Left home Saturday pm, to take in a couple of landmarks en route Platyfest. Slight problem: Cromwell Road was closed [1]. Took 1 hr 37 minutes from Vauxhall Bridge to the Chiswick roundabout, via all the back roads from Chelsea/Fulham Broadway/etc to Hammersmith, then over Hammersmith Bridge, along the south bank, through Mortlake, and back over Kew Bridge. Nightmare. Decided to abandon destination #1 until Sunday, and headed into Bristol to visit the Clifton Observatory, up above Clifton Gorge. Got there just as they were closing, so not even a chance of a cooling ice cream. Magnificent views from the cliffs, though. From Bristol town centre I was chased most of the way to Thornbury Tescos by an ambulance. Those flashing lights are dead distracting in one's mirrors, I find. Stocked up with beer and dead livestock, I arrive at Schloss Monotreme around six-ish, to be confronted with an empty drive, and a seemingly deserted house. Beset by doubts, I retired to the end of the road, in order that I might 'phone and check. [2] Then I was accosted by Owen and Marina, so all was well in the world. Party went really well, lots of folks pitched up; loads of booze got drunk; people took it in turns to play with the fire; Bonwick didn't perform any of his three suggested acts of mischief[3] upon me whilst I was asleep in the deckchair. Top effort all round. Much thanks to the Smiffs. Awoke feeling better than I deserved, and recuperated by crushing the empty beer cans ready for recycling. This woke everyone else, apparently. A hearty breakfast, and I was off to sunny Trowbridge, in search of the day's first landmark: A family mausoleum, in the cemetery. It was in such a poor state of repair, I was somewhat surprised not to bump into Griff Rhys Jones. From Trowbridge, I then ventured into darkest Somerset: Yeovil. The clue for the RBR is "Barwick Follies: 10 pts each, max. 30" Which is odd, as there are four. Two were visible from the roadside, but the obelisk is not photographable from the road, as it's both narrow, and busy, so I parked up and walked through the woods. The third is in the middle of a field used for Boot sales, so I took the roundabout route through Ivel Barbarians' Rugby Club, to get a closer view. "Jack the Treacle Eater" is accessed up a tiny lane, and there was some awkward reversing involved when I came face to face with a tractor and trailer. From Somerset I ventured into Darzet, and passed last year's landmark - the bridge over the River Stour. At the same place I was passed by an *immaculate* orange Jota. Gorgeous. The little roadside cross at Tarrant Crawford was easy enough to find, then I retraced my route back to the A303, before barrelling up the road to Andover. Well, I would have barreled, had the traffic not ground to a halt by Stonehenge. Just for a change. The little bridge over the Micheldever road was simple enough to find, and a fuel stop - which allowed me to acquire a working cigarette lighter - was a welcome rest. A bottle of Lucozade was downed in one, as I realised I hadn't drunk a thing for 6 hours, or so, and I was feeling far jiggered. Refreshed and revitalised, I then set off home, to be greeted by 15mph queues up the M3, stationary traffic up the A316, and gridlock by Harrods. Got in at eight. Still, that's 43 done now - over halfway there. Ta to everyone involved in a super weekend away. [1] Radio FiveLive announced this as I was sat on Kew Bridge. [2] Less embarrassing- to ring up, and make out you haven't left yet, rather than ringing the doorbell. [3] a: Shaving an eyebrow. b: turning the hose on me. c: applying make-up. -- | ___ Salad Dodger |/ \ _/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/KH500A8/TS250C |_\_____/_| ..67012../..15994.../..3157./.19406 (>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 YTC#4 PM#5 |__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 two#11 WG* \ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4 \|^|/ ANORAK#17 '^' RBR-Visited:43 Pts: 870 Miles:3116
A glass of water, which I had taken to fend off dehydration, lasted about 35 seconds, before being deposited in a discreet corner. About four bouts of dry retching followed. Oddly enough, I felt fine after that. I hadn't had a beer for a couple of hours, at this point. There had been around four cups of coffee consumed, as well. All in all, not worth mentioning. -- | ___ Salad Dodger |/ \ _/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/KH500A8/TS250C |_\_____/_| ..67012../..15994.../..3157./.19406 (>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 YTC#4 PM#5 |__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 two#11 WG* \ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4 \|^|/ ANORAK#17 '^' RBR-Visited:43 Pts: 870 Miles:3116
All the while I was telling him there was no way he was hosing you down or shaving you, I was thinking that the big bucket of cold water beside me would be ideal for hand-dipping...
I thought I'd got rid of that with your broom and bucket of water, this morning. Profuse apologies for my failure. -- | ___ Salad Dodger |/ \ _/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/KH500A8/TS250C |_\_____/_| ..67012../..15994.../..3157./.19406 (>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 YTC#4 PM#5 |__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 two#11 WG* \ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4 \|^|/ ANORAK#17 '^' RBR-Visited:43 Pts: 870 Miles:3116
Would this be a good time to mention I've just watched 'The Meaning of Life' again... ? <fx: frantically tries to summon up an alternate mental image other than Mr. Creosote spewing on all and sundry>
I was there around Saturday lunchtime. Ran into a couple doing the rally on a Norton rotary thingy. Turquoise it was. Took my photo from the other end of the Clifton Suspension bridge as I couldn't find anywhere nearer to park with a view of the Observatory. Even the inscription had deteriorated into a different name ? The Obelisk and the Fish Tower are smack by the road. You can get a good shot of Jack the Treacle Eater from the private driveway that leads up to the local rich bastard's estate and I got a decent shot of the Cone from the rugby club car park.Sounds like you had a better weekend than me then. After Bristol, I pushed onto South Wales and stopped over in a little village near Fishguard. I woke up the next day with suspected food poisoning. I thought the sauce on the lamb chops in the pub tasted a little piquant. I ended up leaving little offerings by the Pendine motor museum and the Devil's Staircase [1] so be careful where you sit. I had intended on taking in Nesscliffe but I was feeling so shit that all really I wanted was to get home and crash out, so I will have to save it for when I return from Scotland next month. [1] Despite what you may have read elsewhere, the nearby fords are bridged so are not a problem.
It was a splatter-print, not a full-on pavement pizza. As you say, not really worth mentioning. Did you get my text about your CD, btw
I did, ta. No panic. We'll sort something. -- | ___ Salad Dodger |/ \ _/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/KH500A8/TS250C |_\_____/_| ..67012../..15994.../..3157./.19406 (>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 YTC#4 PM#5 |__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 two#11 WG* \ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4 \|^|/ ANORAK#17 '^' RBR-Visited:43 Pts: 870 Miles:3116
Traffic near the obelisk was frantic, and, with the angle of the sun, I couldn't find somewhere to park up safely. I rode right up to the corner, across the grass. Around the field. I've done Wales, already. -- | ___ Salad Dodger |/ \ _/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/KH500A8/TS250C |_\_____/_| ..67012../..15994.../..3157./.19406 (>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 YTC#4 PM#5 |__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 two#11 WG* \ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4 \|^|/ ANORAK#17 '^' RBR-Visited:43 Pts: 870 Miles:3116
