a weekend away

[Wingco]

OK OK OK, Here we go,
Day 1
But first I would like to say a few thank you’s. This was the first time I had organised anything like this and it was a bit daunting. So thanks to Martin and his lovely wife Mandy for their help, Tony for the ITN's they were the very best, they had everything. Also to Jane, Tony’s lovely wife for their hospitality and use of their facilities.

Friday, meet up day, I cocked that up big style. We were supposed to meet, Martin, Mandy, Dave, Wendy and Dave and Bev at Redhill at 10am. So we left at 8.45am, but hadn't heard about the M25 being up the shoot until we were leaving. M25 chocker and so was the A25. So after a detour via the A21, Penshurst, and Godstone, we eventually arrived at Tony and Jane’s in Guildford an hour late. So after a quick coffee, loo break and being introduced to everyone, we left.
We got going following Tony, but before we got as far as Newbury, the first of the mishaps occurred. Doh the car died on me, right in a very narrow road and how flaming busy was that road. Cement mixers, horse boxes and any other form of transport you could think of, had to squeeze past us, but sadly no sign of a mechanic!! Dave had stopped and Martin had come back to help, and after a few scratching of heads, it was decided the problem was electrical. So me being me, I didn't check, the obvious, and after fitting a new crank sensor, a coil, there was still nothing. I should have checked fuses, because I would have noticed a wire hanging down and a spade terminal with no wire on it – oops!!
So we are now very late, so Sat Nav changed to go direct to the Hotel. There was no time for Lunch, so we stopped for petrol and a McShite. We noticed the clouds getting darker. Some of you may know, my car, doesn’t have a Wind Screen, Doors or a roof, but with waterproofs on, we drove on. It rained and rained and it got so bad we pulled off the road and sheltered under a tree, with the umbrella up, and all we could do was wait. After a brief conversation with the good lady wife (who I got to say had not moaned a bit), we decided to push on. We were not that far from the hotel, and arrived at about 5pm. Everyone else had got there before us, including Richard and Liz all the way from Manchester.
After a rest and hot bath we all met down stairs in the bar as you do for a beer then we ventured off to town. I had booked a restaurant called the Country Kitchen for 7.30. The restaurant was a quirky place, crossed between a tea room and restaurant but great food. We were made very welcome and we all had a great time.
Back to the Hotel for a beer of course, we retied to our room among the wet clothes and equipment.


Day 2 to follow

[Red27]

Sounds like a typical SKCC trip so far. Getting a soaking... check. Breakdown.... check. Impromptu loo stops. ... check. On thd fly route changes.... check. Beer.....check

Been following Boris's adventure on FB, so I know you did get some decent weather as well. Glad you all got back safely and had a great time.

[Nash]

Well played Chaps and chapeses. I have to ask as we are all interested to know, where the better halves still enthusiastic by the end of the trip or was it too raw for them?

...... Neil

[Wingco]

This was the first for both of us Linda so if that's a typical skcc trip then I feel a lot better now.

Neil I can only speak for Sue, she loved it, yep I did say that. I thought she would bail out but no she kept me sain and as a female skccer sort of she will be back for more.
What I will ask Neil is what water proofs do you use please, I think I might invest in some.

[Fury1630]

I have to ask as we are all interested to know, where the better halves still enthusiastic by the end of the trip or was it too raw for them?

Well, being the "WAGs Weekend" it was designed around the laydees, so nice hotel, plentiful coffee / leg stretch stops, going through pretty villages rather than avoiding them, later starts as we wouldn't be full on blatting. But yes, Jane said she really enjoyed it & would be looking to go again - as long as she's got a new seat (WAGs Weekend joke ).

For us, the format was:-
Nice town
a single comfortable hotel
100 - 150 mile days with 4 - 5 stops for coffee / cake
Scenery / places to look at

[Martin S]

Agree with tony about the trip.....mandy really enjoyed it.....tho she mentioned if we do it next year she would like to go a day earlier

[Fury1630]

WAGs Weekend II
Don't wish to tread on anyone's toes, but while we're thinking about it Jane & I had a couple of ideas over a bottle of Prosecco when we got back:-

Cheltenham / Gloucester - scope there for another couple of routes yet.
Canterbury - maybe a bit close to home for the Men of Kent?
Peak District / Buxton - a couple of hours of M40, but worthwhile.

