Land's End to Ness Point, midsummers evening 2019

[heebeegeetee]

Hi All,

Is there anyone else planning to do this? I'm planning to do it on Saturday 22nd June, hopefully in my old Boxster, hopefully if it's dry I plan to do the whole route roof down, I'll be using the A303 route and I fancy trying a route smack through the middle of London.

I might try to sort a total non m'way route.

[blaineuk]

I am giving it some serious thought, it’s a great event.

[ToooomStuff]

I have the Wednesday-Friday booked off work for the run Thursday into friday.
The only sticking point for me is the cost of a Hotel for the night Wednesday-Thursday. £80 for one night is pretty OTT... especially when I’d need to have a ‘lay-in’ and check outs are normally early! I’m from near Brighton so will have to drive down Wednesday to get a good sleep and not be too tired for the drive.

[Red Devil]

heebeegeetee said:

I might try to sort a total non m'way route.

That alone is not that easy. Not to mention it will be a challenge to complete it within the sunset-sunrise window.

This one has a short section of the M1 near Hemel Hempstead plus a couple of miles on the A1(M) - https://goo.gl/maps/h2BZhJwWriKm6vtx8
The latter does give you a tunnel (Hatfield Galleria) as a bonus though. Apart from the above it's all A roads with a decent amount of d/c..

Nothing would induce me to go anywhere near London.

[blaineuk]

We used the m25 for a short while last time, although I would like to do it without any motorways, I’m not sure it can be done, and I agree, a trip in to London isn’t possible

[BURNIE]

Who is going Friday?

[blaineuk]

I’m doing Saturday.

[heebeegeetee]

I'm doing Saturday too.

This is my route at the moment, going over Westminster and Tower bridges in London. Given up on trying m'way free.
https://goo.gl/maps/Bvd1QxZQHKp5635P6
Time is given as 8h 34, 424 miles.

Fastest way on Google maps at the mo is 7h 31, 429 miles. https://goo.gl/maps/nGxUo8EszSHxVzuv9

Last time I did this run though I got there possibly half an hour before sunrise, everyone got there before sunrise, so I'm trying to make it a bit more of a challenge.

A question for Blaine, who has also done this run before, can you recall the location of the filling station chap, where we all refuelled? Was it just before Basingstoke?

Eta, it was Micheldever, IIRC.

Edited by heebeegeetee on Monday 17th June 00:20

[Pericoloso]

Heebee ,don't rush over Tower bridge even at silly o clock ,it's 20 mph with cameras.

[heebeegeetee]

Just a reminder, sun sets at 9.36 Land's End, rises 4.30 Ness Point.

[heebeegeetee]

Pericoloso said:

Heebee ,don't rush over Tower bridge even at silly o clock ,it's 20 mph with cameras.

Point taken. Should get chance for a night time snapshot then.

[blaineuk]

This is what we used last time to keep us on target

[heebeegeetee]

blaineuk said:

This is what we used last time to keep us on target

Ah yes, and shows that it was the Buck filling station we used. Micheldever is a bit further along the A303.

[Red Devil]

heebeegeetee said:

I'm doing Saturday too.

This is my route at the moment, going over Westminster and Tower bridges in London. Given up on trying m'way free.
https://goo.gl/maps/Bvd1QxZQHKp5635P6
Time is given as 8h 34, 424 miles.

Fastest way on Google maps at the mo is 7h 31, 429 miles. https://goo.gl/maps/nGxUo8EszSHxVzuv9

Last time I did this run though I got there possibly half an hour before sunrise, everyone got there before sunrise, so I'm trying to make it a bit more of a challenge.

I reckon you' certainly will to get there before sunrise if you go through London.

Due to:
https://goo.gl/maps/hoxNwYb7EcUTe7Pb7
https://goo.gl/maps/TPSobwqzktfsrdHMA
https://goo.gl/maps/TVuzQ7ZYNeky51Um9
https://goo.gl/maps/Wc8Z8z6bDV9gCtwk6
https://goo.gl/maps/AbEVpDVGZtj1p6229

15mph average across central London if you're lucky.
The next time you'll see the NSL sign is on the A13 at Dagenham.
https://goo.gl/maps/KrD6sxCC74qHdmas5

Then you've got this to the junction with the M25
https://goo.gl/maps/cmNPY9xRSeXF73cX9
https://goo.gl/maps/9JkigCKufvuLnhHQ8A

Far too many Gatsos/average speed cameras.
Open invitation to accrue Nectar points.

