Advenures in the frozen south
Dec. 16th, 2022 07:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shewhomustShort version: well, we made it to London. It took quite a bit longer than it should have, but we are here.
We were late setting off. Of course we were: we always have good intentions, and it never happens. On the other hand, it was snowing at ten a.m., and I was wondering if we would get away at all. By eleven the sun was shining, so that would have been a good time, but we weren't ready yet. We finally drove away just on midday.
If everything had gone smoothly, we'd have got away with it - and many things did go smoothly. The roads were clear, and we did not encounter any blizzards. For much of the journey, there was no snow to be seen; none in Yorkshire, and all the way through the midlands. Then it got dark, so we re-entered snowy territory without noticing, and as it got darker and further south, so it got colder. Outer London was snow covered and glittering.
We had planned to charge the car while we lunched at the Wetherby services, which we have done before successfully. This time, though, several chargepoints were out of order, and we had to wait for one to be free. So it was lunch first, then charge, and when we returned to the car we discovered that the machine had cut out before the charge was complete. This was annoying, because it meant we would have to make our second stop earlier than we had planned, and would leave us with less charge when we reached London. But nothing we couldn't manage. We stopped again at Grantham, and recharged while we lingered over a cup of tea, and rang the Bears to say we would be later than planned ...
Yes, I know. There is nothing here that could not have been foreseen. I had foreseen it, to the extent of making sure there was a book in my handbag. Yet somehow it had not completely reshaped our thinking about how long this journey is. Nor had we really allowed for needing to drive more slowly than we have in the past. Mea culpa. Must do better in future. But.
We were on the last stretch, almost in sight of our destination, late but still before bedtime, when we had a disagreement with a kerb and cut a gash in the front near tyre.
We pulled off the Great North Way onto a very snowy side street. New cars don't have spare tyres, of course, they have reinflation kits, and we were pretty sure our tyre was past help. Nothing for it but to ring MGAssistance. The recorded message said they were very busy. which was no surprise, and we settled down to wait,durham_rambler on hold on his phone, me calling the Bears on mine, to say don't wait up. He was on hold for 40 minutes, then they cut us off. We rang again, and the same thing happened. Our insurance included RAC membership, so we dug out the documentation and tried that: at least they had a 'report online' facility, and we used that, getting a reassuring message that they would be with us within four and a half hours. We slid the car down the hill to a more secure spot, and a kind householder came out, offered us cups of tea (which we declined) and allowed us to use his immaculate guest bathroom (for which I was very grateful). We even tried using the alleged repair kit, without success. We were being sparing with the heating, because we didn't have much charge (see above). I may even have slept a little. And of course help turned up very much earlier than those four and a half hours, and a kind and efficient mechanic changed our tyre. We wondered how far across London he had travelled, and durham_rambler asked him "Where have you come from?" "I'm from Portugal!"
To complete the experience, we were flashed by a speed camera as we passed under the Archway.
But we got here, and by three o' clock we were warm and in bed.
Today has been much more fun. We have taken things very gently, but we did get as far as crossing the road for lunch at the Tufnell Park Tavern: I recommend the fish chowder on the lunch menu.
We were late setting off. Of course we were: we always have good intentions, and it never happens. On the other hand, it was snowing at ten a.m., and I was wondering if we would get away at all. By eleven the sun was shining, so that would have been a good time, but we weren't ready yet. We finally drove away just on midday.
If everything had gone smoothly, we'd have got away with it - and many things did go smoothly. The roads were clear, and we did not encounter any blizzards. For much of the journey, there was no snow to be seen; none in Yorkshire, and all the way through the midlands. Then it got dark, so we re-entered snowy territory without noticing, and as it got darker and further south, so it got colder. Outer London was snow covered and glittering.
We had planned to charge the car while we lunched at the Wetherby services, which we have done before successfully. This time, though, several chargepoints were out of order, and we had to wait for one to be free. So it was lunch first, then charge, and when we returned to the car we discovered that the machine had cut out before the charge was complete. This was annoying, because it meant we would have to make our second stop earlier than we had planned, and would leave us with less charge when we reached London. But nothing we couldn't manage. We stopped again at Grantham, and recharged while we lingered over a cup of tea, and rang the Bears to say we would be later than planned ...
Yes, I know. There is nothing here that could not have been foreseen. I had foreseen it, to the extent of making sure there was a book in my handbag. Yet somehow it had not completely reshaped our thinking about how long this journey is. Nor had we really allowed for needing to drive more slowly than we have in the past. Mea culpa. Must do better in future. But.
We were on the last stretch, almost in sight of our destination, late but still before bedtime, when we had a disagreement with a kerb and cut a gash in the front near tyre.
We pulled off the Great North Way onto a very snowy side street. New cars don't have spare tyres, of course, they have reinflation kits, and we were pretty sure our tyre was past help. Nothing for it but to ring MGAssistance. The recorded message said they were very busy. which was no surprise, and we settled down to wait,
durham_rambler on hold on his phone, me calling the Bears on mine, to say don't wait up. He was on hold for 40 minutes, then they cut us off. We rang again, and the same thing happened. Our insurance included RAC membership, so we dug out the documentation and tried that: at least they had a 'report online' facility, and we used that, getting a reassuring message that they would be with us within four and a half hours. We slid the car down the hill to a more secure spot, and a kind householder came out, offered us cups of tea (which we declined) and allowed us to use his immaculate guest bathroom (for which I was very grateful). We even tried using the alleged repair kit, without success. We were being sparing with the heating, because we didn't have much charge (see above). I may even have slept a little. And of course help turned up very much earlier than those four and a half hours, and a kind and efficient mechanic changed our tyre. We wondered how far across London he had travelled, and durham_rambler asked him "Where have you come from?" "I'm from Portugal!"To complete the experience, we were flashed by a speed camera as we passed under the Archway.
But we got here, and by three o' clock we were warm and in bed.
Today has been much more fun. We have taken things very gently, but we did get as far as crossing the road for lunch at the Tufnell Park Tavern: I recommend the fish chowder on the lunch menu.
no subject
Date: 2022-12-18 08:43 am (UTC)Mm, fish chowder.
no subject
Date: 2022-12-19 12:16 pm (UTC)A big steaming bowl of mullet and mackerel, with just enough chili and lemon and a hint of fennel.