Short-notice road trip?

[OJ...]

Thought I'd generate support for a quick roadtrip this weekend.
Dep Glasgow Fri 1400 ( in time to hit all the Bank Holiday traffic).Stopover in Suffolk for a few hours and then on to Central London (empty a flat of it's contents) and drive back to Glasgow via Suffolk and Kent on Sunday evening (to catch the traffic) A round trip of about 1300 miles providing I don't get lost. Rather than take the Porker I think a transit will be less comfortable so I'll take that. Anyone else got similarly stupid ideas this weekend?

[paulqv]

I was down south last weekend and Friday was a disaster on the M6! It took me 7.5 hours to get to Birmingham!!! Would have saved an hour had I taken the toll road but needed to stop of in the city first!
There were queues from junction 26-17 DESPITE what AA roadwatch was saying. For a friday I would rather go down the east side on the M1!! I hate the M6!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Paul

[Easty-5]

paulqv said:

I was down south last weekend and Friday was a disaster on the M6! It took me 7.5 hours to get to Birmingham!!! Would have saved an hour had I taken the toll road but needed to stop of in the city first!
There were queues from junction 26-17 DESPITE what AA roadwatch was saying. For a friday I would rather go down the east side on the M1!! I hate the M6!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Paul

I was drove down to West London last week and came back via Birmingham. I ALWAYS take the toll road. Saves so much time. Especially as the average speed on the road is about 90mph.

[kmm]

I thought for a minute you were going to organise a wee run this weekend. It's more than a wee run, don't think i can make this one...sure i'm busy!!!

I didn't know you were into a bit of robbery? Or do you know the person who's flat it is? You have a dodgy accent, could be your flat!!

If it was nearer and you weren't leaving so early on the Friday, i would offer a helping hand to humf some stuff for you.
Hope all goes well for you.

[OJ...]

Thanks Kenny. Very kind offer but I wouldn't wish this road trip on anyone as mentioned above. Didn't you know I pay for my fuel by being Britain's finest Cat Burgler!

That said I did Central London via the M6 a couple of weeks back in less than 6 hours (leaving London at 8pm) but fully expect this trip to be much longer...

[Craigie]

Easty-5 said:

paulqv said:

I was down south last weekend and Friday was a disaster on the M6! It took me 7.5 hours to get to Birmingham!!! Would have saved an hour had I taken the toll road but needed to stop of in the city first!
There were queues from junction 26-17 DESPITE what AA roadwatch was saying. For a friday I would rather go down the east side on the M1!! I hate the M6!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Paul

I was drove down to West London last week and came back via Birmingham. I ALWAYS take the toll road. Saves so much time. Especially as the average speed on the road is about 90mph.

One of the police camera type shows a couple of weeks ago had a major focus on the police activity on the toll road and how many speeders they were catching.....

[paulqv]

What is noticeable on my many many trips by car south, is that invariably there is a camera van on the near deserted m74 at it's quietest sections and none on the very busy parts of the M6! clearly it is more dangerous to do 82+mph on a quiet road than a busy worn out section with multiple accidents suchas junctions 21-17 of the M6!!
I always carry a road angel to clearly show my speed and try very hard to drive at a legalish speed well inside the camera van trip point of 82mph
I have noticed a few 'blitz' campains recently in England with marked and unmarked cars on the M6. some new BMW black/ grey estate cars; black 5 series saloons all very difficult to spot!
The toll road has always been a fav spot for mobile laser and think they still use the first and last bridges?
Paul

[OlberJ]

Last time i picked up a Camry in Portsmouth, the drive back up was fantastic. It didn't take anywhere near as long as it should.

Leave lunchtime friday and you're sorted. Don't fancy your trip much though OJ.

I'm flitting a whole garage worth of tools and crap this weekend into a garage smaller than the one i've got just now. Anyone good at origami?

[MartinD]

Also heading down to London this weekend. Leaving Edinburgher around 6pm on Saturday night heading into central-south London. Love this drive

[OJ...]

Well, 1350 miles later white van man is back in Scotland and slowly recovering from a tortuous 72 hours driving, loading and unloading in a variety of locations around the South of England. Loved the A66 over the Pennines in the sunshine with wonderful views and disliked the A1 intensely (because its such a crap road, with roadworks and there were high winds on the way back on Sunday which gave me the willies everytime the van rocked). Must recommend Clarksons who I got the van from - they dropped it off the night before (which was ideal because it allowed me to pack it up early), clean, and overall a really good service. Cost me c.£80 (incl. VAT) for the jumbo-size van and I will certainly use them again. Very helpful staff.