[heebeegeetee]

Red Devil said:

heebeegeetee said:

I'm doing Saturday too.

This is my route at the moment, going over Westminster and Tower bridges in London. Given up on trying m'way free.
https://goo.gl/maps/Bvd1QxZQHKp5635P6
Time is given as 8h 34, 424 miles.

Fastest way on Google maps at the mo is 7h 31, 429 miles. https://goo.gl/maps/nGxUo8EszSHxVzuv9

Last time I did this run though I got there possibly half an hour before sunrise, everyone got there before sunrise, so I'm trying to make it a bit more of a challenge.

I reckon you' certainly will to get there before sunrise if you go through London.

Due to:
https://goo.gl/maps/hoxNwYb7EcUTe7Pb7
https://goo.gl/maps/TPSobwqzktfsrdHMA
https://goo.gl/maps/TVuzQ7ZYNeky51Um9
https://goo.gl/maps/Wc8Z8z6bDV9gCtwk6
https://goo.gl/maps/AbEVpDVGZtj1p6229

15mph average across central London if you're lucky.
The next time you'll see the NSL sign is on the A13 at Dagenham.
https://goo.gl/maps/KrD6sxCC74qHdmas5

Then you've got this to the junction with the M25
https://goo.gl/maps/cmNPY9xRSeXF73cX9
https://goo.gl/maps/9JkigCKufvuLnhHQ8A

Far too many Gatsos/average speed cameras.
Open invitation to accrue Nectar points.

Hmm, yes, I take your point. The haul around the M25 is a bit tedious mind, with numerous speed cameras, but of course going through London not only will there be endless cameras, but also endless traffic lights keeping me stationary at empty junctions.

If I just factor Tower Bridge in only I get this:
https://goo.gl/maps/vDGihEKSessm3qFp6

In Google maps is it possible to set a departure time, so I can get a journey time more representative of when I'm travelling?

[Red Devil]

heebeegeetee said:

Hmm, yes, I take your point. The haul around the M25 is a bit tedious mind, with numerous speed cameras, but of course going through London not only will there be endless cameras, but also endless traffic lights keeping me stationary at empty junctions.

If I just factor Tower Bridge in only I get this:
https://goo.gl/maps/vDGihEKSessm3qFp6

All too easy to get caught by this one.
https://goo.gl/maps/PFhpCp8pt8bjq1R37

heebeegeetee said:

In Google maps is it possible to set a departure time, so I can get a journey time more representative of when I'm travelling?

Looks like it: never tried it though.
https://smartphones.gadgethacks.com/news/see-what-...

[blaineuk]

Any idea how many are doing this on Saturday?

[Blib]

If you go through London don't forget that there's an Ultra Low Emmission Zone charge to pay if your car is non compliant.

The ULEZ overlays the congestion charge zone, but operates 24/7, 365.

[BURNIE]

Hi guys don't bother with London we used to do tunnel runs through there at 2am 10years ago we had 30 to 60 cars it was brilliant, but we have done a couple over the lsdt three years and London is grid locked in the centre joke no idea why there is so many cars on the road at that time..

[heebeegeetee]

Ok guys, I am persuaded.

I've aware that if I was to try it I would have to drive much faster than I otherwise would before and after London, and as I'll have wife with me this time, that won't be allowed. Probably no three-figure speeds for me this year.

Weather's looking good, forecast has improved, those doing it on the Friday night are guaranteed a great sunset and sunrise it seems, us on the Saturday possibly not quite so guaranteed, according to my BBC weather app.

It's a great run, really looking forward to it, even if numbers are looking a bit thin this year. There is something, I think almost cathartic, about doing a long run at night, it really is a different kind of motoring. Either sides of the M25 the roads are really clear, especially after the M25, in the early hours, the roads are just deserted.

It's good driving.