The BEST Tenner iv spent for over 14months!
Discussion
Tap tap tap.. Tap tap.. Tapping away on the iPad bored as hell.. Outside is looking bleak and sorry for itself. Dogs are snoring & telly is bland. Nothing to do all day, nothing fun anyway! Pointless cleaning the car, done it 5 times already this Christmas holiday..
Only one option really.. Camera, jacket, wallet, keys. Not been on a good, proper drive in a 'quick' car since I had my crash end of 2011.. I'd already been out in the 182 for a drive to Moffat and back but weather was awful, especially with the budget tyres the 182 came with, so that didn't count.. Was silly conditions.
So I set off, heading down the A689 from my house to... Hartside! 23 miles of sheer driving heaven.. Roads were damp/wet but the fresh Goodyear Eagle F1 filled me with plenty of confidence over the budget infinitys (FLOL).
Radio off, Clear vision and very quite roads meant this was a gona be awesome! Car felt great, responsive and tight! Love the 15" wheels, makes the drive so much more enjoyable. 3rd, 4th, 5th that Yozza exhaust constantly trying to smash through my ear drums! ..Yet still no traffic, brilliant roads and awesome scenery.. Epic.
Hartside by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Got to Alston, were the flawless A689 meets the infamous Hartside road.. The closer I got to the peak of Hartside the foggier it got, GUTTED.. But never the less I battled on in hope it might magically clear!
Hartside by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Hartside by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Creeped up to the Hartside Cafe through the heavy fog to find it dead.. Could barely see it! So i decided to tootle on past in hope on the way down the other side it may clear.. and so it did.. The best bit of Hartside was to come!
Hartside by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Roads still quite, passed maybe 3-4cars coming the opposite way.. Car still performing effortlessly, tyres digging in without worry that Yozza taking round two upon my ears! 4th, 3rd, 4th to 2nd.. It went on.. Going at a good steady yet safe pace. Then it dawned on me why I love these cars, why I love these road and most importantly why I love driving! That crash I had could of been the last time I drove.. But thank god it wasn't! It made me wiser and more aware of the roads. Not to be as daft or go as fast as it's not a race.. But more to feel the car, enjoy every turn, gear change and most importantly know the limits!
The weather was starting to spit & I came to the stage were the corners became alot more blind and the scenery was hooded by the trees and hills. Came to a good turning spot so I decided it would be best to turn around and head back.
Hartside by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Hartside by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
And the way back up I took the chance to stop off and take some more pictures before I tucked the camera away for the day, as I was wanting to take full opportunity of driving.
Hartside by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Hartside by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Hartside by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Hartside by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Hartside by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
After coasting back through the heavy fog at the peak, it once again cleared up and away I went. Stopped at Alston to chuck some fuel in, then off I went back down the A689 home. Another Epic 23miles back.
This is a little different to what I normally do so please be gentle.. But I really enjoyed myself on this drive today.. I fell in love with the 182 and driving again, as tbh I was kinda nerves to stretch the cars legs as tbf it's been a while!
Best bit about it though, it only cost me £10! Ten measly quid in this current climate is hard to get so much pleasure from. Infact I think I'm going to do it again tomorrow!
My ears are still ringin from that bloody Yozza!
Thanks, Piers.
Only one option really.. Camera, jacket, wallet, keys. Not been on a good, proper drive in a 'quick' car since I had my crash end of 2011.. I'd already been out in the 182 for a drive to Moffat and back but weather was awful, especially with the budget tyres the 182 came with, so that didn't count.. Was silly conditions.
So I set off, heading down the A689 from my house to... Hartside! 23 miles of sheer driving heaven.. Roads were damp/wet but the fresh Goodyear Eagle F1 filled me with plenty of confidence over the budget infinitys (FLOL).
Radio off, Clear vision and very quite roads meant this was a gona be awesome! Car felt great, responsive and tight! Love the 15" wheels, makes the drive so much more enjoyable. 3rd, 4th, 5th that Yozza exhaust constantly trying to smash through my ear drums! ..Yet still no traffic, brilliant roads and awesome scenery.. Epic.
Hartside by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Got to Alston, were the flawless A689 meets the infamous Hartside road.. The closer I got to the peak of Hartside the foggier it got, GUTTED.. But never the less I battled on in hope it might magically clear!
Hartside by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Hartside by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Creeped up to the Hartside Cafe through the heavy fog to find it dead.. Could barely see it! So i decided to tootle on past in hope on the way down the other side it may clear.. and so it did.. The best bit of Hartside was to come!
Hartside by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Roads still quite, passed maybe 3-4cars coming the opposite way.. Car still performing effortlessly, tyres digging in without worry that Yozza taking round two upon my ears! 4th, 3rd, 4th to 2nd.. It went on.. Going at a good steady yet safe pace. Then it dawned on me why I love these cars, why I love these road and most importantly why I love driving! That crash I had could of been the last time I drove.. But thank god it wasn't! It made me wiser and more aware of the roads. Not to be as daft or go as fast as it's not a race.. But more to feel the car, enjoy every turn, gear change and most importantly know the limits!
The weather was starting to spit & I came to the stage were the corners became alot more blind and the scenery was hooded by the trees and hills. Came to a good turning spot so I decided it would be best to turn around and head back.
Hartside by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Hartside by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
And the way back up I took the chance to stop off and take some more pictures before I tucked the camera away for the day, as I was wanting to take full opportunity of driving.
Hartside by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Hartside by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Hartside by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Hartside by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
Hartside by PSJHodgson, on Flickr
After coasting back through the heavy fog at the peak, it once again cleared up and away I went. Stopped at Alston to chuck some fuel in, then off I went back down the A689 home. Another Epic 23miles back.
This is a little different to what I normally do so please be gentle.. But I really enjoyed myself on this drive today.. I fell in love with the 182 and driving again, as tbh I was kinda nerves to stretch the cars legs as tbf it's been a while!
Best bit about it though, it only cost me £10! Ten measly quid in this current climate is hard to get so much pleasure from. Infact I think I'm going to do it again tomorrow!
My ears are still ringin from that bloody Yozza!
Thanks, Piers.
I've formulated the perfect excuse in that I simply will only eat cranstons sausages now. So if Laura insists on going to the supermarket of a Sunday we go to Penrith via the same route you've taken 
Great writeup! I may have to venture that way sometime, the corners seem to flow beautifully. I understand the feeling you have, its hard to explain, its just happiness 
I wouldn't ever try and explain it to anybody other than fellow PHers or I'm sure I'd get funny looks
I'm also glad your back on the horse since the crash, did you post in the "Show us your crash pics" thread? I'm interested to know what happened.
I wouldn't ever try and explain it to anybody other than fellow PHers or I'm sure I'd get funny looks I'm also glad your back on the horse since the crash, did you post in the "Show us your crash pics" thread? I'm interested to know what happened.
Caulkhead said:
PSJ said:
Glad you had fun!
Mind you, hardly busy with traffic is it? As far as we know, the OP could have been totally starkers and no one would have known!
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff