Saturday afternoon drive?????

[dapinky]

AAARGH – just lost this post when trying to publish it, so got to do it again!!! (type it in Word this time so it don’t happen again!)

Okay, this is as a result of the thread titled “LEC stand”, where a suggestion was made to go for a drive on the Saturday afternoon.

I have been in consultation with Neil, who knows the roads far better than I do, but I proposed a rough route, which can be altered if anyone has any suggestions/comments (not that I can stop you doing what you want anyway).

The route as published is (according to Mr Google-Map) 70 miles and will take 2hrs 5min.

It starts off on (boring) ‘A’ roads up towards Nottingham (but if you know anything parallel, shout up), which will give us a chance to stay together, or anyone who wants to have a bit of a blast may find the opportunity to do so – just remember that you are the author of your own destiny and I don’t know where speed cameras and blackspots are!!!!

Once we’re off onto the Cropwell Bishop road things improve, and when you get to point ‘G’ on the map you should be at the home of the best Stilton in the world (Long Clawson Dairy). For those who prefer meat, then Melton Mowbray is the home of the Pork pie.

The Dairy is half way round the route, so is a good place for a bit of a break (and some shopping!) and maybe a photo opportunity (unless anyone knows anywhere better en route)

From there, it’s good driving roads looping back towards Donington, but actually ending at the Melbourne Arms (home of Fridays’ curry) for a bit of afternoon tea (or beer if you’re not driving). They do food, and maybe if there’s enough interest we could ask if they’d lay on a cream tea or something like????
This venue was chosen for its location, parking, indoor and outdoor accommodation, and not least, because they’ve always been good to us.

If anyone wants to make any detours and/or shortcuts, feel free to shout up any ideas (and I can’t stop you going where you want anyway!) – this is merely a suggestion, and something I fancy doing, even if no-one else wants to.

It is not a road-race, navigation rally, or convoy in the legal sense (so there is no licence / insurance implication other than that required by the Road Traffic Act). It is not a speed trial. It is just an opportunity for a group to go for a drive together.

I would suggest that we have regular ‘pause points’ for a re-group, and opposite to the spirit of the Top Gear quests, no-one will be left behind!

Nearer the time (once any suggestions have been considered, adopted or derided), I will print off some simple ‘route plans’ so if anyone does get a bit confused, we can all meet up again!

Click the Pic for a bigger image!

route.png

As for timings, open to suggestion, but how about leave the showground at 1400ish, bit of a break at the dairy between 1500-1530, get to the Melbourne Arms about 1630ish????

[Pdfuller]

Nice one Dave, sounds like a cracking good plan. So all we need now is some sunny weather and were in for a smashing afternoon. Incidentally Oliver seems really excited about a drive out but I did explain that at 12 years old he won't be driving, he will have to put up with me behind the wheel.

[dapinky]

Can Oliver read a map?

I suppose we should have a list, then!

1. Pinky (dapinky)
2. Paul &Oliver (PDFuller)
3.

[DavidEJM]

I suppose we should have a list, then!

1. Pinky (dapinky)
2. Paul &Oliver (PDFuller)
3. DavidEJM bit slow on the others so thought I'd get in early on this one!

[Pdfuller]

Oliver should be able to read a map if not he's got a week and a bit to learn!!!!

[rip]

This is probably the best LEC excusion ever arranged for the Club Lotus festival.
Following a map will be much easier than following Shaun.

1. Pinky (dapinky)
2. Paul &Oliver (PDFuller)
3. DavidEJM bit slow on the others so thought I'd get in early on this one!
4. rip

[dapinky]

This is probably the best LEC excusion ever arranged for the Club Lotus festival.

Oh well, It's bound to go wrong now, then

Bit of a change to the route/itinerary already!

The Dairy at Long Clawson is closed to the public until December 2013, so perhaps a bit of a break actually in Melton Mowbray? From the map there are a couple of ‘short stay’ car parks (but if anyone has a recommendation, I’d like to hear from you). And the ‘Dickinson & Morris’ Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe will be open on the Saturday afternoon (they sell cheese as well as Pork Pies, Sausages etc etc).Just a short walk from the car park at the library/bus station.

