Fabulous traffic free hoonery...
Discussion
Posted in GG but probably more interest here...
Having been a biker for many years I'm quite used to playing in the countryside, so today decided to take the Mazda 6 for a scream on a favourite biking route in Devon.
Boring bit - 8am start on M5 from Bristol to Taunton and then A358 heading towards Minehead. Cruise control, lots of fertility wagons (MPVs etc), some real doughnuts.
Joyous bit - turn left onto B3224 and follow all the way to Simonsbath.
Turn left onto B3358 to Challacombe (watch out for the "jumps" here. No warning and at the, er, speed limit they're rather fun!).
Turn right onto the A399 then left towards Woolacombe on the A3123. At the roundabout take a left to Braunton on the A361.
You have now done Exmoor seeing only five cars in approx 45 miles and had some majestic long sweepers, some tight lefts and rights, a jump or two and only one encounter with a car heading round a bend on your side of the road. Fabulous.
At the lights in Braunton turn right and pop to Croyde for lunch and a stroll on the beach. Do try not to fall off a high rock. If you must fall, try to land on the soft sand, turn the fall into a commando roll and jump up heroically as if it was a deliberate and carefully choreographed homage to Bodie and Doyle...
Heading home take the A361 back through Braunton and on to Barnstaple. Keep going a while and take a left onto the B3227 to Bampton, Wiveliscombe and Taunton. Beware motorcycles on this stretch. They must have been doing at least twice the limit and then another handful for good measure. Terribly naughty and they alone must have been responsible for the huge number of pheasants splattered over the roads today wink Some fabulous stretches, long downhill twisty bit is a hoot.
Finally back up the M5 on cruise control having a good chortle at the miles of stationary traffic heading South.
It's a fabulous drive with the thick end of 100 miles of countryside frippery.
What of the Mazda? Tiptronic box is fine and dandy for this sort of thing. Auto great for the more relaxed bits. It handles well during progressive driving - it's not in a hedge so it must be okay (it can get it's knickers in a twist at times over bumpy stuff with bends). The brakes are fine. It has enough go to make it fun and it's just helped me decide I don't really need a weekend toy, just some decent roads to play on smile
Tea time soon - venison burgers bought at the farmers' market in Croyde.
P.S. In answer to my mate's question about finding the limit: If you make a total and utter Horlicks of a corner overcooking it worse than King Alfred's cakes, it just slides gently and squeals the tyres in protest. Paying more attention to the limit points avoids a repeat.rotate
Having been a biker for many years I'm quite used to playing in the countryside, so today decided to take the Mazda 6 for a scream on a favourite biking route in Devon.
Boring bit - 8am start on M5 from Bristol to Taunton and then A358 heading towards Minehead. Cruise control, lots of fertility wagons (MPVs etc), some real doughnuts.
Joyous bit - turn left onto B3224 and follow all the way to Simonsbath.
Turn left onto B3358 to Challacombe (watch out for the "jumps" here. No warning and at the, er, speed limit they're rather fun!).
Turn right onto the A399 then left towards Woolacombe on the A3123. At the roundabout take a left to Braunton on the A361.
You have now done Exmoor seeing only five cars in approx 45 miles and had some majestic long sweepers, some tight lefts and rights, a jump or two and only one encounter with a car heading round a bend on your side of the road. Fabulous.
At the lights in Braunton turn right and pop to Croyde for lunch and a stroll on the beach. Do try not to fall off a high rock. If you must fall, try to land on the soft sand, turn the fall into a commando roll and jump up heroically as if it was a deliberate and carefully choreographed homage to Bodie and Doyle...
Heading home take the A361 back through Braunton and on to Barnstaple. Keep going a while and take a left onto the B3227 to Bampton, Wiveliscombe and Taunton. Beware motorcycles on this stretch. They must have been doing at least twice the limit and then another handful for good measure. Terribly naughty and they alone must have been responsible for the huge number of pheasants splattered over the roads today wink Some fabulous stretches, long downhill twisty bit is a hoot.
Finally back up the M5 on cruise control having a good chortle at the miles of stationary traffic heading South.
It's a fabulous drive with the thick end of 100 miles of countryside frippery.
What of the Mazda? Tiptronic box is fine and dandy for this sort of thing. Auto great for the more relaxed bits. It handles well during progressive driving - it's not in a hedge so it must be okay (it can get it's knickers in a twist at times over bumpy stuff with bends). The brakes are fine. It has enough go to make it fun and it's just helped me decide I don't really need a weekend toy, just some decent roads to play on smile
Tea time soon - venison burgers bought at the farmers' market in Croyde.
P.S. In answer to my mate's question about finding the limit: If you make a total and utter Horlicks of a corner overcooking it worse than King Alfred's cakes, it just slides gently and squeals the tyres in protest. Paying more attention to the limit points avoids a repeat.rotate
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