AndyPanda4x4 said:

Ahh right I see now! I will have to find out which one it is - if it's one where you have to drive through we may just take the Fusion, don't want my car spread accross the monkey enclosure

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No monkey enclosure at Whipsnade. There is at Woburn, but you can divert just before you go into that section if you've got a decent car (i.e. a Panda). They are quite different - Woburn is all driving round through lion enclosures etc, while Whipsnade has only one drive through area and the rest is accessible by foot (it's a big site though, so I take the car in!).

What was this topic about??!!!

AndyPanda4x4 said:

Ahh right I see now! I will have to find out which one it is - if it's one where you have to drive through we may just take the Fusion, don't want my car spread accross the monkey enclosure

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Wooburn is a true safari park where to see the animals you have to use a car, Whipsnade is a Zoo that happens to be big enough to be able to drive round and you get out of the car at various points to see the animals (saves wear and tear on the feet ). Either way its a great day out. The drive through that Palio mentioned is only antelope, Yaks and camels.

Cheers guys, that saves me having to google owt, and I can appear to have researched it when I am asked for some info

panda1408 said:

Option 1 sounds good to me not that I'd grumble at option 2. Been having a quick look for somewhere to stay and it seems that most places nearby are fully booked so may have to go further afield.

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I've been checking their availability before recommending anywhere and am finding the same thing.
I have now tracked down the place that I didn't know the location or name of! I phoned them last night and they are fully booked too . He did say that he would check with his wife though, as there were a few crossings out in the book that he didn't understand, and get back to me.

For the Saturday it looks like option no.1, unless I have an even better idea between now and the 18th.

VmanC said:

I've been checking their availability before recommending anywhere and am finding the same thing.
I have now tracked down the place that I didn't know the location or name of! I phoned them last night and they are fully booked too . He did say that he would check with his wife though, as there were a few crossings out in the book that he didn't understand, and get back to me.

For the Saturday it looks like option no.1, unless I have an even better idea between now and the 18th.

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Can't really see anywhere sensible to stay (there's a couple of nice places at £600 a night though - I'd rather buy a Panda!).

The current plan unless anything changes, will therefore be to travel down Sat morning & Sun morning. In theory it's only 1.5 hours each way, so not too bad (just a bit tiring do it 2 days running - must be getting old, I used to do a show 3 days running at Southampton without batting an eyelid in a 127! ).

If we could arrange any Sat meal so we're not too late into the evening, that would be :slayer:

I'm struggling also Seems everywhere close is fully booked and the places further away that have availability are getting abit on the pricey side. Its a 3 and a half hour drive each way for me so I didn't really want to do it in one day, plus I'd like to be there on Saturday so not sure what to do at the moment

panda1408 said:

I'm struggling also Seems everywhere close is fully booked and the places further away that have availability are getting abit on the pricey side. Its a 3 and a half hour drive each way for me so I didn't really want to do it in one day, plus I'd like to be there on Saturday so not sure what to do at the moment

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See if Vernon can find something for you - is it just you or your Dad as well?

How about pitching a tent in Vernon's garden?! :idea:

If not we could probably find you something round our neck of the woods - not ideal, but travelable daily at least. I'd offer you a bed, but Mum will be staying over & there's no more room at the inn. I can stable a Panda but no people.....

Palio said:

See if Vernon can find something for you - is it just you or your Dad as well?

How about pitching a tent in Vernon's garden?! :idea:

If not we could probably find you something round our neck of the woods - not ideal, but travelable daily at least. I'd offer you a bed, but Mum will be staying over & there's no more room at the inn. I can stable a Panda but no people.....

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Cheers Gavin, it will be me and my Dad, Vernon has already offered to let me stay with him but only has room for one, I'll keep looking and will widen the search, there has to be somewhere!

The place with no name has contacted me and they do have one single en suite room left for £50, but if it's any use to someone I suggest you contact them soon. Details here.


Bob is already staying with us Saturday night, this leaves one more spare room and we have three camp beds that we can put up in the lounge. If anyone want's en suite they can sleep in the downstairs toilet.

There is a Premier Inn about twenty minutes from us with rooms available HERE

Palio, panda1408

Turns out that the pub I was planning to have dinner at has rooms available. You need to be quick though.

Book HERE

Also, see my previous two posts.

Right, I shall discuss with dad tomorrow and get one of those booked asap! Cheers Vern

One more for you, 10mins from our house. HERE

I'm really getting the hang of this Linky business.

VmanC said:

One more for you, 10mins from our house. HERE

I'm really getting the hang of this Linky business.

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My application form for the show is winging its way to the organisers, via the Royal Mail 1st class pterodactyl.

I think we've pretty much decided that for £25 of fuel and another 3 hours driving we'll save the £170 for b&b and travel each day. I'll probably regret this by the end of the weekend, but it's not that far.............

Well we're all filled in and posted off :thumbup:

Might have some issues, at present I can't do more than 35mph without a really loud whirring sound from the gearbox. I have had a look on the drive but really need to get it into the workshop, which I can't do until the weekend before this event! Gear oil is currently resembling an iron-filings syrup, I thinks all may not be well...

Above all we're gonna give it our best shot to be there, with or without a Panda

AndyPanda4x4 said:

Well we're all filled in and posted off :thumbup:

Might have some issues, at present I can't do more than 35mph without a really loud whirring sound from the gearbox. I have had a look on the drive but really need to get it into the workshop, which I can't do until the weekend before this event! Gear oil is currently resembling an iron-filings syrup, I thinks all may not be well...

Above all we're gonna give it our best shot to be there, with or without a Panda

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Hope it's ok!

If you are sans Panda & staying in Aylesbury, I can lend you one for the Sunday. :idea:

Palio said:

Hope it's ok!

If you are sans Panda & staying in Aylesbury, I can lend you one for the Sunday. :idea:

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Thanks Gav you're a super hero - could this be the second Panda event this year I will be attending in a Panda other than mine?!

AndyPanda4x4 said:

Thanks Gav you're a super hero - could this be the second Panda event this year I will be attending in a Panda other than mine?!

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Hopefully you'll have got it sorted before then.

If not, Howie's likely to be around (assuming I'm using Panto by then!). You'll feel at home in a 4x4 though he's getting on a bit now & doesn't go quite as well as Panto!

Got my bus pass today - sorry bus show pass!

Palio said:

Got my bus pass today - sorry bus show pass!

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I can't be as old as you, I'm still waiting for my bus pass