varesecrazy said:

arr it Be

it's on the side of a good / interesting Main road, :devil:
just a fair bit off the M-way network ( typical "little chef" location )

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It's a really easy 40-mile drive for me... -- shame it's on a Saturday, though; and the day before Chiltern Hills....

homeward said:

It's a really easy 40-mile drive for me... -- shame it's on a Saturday, though; and the day before Chiltern Hills....

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Might not be - maybe the other dates will overtake that one!

Maybe I should put a bet on down the bookies. The cafe looks good, its just down to what date wins to see if I can attend.

Severn bends of doom! we could put the death dome at the end of it!

Surprised, but pleased that Cap'n Slarty is gone. He got a bit viscious a short while ago, having contradicted himself.

Is the caff, the one at Dorchester - on - Thames / Berinsfield, next to the scrap yard?

portland_bill said:

Surprised, but pleased that Cap'n Slarty is gone. He got a bit viscious a short while ago, having contradicted himself.

Is the caff, the one at Dorchester - on - Thames / Berinsfield, next to the scrap yard?

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(Yes..)
tried to keep it quiet or gadge would be a tad jinxed

Nigel :I was thinking of the Hinksey Garden Centre as 1st meet point, as it's on the grass verge of the A34, (huge car park , cafe/ loos)
BUT if there are 15 FIAT's there, getting back onto A34 "together"could be a tad tricky..??

let me know your thoughts.

charlie

Hit the A34 and get your foot down and play catch up!

varesecrazy said:

Nigel :I was thinking of the Hinksey Garden Centre as 1st meet point, as it's on the grass verge of the A34, (huge car park , cafe/ loos)
BUT if there are 15 FIAT's there, getting back onto A34 "together"could be a tad tricky..??

let me know your thoughts.

charlie

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I always avoid the hinksey garden centre, due to the trauma of rejoining the A34, north or south. A convoy is likely to a)split us up with large gaps, b) get us all killed under a Romanian truck(other nationalities are available), c) just annoy everyone else. Especially on a Saturday morning.

Other options: PearTree park & ride. Easier access from all directions.
Tesco Abingdon, although possibly a bit busy early Saturday.
The lay-bys off the Abingdon junction, towards Marcham. Busy weekdays, but any idea about Saturdays? Are they full of sleeping lorries, or empty?

Here's a complicated solution to the garden centre.
One car goes north, around the Botley roundabout and back down. Slows the traffic in lane 1 allowing the whole convoy out. Needs two people in that car co-ordinating on the phone, and the whole convoy to move without undue delay. Posthumous medal to be awarded at the caff.

portland_bill said:

I always avoid the hinksey garden centre, due to the trauma of rejoining the A34

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thanks,
confirmed my hesitative doubts

cheers LOCALS

next thought..Peachcroft garden Centre..??,
simple access from A 34 Southbound, and not too bad from northbound

either way we really want to AVOID Abingdon town centre / and / or Oxford

on a Saturday :bang:

Moultoneer , werdna
any other suggestions where it won't be an absolute nightmare going from the A34 fringes to Dorchester,

Milton Park is great for parking but NO facilities at weekends..,

Charlie

Peartree has a big enough car park, but as you say..foot down to the A 34 ramp

By the way..have we got permission from the weekend bikers to use their cafe ?

werdna said:

Peartree has a big enough car park, but as you say..foot down to the A 34 ramp

By the way..have we got permission from the weekend bikers to use their cafe ?

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peartree's too far North really..AND BUSY


I've still got my garage full of bikes

anyway the TwinAir's always keep "proper" motorcylists entertained

varesecrazy said:

any other suggestions where it won't be an absolute nightmare going from the A34 fringes to Dorchester,

Milton Park is great for parking but NO facilities at weekends..,

Charlie

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only other thing I can think of is the OLD Do-it-all in Didcot,

as it's a simple drive/navigate from A34, and has Tesco (+ Halfrauds) opposite

if we stay for half-hour.

and of course a NICE drive along the Thames to the Cafe

That sounds ok, then off to the cafe via warborough ?

werdna said:

That sounds ok, then off to the cafe via warborough ?

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pretty much..!!

only 10 hours until the polling ends,
I'll try and get the locations + timings up tomorrow !!

werdna said:

That sounds ok, then off to the cafe via warborough ?

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The old Focus/Do-it-all car park is a good choice, as it's never very
full these days, and Halfrauds might be useful for some

The 'H' cafe at the Berinsfield roundabout is good'n'cheap , though often
quite busy with bikers at weekends, but they're usually friendly

Not sure if I'll be able to make it (despite being very local) as I'm
so busy at weekends (such is retirement )



Chris

Didcot seems a good plan. Easy to direct to from A34 too. Tesco for loo if needed. Halfords for repairs if necessary. Sorry, strike that last bit.

Do we have final date yet

Well its Saturday the 17th unless somebody is trying to fix it for the bank holiday Sunday

I think we have a winner still touch and go for me, luigi engine still hasn't been reunited with his body yet however I have made great progress and hopefully by Sunday rugby will be woken up by the chatter of a twin cylinder again

FullMetalPanda said:

Well its Saturday the 17th unless somebody is trying to fix it for the bank holiday Sunday

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Bother. Got the Chiltern Hills Rally, the following day -- and Saturdays aren't good for me, anyway... -- so won't be there, I'm afraid....

Have fun, though... -- I'll be praying for warmer weather than Donington for you all...! :worship:

PS: I bet portland_bill's got a big grin on his face, though...!