A12, A11, and A1M, became more like moving car parks, especially with miles and miles of coned off lanes, fifty limits with cameras, and not too much work in progress.
Creeping past Heathrow, or queuing at tunnel/bridge didn't help matters.
Talking of the M25, before retiring, I seemed to land work about fifty miles away or more and often including part of the M25.
I was using chunks of it before it became one huge dodgem car oval.
Even our kids decided to be educated in Camberley, so Braintree round trip was a nightmare going back to pre-completed M25 days.
So, hats off to you all! :clap:
I honestly don't miss my road travels in the UK, but still enjoy "the open road" here in Spain.
In my youth I thought nothing of twelve hour night rallies usually criss-crossing East Anglia.
Also back in those halcyon days of low traffic volumes, extensive driving holidays, either camping or using B&Bs were no effort and a pleasure.
Twelve years ago I did the run from mid-Essex (Braintree) to Western Spain (Jarandilla) in about 24 hours and 2,000kms, stopping for a half an hour or so every couple of hours or thereabouts, with grub and refreshment as appropriate.
That was in a German built Mondeo Estate.
Did it three times - dry run in April via ferry with return, and actual emigration in July by tunnel.
Did similar end of 2010, from Yorkshire, with Zero on trailer (Ifor Williams - the best) loaned by son's father-in-law, behind son's Audi Q5 by ferry.
Shared the driving, but son flaked out before I did.
Don't think I could tackle anything like either of those now.
I would certainly avoid using the Paris Peripherique ever again!
I regularly do Madrid (daughter & family or Barajas airport), sometimes returning the same day, 250kms each way, no probs.
Even the traffic volume on the M40 round Madrid (equivalent to M25 round London) pales into insignificance compared to the real M25.
Our journey South to our holiday home in Rota, several times a year is 500kms each way; stopping twice for grub, etc. we do it in about six hours.
Apart from the failure of the road planners/builders to link the Autovias (Motorways) around Seville, the journey is a breeze with cruise control operating for most of the time.
I will openly admit, without condescension I promise, to feeling sorry for motoring enthusiasts of any type in the UK today.
My trips back to Blighty are getting less frequent, and if possible, as was the case earlier this year, we will use taxis where possible.
Sister-in-law is not too far from Gatwick so that is doable, but son and family are East Riding of Yorkshire, so hire car or long round trip for him.
Our last visit used Liverpool airport, and the journey across the Pennines, not helped by torrential rain, was dreadful, with the M62 closely resembling the M25!
Our earlier returns to the UK would often take in visits to friends and relations in mid-Essex, Surrey/Sussex and Yorkshire.
As the years passed, so that would be from 2005 to present, M23, M25, A12, A11, and A1M, became more like moving car parks, especially with miles and miles of coned off lanes, fifty limits with cameras, and not too much work in progress.
Creeping past Heathrow, or queuing at tunnel/bridge didn't help matters.
Talking of the M25, before retiring, I seemed to land work about fifty miles away or more and often including part of the M25.
I was using chunks of it before it became one huge dodgem car oval.
Even our kids decided to be educated in Camberley, so Braintree round trip was a nightmare going back to pre-completed M25 days.
So, hats off to you all! :clap:
I honestly don't miss my road travels in the UK, but still enjoy "the open road" here in Spain.
