Basingstoke PHers (and anyone else) April Drive
Discussion
Basingstoke Pistonhead Readers April Showers Run.
Sunday 14th April: The Plan.
10:30am Meet
Meet at Spruce Goose Car Park in the Basingstoke Leisure Centre. Not the most beautiful of venues to meet up but everyone from Basingstoke knows where it is - and everyone from outside can find it. Contact me if you need directions/help - you can e-mail me from my PH profile. Its a nice big car park. I propose we meet up as close to the Spruce Goose as possible.
11:00am. Drive Time. Approx 1hr. www.dwmhughes.demon.co.uk/bigmap.jpg
Drive (roughly) the following route. Out of Basingstoke down the A339 to Alton. (Listed in Tiff Needell's Best British Roads special in this months Autocar.). This is the quickest bit - which can be enjoyed at legal speeds
. Watch out for drivers losing patience with numpties and overtaking where there isn't an opportunity. If we get stuck behind an impassable queue - we get stuck. By repute bikers love it so we may meet some of them. Oh: the local coppers know its a good road so, although I've never seen them, its worth bearing that in mind whilst flooring it in the straights.
Scenery's lovely rolling Hampshire hills etc etc. We get to Alton and almost immediately turn left back towards South Warnborough up the B3349. The first section of this road is quite quick. Once we turn left off the B3349 for the villages its a different story. These are real little country roads chosen for prettiness not speed. Relax: cruise. The route passes through Upton Grey requiring a tight left then right for Tunworth. The next section is scenic in a villagey sort of way - thatched roofs, Hampshire redbrick construction, etc before we get out of the village and follow a (very) twisting road looking for signs for Mapledurwell. On a sharp left hand bend the route turns off into a junction on the right signposted Mapledurwell. A short way down the next road and its a left turn, also signposted Mapledurwell, that's very easy to miss. The route follows the road into picturesque Mapledurwell - the Gamekeepers being on the right.
After we've stopped for some refreshment its easy to get back to the beaten track. Turn right out of the pub car park and follow the road back into Basingstoke.
NB: My Chimaera had no trouble at all on all of the roads used. Some are a bit rough though and some can, obviously, be a bit muddy. These ARE country roads after all. So don't get too upset if the pride and joy gains a few muddy smears. No lasting harm will be done. It was wet and horrible on Easter Sunday when I scouted out the route and I did manage to lose rear wheel traction under brisk acceleration - and this was quite entertaining! If its wet: be please be careful particularly where that bane of country driving is present - poo.
12:00 noon. Arrive Gamekeepers. www.thegamekeepers.co.uk
Park the cars up. There is plenty of room for a good few cars if we arrive early enough. Photo opportunity? Beer. Chat. Nosh. Bugger off to wherever you need to get back to.
LOGISTICS.
The Gamekeepers need us to book ahead - and as soon as possible. So I need a reasonably accurate idea of the numbers involved. So if you want to come - please say so now.
So...Who's up for it, then. Replies on this thread. Don't chicken on me now or I'll feel like a right twit. If anyone has any additional suggestions please feel free to HELP.
LETS HOPE ITS SUNNY!
Sunday 14th April: The Plan.
10:30am Meet
Meet at Spruce Goose Car Park in the Basingstoke Leisure Centre. Not the most beautiful of venues to meet up but everyone from Basingstoke knows where it is - and everyone from outside can find it. Contact me if you need directions/help - you can e-mail me from my PH profile. Its a nice big car park. I propose we meet up as close to the Spruce Goose as possible.
11:00am. Drive Time. Approx 1hr. www.dwmhughes.demon.co.uk/bigmap.jpg
Drive (roughly) the following route. Out of Basingstoke down the A339 to Alton. (Listed in Tiff Needell's Best British Roads special in this months Autocar.). This is the quickest bit - which can be enjoyed at legal speeds
. Watch out for drivers losing patience with numpties and overtaking where there isn't an opportunity. If we get stuck behind an impassable queue - we get stuck. By repute bikers love it so we may meet some of them. Oh: the local coppers know its a good road so, although I've never seen them, its worth bearing that in mind whilst flooring it in the straights. Scenery's lovely rolling Hampshire hills etc etc. We get to Alton and almost immediately turn left back towards South Warnborough up the B3349. The first section of this road is quite quick. Once we turn left off the B3349 for the villages its a different story. These are real little country roads chosen for prettiness not speed. Relax: cruise. The route passes through Upton Grey requiring a tight left then right for Tunworth. The next section is scenic in a villagey sort of way - thatched roofs, Hampshire redbrick construction, etc before we get out of the village and follow a (very) twisting road looking for signs for Mapledurwell. On a sharp left hand bend the route turns off into a junction on the right signposted Mapledurwell. A short way down the next road and its a left turn, also signposted Mapledurwell, that's very easy to miss. The route follows the road into picturesque Mapledurwell - the Gamekeepers being on the right.
