sorry DK but if this is what your friend suggests as the route then they clearly havent been out the end of their street! its 3/4 hr longer and an extra 20 miles on the journey for once i would be agreeing with mrs B and going her route if i was you
Quote: Originally posted by Mrs. Bonce on 13/1/2024
A good alternative, but all the roundabouts at MK do our heads in, plus there are at least 5 around Buckingham.
I know what you mean - MK is famous for their roundabouts!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Quote: Originally posted by marg6 on 13/1/2024
sorry DK but if this is what your friend suggests as the route then they clearly havent been out the end of their street! its 3/4 hr longer and an extra 20 miles on the journey for once i would be agreeing with mrs B and going her route if i was you
I personally do not like the M25 route for the reason that once I am on it from the M4 at Junction 15 going to the M11 Junction 27, it is a long way to the services at South Mimms at Junction 23.
In the past, I had struggled to drive that stretch in one go, depending on the time of the day.
My alertness level is not as good as it was before, especially between 14:00 to 17:00 without a meal.
I prefer to have more opportunities to pull aside for a break as and when I start to feel dozy.
Can't do that on the M25.
Each to their own and all that.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Quote: Originally posted by marg6 on 13/1/2024
sorry DK but if this is what your friend suggests as the route then they clearly havent been out the end of their street! its 3/4 hr longer and an extra 20 miles on the journey for once i would be agreeing with mrs B and going her route if i was you
I personally do not like the M25 route for the reason that once I am on it from the M4 at Junction 15 going to the M11 Junction 27, it is a long way to the services at South Mimms at Junction 23.
In the past, I had struggled to drive that stretch in one go, depending on the time of the day.
My alertness level is not as good as it was before, especially between 14:00 to 17:00 without a meal.
I prefer to have more opportunities to pull aside for a break as and when I start to feel dozy.
Can't do that on the M25.
Each to their own and all that.
DK
there are plenty of exits to get off the m25 tho, and with a small amount of time on google maps it isnt hard to find places to pull over too.
Update with regard to taking the van out this week.
My normal set up routine involves draining the fresh water tank and fill it up with a full tank, for the waste water to be drained prior to setting off.
On Tuesday 16 January 2024 at about 12:00, when I turned on the taps in the van, I could hear the pump struggling, in that it made the same noise when the tank was nearly empty and stopped.
After a short while, I managed to start it again and the same thing happened. ? fail-safe mechanism perhaps?
Anyway, I suspected remaining water in the tank, estimated to be a third full, was frozen due to the recent cold spell (yes I know, I should have drained it, and have learnt the hard way ).
Rather than to risk not having running water in my van, I decided not to take her to Cambridge and stayed in a hotel where I had stayed before instead.
As for the journey, going up took 6h as I was tired and had 2 pit stops.
Coming back was just 1 pit stop and took 5h.
Both trips involved going to my dog's homestay for drop off and pick up.
I was glad I went the MK route and not M25 as coming back there was an 1h+ delay on M25.
Fingers firmly crossed that I have not damaged the water pump - time will tell when the temperature is warmer. The water in the water bottle in my car was still frozen at 13:15 when I tried to leave the hotel yesterday!!!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Quote: Originally posted by marg6 on 13/1/2024
sorry DK but if this is what your friend suggests as the route then they clearly havent been out the end of their street! its 3/4 hr longer and an extra 20 miles on the journey for once i would be agreeing with mrs B and going her route if i was you
I personally do not like the M25 route for the reason that once I am on it from the M4 at Junction 15 going to the M11 Junction 27, it is a long way to the services at South Mimms at Junction 23.
In the past, I had struggled to drive that stretch in one go, depending on the time of the day.
My alertness level is not as good as it was before, especially between 14:00 to 17:00 without a meal.
I prefer to have more opportunities to pull aside for a break as and when I start to feel dozy.
Can't do that on the M25.
Each to their own and all that.
DK
I have a near pathological hatred of the M25, it's the bain of my life, but I'm forced onto it when I do my rescue dog transport runs as pretty much everyone else refuses to do the run because the M25 is involved, so muggins here does it!
Coming or going on M4 I always cut out the section of M25 between M40 and M4 junctions, by cutting across on A404(M) link, it's a few more miles but rarely any slower as usually free flowing (avoid rush hour times!) unlike M25, and that is a particularly troublesome section of M25 that often grinds to a complete halt! It has the added bonus for you in that you can stop off at M40 Beaconsfield services, which is 45-60mins away from M25 South Mimms services.
I am glad to report the fresh water tank and pump do not appear to have suffered any lasting damage due to the water being frozen when we had the cold spell.
Both the fresh water and grey water tanks have now been drained.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: First winter trip in the van
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