On Easter Monday we took my 4 year old granddaughter home after a few days stay with us, a journey that normally takes less than two hours but this time took closer to three.
Anyone would have thought it was a bank holiday or something – okay, a SUNNY bank holiday! In truth it was raining and everyone seemed to be heading away from the coast.
We had to queue to get on the A12 where we joined a slow moving stream of traffic. We then had to queue to get on the A120, but the going was good until we reached Braintree when we joined another queue. But once past Braintree it was plain sailing all the way to the M11.
The M11 was great until we reached the queue to join the M25. Now these queues might be bearable if you didn’t get so many people whizzing along and cutting in. Why is their time more important than anyone else’s? They save themselves 15 minutes or so, but at a cost to everyone behind them who just see their own wait getting longer and longer. What if everyone decided not to bother queuing and just to push in instead?
Apart from being slow through the roadworks, the M25 wasn't too bad and thankfully the rest of the journey went as planned.
We had Brian Blessed (otherwise known as Granpy Rabbit) on the sat nav – which was fun! If I go anywhere alone in the car, I take John Cleese along – he sounds so assured and calm and I always feel safe with him.
On the subject of roads, there is an accident blackspot near here and the solution to this has been to turn the section of dual carriageway into a single carriageway (when actually what is needed is a roundabout). Since these “safety measures” were carried out, there have been two accidents in ten days! Sigh.
Yes, queue jumpers are really annoying, aren't they, Teresa, but Brian Blessed on the sat nav sounds a fun way to while away a journey.
ReplyDeleteWe only have one double-laned road over hear and people always weave through the traffic. Thankfully I'm rarely driving when there's traffic jams.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you got there safely in the end.
He gets very excited when you join the motorway, Biddy! x
ReplyDeleteThanks, Debs. I don't really mind jams if people behave themselves ;-)
Oh, that's a miserable stretch of road, we go up it sometimes and try to travel late at night because we have been caught just like you. I don't know why it's so bad, either.
ReplyDeleteIt can be grim can't it, Jenny. I have a theory that if everyone did what they were supposed to do, the queues would be much shorter x
ReplyDeleteThere is no pleasure in driving these days!
ReplyDeleteGrrr! Don't you just hate jams and queue jumpers? So glad I got to stay at home this Easter holiday and just view the jams on the motorway as I drove over them on the road home which spans the M6. Hope you had an otherwise great Easter hols, Teresa! x
ReplyDeleteEwwww sounds awful to me. Not a fan of busy roads..then again who is? Bet you were happy when you reached your destination x
ReplyDeleteEvery time I hear Brian Blessed's voice I keep expecting him to shout "Gordon's alive!?"
ReplyDeleteIt sounds awful, Teresa, but I'm sure it was worth it to have your wee granddaughter with you. We've never tried SatNav yet!
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ReplyDeleteI used to love driving, Maria. When the kids were little, we'd pile them in the car and see where the day took us. Not any more! x
ReplyDeleteWe don't usually venture out on bank holidays, Lydia - the rest of the time was lovely x
We were very happy, Diane - and would you believe coming home, no jams at all! x
He gets very excited, Keith - Squadron 40, off to Everest and the North Pole, all that kind of thing. Makes for an interesting journey! x
It was worth it, Rosemary - but would you believe she's the only one of my six grandchildren who gets car sick, poor little mite! She was very good though, writing notes to her mum and dad and drawing pictures bless her. I always said we didn't need sat nav, but it does come in useful if you get diverted and need to find a different route x
A good bit of gentle road-rage here Teresa.
ReplyDeleteWhen people used to fly by me on my way to work, I used to wonder what makes a job so wonderful, that employees can't wait to get there.
ReplyDeletetravalling on Bank holiday weekends always seems to be a nightmare, as I recall... It's many years since I did that as I live in Lanzarote now - no queues!!
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid so, Maggie, but I'm better than I used to be! At least I don't wind the window down and yell at people any more - not that I did it often and only when severely provoked ;-) x
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought of it like that, Martin, but very true! x
We always had a rule never to go on the roads on a bank holiday, Pat - goodness knows what possessed us to this time! Lanzarote - how lovely - and warm!! x
Ahhh the joys of the M25, A12 and A414 when I lived in Essex all those years ago. Now I live on Anglesey, and I have to remind myself that being stuck behind a slow moving tractor isn't as bad as queuing for hours getting into work ;o) Caroline x
ReplyDeleteI am not a fan of the M25 though have to travel along it to see family in Essex. It is my least favourite road and my husband gets the pleasure of driving on it if I get my way. Queuing for 2.5 hours 4 miles from Dartford tunnel, a few months ago when the bridge was shut and the tunnel opened for 2 way traffic, was neither pleasant nor helpful but I suppose at least the traffic was slow!...
ReplyDeleteYes you made me think Caroline. Here in Lincolnshire the worst thing usually is a tractor holding us up. Then of course you get the idiots who can't wait and overtake on our narrow winding roads, usually ditches either side, putting everybody in danger. Trouble is here people generally think they'll never meet another soul on the roads cause you can go for miles on your own!! (bliss!!) It's a definite adventure now when we do venture anywhere where there's lots of traffic :o) xx
ReplyDeleteWhen I lived down south and worked near Heathrow, the last bit of the motorway used to get clogged up almost every morning. And every morning, there was a queue of people who'd whizz down the hard shouder and push in at the end - making the rest of us grind our teeth. Until, one day, the police were waiting for them - and none of us would allow them back onto the road. I know it's mean, but that was a great day. :0)
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I quite agree, Caroline x
ReplyDeleteUgh that tunnel, Deborah! Before the bridge it used to be a free for all didn't it with no proper queues, just everyone trying to jam in. I daresay it's the same when the bridge is closed. I don't mind the M25 once I'm on there - it's the joining I hate most x
We often get held up by tractors locally, Sue - at least on the roads out of town and you're right about the idiots who can't wait to overtake! x
That made me smile, Suz - it's nice when you see them get their come-uppance isn't it :-) x
Hi Teresa,
ReplyDeleteIndeed, the adventure that is British motoring. Of course, my adventure was rather significant on the roads over here. Then I realised we drive on the other side of the road :)
And those queue jumpers, get them in North America, only on the other side of the road. Hope your overseas readers realise that "Bank Holiday" is what they might call a "long weekend".
Oh my, are we there yet?
Take care and safe motoring.
In kindness, Gary x
Hi Gary - I forget that it isn't known as a Bank Holiday anywhere else :-) Are we there yet? Now there's a question x
ReplyDeleteI do not miss the A12! Over here our motor way is amazing. If we see four cars it is extra busy!
ReplyDeleteI envy you your motorway, Glynis x
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