Saturday, May 31, 2003

 

Day 37. Sunday 01 June 2003. Up the Motorway Again

We left Cricklade mid morning on our northern journey. First we had to head for the M5 motorway via the A419 and then A417 busy dual carriageways linking the M5 and M4 motorways. The A417 was for much of the way pencil-line straight following the Ermin Way, an old Roman road along the Cotswold Hills hilltops. We could see glimpses of the M5 from here in the valley below. Descending the Cotswolds we could see the M% ahead of us, miles in the distance.

My heart was in my mouth a little; I had not driven on the UK motorways before but in the distance the M5 traffic seemed to be light, a good sign. As we approached the M5 clear signs told us to get into the left-hand lane and then suddenly we were on the Motorway and heading north. Just like in NZ.

This was a good day to get used to the motorway signs and procedures it was a Bank Holiday Sunday and not too much heavy traffic. We covered the miles quickly even though we stayed mostly in the left hand lane and we decided we would stop for the night at Charnock Richard just south of Preston and not too far from Jen and Pete in Oswaldtwistle.

As we moved up the M5 we came to the busy junction of the M5-M6 and we managed to navigate the increase in traffic ok. Then came the Manchester major works and our lane was shunted over into the outer southbound lane. Soon we were at Charnock Richard in the early afternoon.

The accommodation L-shaped block was 2 storey set in a large park-like setting well away from the motorway and the Services building so it was reasonably quiet. It reminded me of a typical older NZ motor inn motel as copied from Australia and USA ones. There were about 40 cars and 2 buses in the car park but many more next morning. We had our evening meal here and breakfast next morning. The evening meal was quite good and more than enough of everything. Breakfast was the same and was help you to everything with no limits. The motel prices were on weekend special 35 pounds per room and a futher good special for 3 nights pay for 2 only at the special rates.

The room was warm and the bed a little hard. We went to bed early. The day had been hot and humid with a haze.

posted by OldEric 9:55 pm