After we've stopped for some refreshment its easy to get back to the beaten track. Turn right out of the pub car park and follow the road back into Basingstoke.
NB: My Chimaera had no trouble at all on all of the roads used. Some are a bit rough though and some can, obviously, be a bit muddy. These ARE country roads after all. So don't get too upset if the pride and joy gains a few muddy smears. No lasting harm will be done. It was wet and horrible on Easter Sunday when I scouted out the route and I did manage to lose rear wheel traction under brisk acceleration - and this was quite entertaining! If its wet: be please be careful particularly where that bane of country driving is present - poo.
12:00 noon. Arrive Gamekeepers. www.thegamekeepers.co.uk
Park the cars up. There is plenty of room for a good few cars if we arrive early enough. Photo opportunity? Beer. Chat. Nosh. Bugger off to wherever you need to get back to.
LOGISTICS.
The Gamekeepers need us to book ahead - and as soon as possible. So I need a reasonably accurate idea of the numbers involved. So if you want to come - please say so now.
So...Who's up for it, then. Replies on this thread. Don't chicken on me now or I'll feel like a right twit. If anyone has any additional suggestions please feel free to HELP.
LETS HOPE ITS SUNNY!
quote:
Basingstoke Pistonhead Readers April Showers Run.
Sunday 14th April: The Plan.
10:30am Meet
LOGISTICS.
The Gamekeepers need us to book ahead - and as soon as possible. So I need a reasonably accurate idea of the numbers involved. So if you want to come - please say so now.
So...Who's up for it, then. Replies on this thread. Don't chicken on me now or I'll feel like a right twit. If anyone has any additional suggestions please feel free to HELP.
How about asking PetrolTed to load it up as a calendar item?
In any case, it's in mine! Good piece of planning, Don!
BTW, The Gamekeepers is a great pub. Found it quite by accident a couple of months ago and had a very pleasant lunch there. Returned a week later for Sunday lunch, which was also very nice.
They have Tanglefoot on draught, which is nice if someone else is driving.
There was a pale Tuscan in the car park the 2nd time which belongs to a local, according to the landlord.
They have Tanglefoot on draught, which is nice if someone else is driving.
There was a pale Tuscan in the car park the 2nd time which belongs to a local, according to the landlord.
Thanks for the reply, Keith! We can travel over to the Spruce in convoy - being neighbours an' all - if you like.
Jon: does this mean you're coming...and is that 1 or 2?
I had actually meant the car parking in front of the Travel Inn but we could use the top car park. I'm just concerned that there's a landmark that people can find easily.
Jon: does this mean you're coming...and is that 1 or 2?
I had actually meant the car parking in front of the Travel Inn but we could use the top car park. I'm just concerned that there's a landmark that people can find easily.
Thanks for the support people. Can you make sure that you let me know (on this thread, please) how many cars/people you will be bringing as well as updating your Pistonheads event thingy.
I now have 11 people and 8 cars confirmed - mostly Tivs. I also have indications of an additional 3 cars and 5 people. I'll call the Gamekeepers today and give them approximate numbers.
I'll post with any info from the pub when I have it.
I now have 11 people and 8 cars confirmed - mostly Tivs. I also have indications of an additional 3 cars and 5 people. I'll call the Gamekeepers today and give them approximate numbers.
I'll post with any info from the pub when I have it.
quote:
Hi Don,
I would like to come but cannot commit yet. does the pub need to know even if we do not want to eat?
Anyone else planning to go from the Andover area?
Simon
You'll be very welcome, Simon. I am going to have to give the pub "rough" numbers anyway so...but I do hope you can confirm at some point.
OK everyone. Got confirmation from the Gamekeepers. They are now expecting us. Sean (the boss). Has (bless 'im) agreed to rope off 10 or so car parking spaces - and will do more if I let him know. So anyone hesitating at the moment get onto me now!
He even suggested that we could go "up on the roof" to get some pictures. (This - I gotta see!).
He was also at pains to point out that a TVR Tuscan group has had 36 cars there. SO LETS PUT ON A SHOW EH?
He even suggested that we could go "up on the roof" to get some pictures. (This - I gotta see!).
He was also at pains to point out that a TVR Tuscan group has had 36 cars there. SO LETS PUT ON A SHOW EH?
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