MERRIE OLDE ENGLAND

[gunny]

Saw the Sutton Hoo thing and want to go to England. Been all over, except far east, which was never interested, never to England. Question is---should we do a tour thing with respectible like National Geographic, American Express, etc. or rent a car and with research plan our hotels, food, etc on the wrong side of the road. Hadrians Wall, Stonehenge, Maiden Castle--places like that? Spring--Summer--Fall ?

[Rokcet Scientist]

Saw the Sutton Hoo thing and want to go to England. Been all over, except far east, which was never interested, never to England. Question is---should we do a tour thing with respectible like National Geographic, American Express, etc. or rent a car and with research plan our hotels, food, etc on the wrong side of the road. Hadrians Wall, Stonehenge, Maiden Castle--places like that? Spring--Summer--Fall ?

Going fossil hunting? Who is "we"? How long would you want to go for? Are you well insured and adventurous? Have you got a strong stomach?
May and September are the mellowest seasons.

[Minimalist]

We went to Britain in October. Weather was great - in London. There was a front stretching from south of Ireland up to Scotland that was pouring rain on everyone else. We got a little wet when we took the tour to Bath and Stonehenge.

I'd always recommend the tour. They have a way of getting you in to the attractions without standing on long lines.

[gunny]

Min---what tour did you use? Probably two to four of us. We are tough---TEXANS

[Minimalist]

This was pretty much it.


http://www.clubabc.com/TourLanding.aspx?TourId=125


We were only there for six days, though. They may still have that tour as well.

Be careful. They drive on the wrong side of the road over there. Makes crossing the street an adventure.

[Rokcet Scientist]

We are tough---TEXANS

Better leave your 10 gallon hat at home then and don a fake moustache: they've got 5 million CCTV cameras in the public space.
And are you prepared for your own TSA?

[gunny]

No bombs in my underwear--maybe a .45

[Digit]

August is normally the wettest month gunny and the warmest, but it can be very changeable.
By the way, we drive on the correct side of the road! Ignore Min!
Our roads are much narrower than you are probably used to as well, also we use 'roundabouts' at junctions, which I believe you do not, check their useage before you come here.
Unless you specify otherwise most rental vehicles will have manual gearboxes rather than autos.
As regards a strong stomach most of the foods you are familiar with are available and at least you are unlikely to be offered Frogs legs or Snails, nor any of these delicacies either I might add...

* Bruine Bonen Soep (Brown Bean Soup)
* Erwtensoep (Traditional Dutch Split Pea Soup)
* Forgotten Soup
* Groningse Mustard Soup
* Spring Vegetable Soup with Meatballs (Voorjaarsgroentesoep met Balletjes)


...from Rs's neck of the woods.

Forgotten soup. Once eaten best forgotten?!!!

Roy.

[Rokcet Scientist]

August is normally the wettest month gunny and the warmest, but it can be very changeable.
By the way, we drive on the correct side of the road! Ignore Min!
Our roads are much narrower than you are probably used to as well, also we use 'roundabouts' at junctions, which I believe you do not, check their useage before you come here.
Unless you specify otherwise most rental vehicles will have manual gearboxes rather than autos.

A trip to the UK is obviously a load of fun!

And roundabouts and turning right are especially fun!

"Checking their usage" and negotiating the real thing are two completely different things, as you'll find out...

Good luck.

[Digit]

It's that difficult that millions of drivers manage it every day gunny!

There are worse ones than in the UK anyway....

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 49764.html

Roy.

[Rokcet Scientist]

There are worse ones than in the UK anyway....

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 49764.html

Negotiating the Place de l'étoile is suicidal: no lanes! Which is why no Parisian in his right mind attempts it and why they invented the "Métro" (a.k.a. the "underground" or "subway").

This idiot rode a bike around the Arc de Triomphe and lived! http://you.leparisien.fr/sports/2010/02 ... o-372.html

[Minimalist]

I'll never forget what our guide told us in Rome.

"People do not park their cars....they abandon them."

[gunny]

Looking forward to it-rumor has it our Watson came to America with George III soldiers found the girls so cute---he never left---

[gunny]

Speaking of driving in England - Bought a wonderful 1954 Jaguar XK140MC in 1959 in California for $1600.00. It had the infamous Lucas auto electrics. Fabulous car--had to beat the girls off with a stick. Sold it, at a profit when the water pump went out. A Chevy-Ford water pump was $20.00--The Jag was $200.00. Back to Lucas--If the rain fell--no start--kept a hair dryer in car to dry ignition. In the mid-1970s, Prince Charles came to Austin on an economic trip to foster British trade--The local Jaguar dealer furnished a new large sedan to pick him up from his RAF jet at the local Bergstrom Air Force Base. He gave a speech lauding British products to the state legislature, and left, as rain was falling, TV cameras rolling, waving to the crowd. The Jag, of course, would not start. The local Cadallac dealer provided a limo to take him to the RAF plane. Understand Lucas is now improved.

[Minimalist]

I had a 1974 MGB with two six-volt batteries wired in series under a panel in the rear deck. Open to the ground and, as you say, an adventure in the rain.

You'd think that in a nation like Britain they would have been more conscious of what rain could do to electricity, wouldn't you?