[Enright]

The Dairy at Long Clawson is closed to the public until December 2013, so perhaps a bit of a break actually in Melton Mowbray? From the map there are a couple of ‘short stay’ car parks (but if anyone has a recommendation, I’d like to hear from you). And the ‘Dickinson & Morris’ Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe will be open on the Saturday afternoon (they sell cheese as well as Pork Pies, Sausages etc etc).Just a short walk from the car park at the library/bus station.

While Long Clawson dairy itself may be closed to the public, they do have a little shop on the main road outside which I think ought to be open at that time. However the point may be moot if Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe does all that they have to offer, and more.
As far as parking is concerned, near the bottom of Scalford Road on the RHS there is "Midlands Co-operative Food". It has a decent sized car park, and Google Maps also it says it's only 5 mins walk to Dickinson & Morris.
So we could do that instead, then go from Scalford via Waltham Lane and Waltham Road to Harby, which is a nicer country run than via Long Clawson and Hose.
Furthermore you wouldn't believe how small and narrow Long Clawson actually is, which could cause a few sharp intakes of breath when you're faced with a milk transporter coming at you from round a blind bend! Leaving the cars in proper parking spots in Melton Co-op car park would be much easier on the nerves.

I've also got a suggestion regarding the early part, as the A453 between M1 J24 and Nottingham is truly awful, and the A52 isn't much better. Here it is, what do you think?

[Enright]

Even better might be this:

[rip]

Neil, you know the roads better than most of us. I enjoyed the route you sorted to see the Lancaster a few years back....

[Enright]

Thanks, but this time I might not be allowed to lead, as I'll be in either a Diseasle, or even worse, something FRENCH!

About the only thing I can guarantee is no badly parked WWII bombers for you to bump your unprotected head on.

[dapinky]

So, maybe something like this?

new route.png

[Enright]

Nope, not something like that.
EXACTLY like that!

Edit: Just noticed - the lower "drag & drop blob" between C & D needs moving to the left slightly so that we continue up Scalford Road from Melton Mowbray. Other than that - perfect.

[rip]

About the only thing I can guarantee is no badly parked WWII bombers for you to bump your unprotected head on.

I'll never be allowed to forget that will I?

[dapinky]

Okay then, that's the route sorted! - if you like it, it was mine - if you don't, it was Neils

Neil - for the loop bit, is it better clockwise or anticlockwise? If the roads are no huge difference, then turning left is always easier to keep people together (so anti-clockwise), but if they are better in the other direction, so be it???

[Enright]

Good point about the left turns keeping people together Dave.
On balance then, I'd say anti-clockwise, just swapping points B & D (and taking in my above edit about Scalford Road).

[dapinky]

Lets have another go, then!

Point D is the co-op you mentioned at MM....

...it's now 71 miles, 2hr 8mins

[Enright]

Lets have another go, then!

Point D is the co-op you mentioned at MM....

...it's now 71 miles, 2hr 8mins

Pretty damn perfect I'd say - good job well done sir!

[Sy V]

Lets have another go, then!
Point D is the co-op you mentioned at MM....
...it's now 71 miles, 2hr 8mins

71 miles, that's more than Stripey's done in the last two years!

1. Pinky (dapinky)
2. Paul &Oliver (PDFuller)
3. DavidEJM bit slow on the others so thought I'd get in early on this one!
4. rip
5. Stripey (Sy & Dan)

[Enright]

It's been a while since I last travelled along some of the roads in the route, so I investigated a few of them over the weekend.
There are a few speed bumps in Diseworth, and the A6006 has been turned from National Speed Limit to 50mph, but other than that, generally it looks pretty good! From "D" to "F" or even beyond "G" is fantastic - proper grin inducing.
Hope the weather holds out and that we don't get many HGV's and tractors on the day.