Maybe one extra day? Jane would've liked to look round the city a little more (shopping), anyone who doesn't want to (the men) can go proper blatting?

A bit left field perhaps, but a few expressed an interest in the French Rallye, we could maybe go a couple of days early, spend time in a French city (Lille is in the right sort of area), do the Rallye, come home?

Discuss

[Matth93]

what water proofs do you use please, I think I might invest in some.

I have these http://www.merlinbikegear.com/products/ ... ombi-suit/

You do still get a little bit through in a heavy rainstorm but it's much better. I got them at Getgeared in leatherhead they were on a deal just before the roadtrip for £59

Steve on the roadtrip had a motorbike waterproof onesie

[Wingco]

Day 2
Saturday was going to be the best day. The route Tony had done look fantastic, going in and out of Wales with some fantastic roads and stop point for some photos and coffee.
Breakfast at 8.30, by the cars by 9.30 go by 10.00. The weather was nice and sunny and we all had a smile on our faces. So I took the lead and set a reasonable pace so we could all stretch our legs, one dodgy way point, but it wouldn’t be an SKCC trip without that. Now I have done some narrow lanes before on a SKCC blatt on a Sunday, but this was narrow. In fact just slightly wider than my car with grass growing in the centre and I don’t think this has been used for a long time. Martin was still following me, and it seems we had lost the rest some time ago. Our first stop was the Inn on the Wye, a stunning pub/ restaurant with a nice view of some castle ruins; this is where Richard took the couples photos. By now we were in Wales.
We got going again and the next stop was Tintern Abbey for lunch, but that depended on the time really. I again headed out leading the pack, but after a while I said that couldn’t see anyone else – these Sat Navs do give different directions!! So Sue and I ploughed on. Monmouth was very busy with plenty of traffic, and the clouds started to gather but the road was under loads of overhanging trees. It got a bit darker, so we pulled over and put our wet weather gear on. We got to the Abbey and waited for the rest, when I received a text from Martin saying that one of the cars had a problem. The bottom ball joint had popped out of the wishbone, and yep I was the only who had the only 19mm spanner among us. So back we went, and when we got back to Monmouth it started to rain. We stopped in some heavy traffic, so as we were moving slowly, we put up the umbrella. The car in front stopped and the driver got out and said “Sorry but I just had to take your picture”. As we got going the rain got heavier, and we got very wet. I couldn’t see more than 30 yards in front of me, just following the brake lights of the car in front. We saw 3 of the cars and they let us know where the other 2 were. When we found them, again it started to rain. Umbrellas up and between, Martin, Dave and myself, we fixed the ball joint. Off we went, and the heavens opened. I have never seen so much rain. Driving was impossible, but somehow we got back to Tintern Abbey. We drove round the car parks but we couldn’t see the others. We drove on a bit further and found a lay-by to stop in and the sun came out. Poor Sue was wet through and I thought she would get out of the car there and then and not get back in, but she didn’t. Some dry clothes were found from Mandy and Wendy and Martin lent her his SKCC Jacket, my sat nav had given up with all the rain so i had to follow. By now all 3 of us needed some fuel, and I said that there was no point in going on further, and the others agreed, especially as Dave was a bit unsure of how his car was. We drove on and hit the M4, where we came upon a service station. We got some much needed warm food and hot drinks, petrol and the inevitable loo stop.
After much discussion, we worked out the quickest way back and off we went. Crossing the Severn Bridge and back into England and up the M5. I must say a road sign saying Bristol to London 120 miles, looked quite inviting. Ominously, Sue pointed to the sky and to say the clouds were black was an understatement. It stated to rain again and again it was so heavy, we couldn’t see. So the only way to get out of the rain was to shelter under a road bridge. Martin stopped behind us, and up went the umbrella. Suddenly a police car appeared behind Martin. After some discussion with Martin, saying how dangerous it was, they agreed they would stay with us until it eased off.
We arrived back at the hotel at about 4.30pm, very cold and wet, but not disheartened.
Tony and Jane, Dave and Bev and Richard and Liz all made the complete route and said what a great time they had.
That evening, we had a lovely meal in the hotel and a great chat with all out tails of the day.

Day 3 to follow

[DJ.]

Great write up Colin