I will be driving to COW (the Conference of Wargamers) later today, and I am about to make one last check on what I need to take before I pack my car.
Google Maps (which I have found to be reasonably accurate and have used as my primary satnav for some time) has suggested three possible routes. One suggestion is to via the M25 (crossing the River Thames at Dartford) and M1 to Northampton ...
... whilst another suggests a similar route, with the exception that the River Thames is crossed using the Blackwall Tunnel, a notorious bottleneck.
The third suggestion uses the M11 and A14 but requires the use of the Blackwall Tunnel.
I may well try a fourth route, which is to use the M25 until I reach the M11, and then travel north on that motorway until I turn off onto the A14 towards Wellingborough and Knuston Hall.
Whichever route I eventually choose to use, I hope to get to Knuston Hall at around 4.00pm. I can then help set up the conference before the bulk of attendees arrive. Once that is done, I can sit back and relax ... I hope!
Please note that the images featured above are © Google Maps.
Google Maps (which I have found to be reasonably accurate and have used as my primary satnav for some time) has suggested three possible routes. One suggestion is to via the M25 (crossing the River Thames at Dartford) and M1 to Northampton ...
... whilst another suggests a similar route, with the exception that the River Thames is crossed using the Blackwall Tunnel, a notorious bottleneck.
The third suggestion uses the M11 and A14 but requires the use of the Blackwall Tunnel.
I may well try a fourth route, which is to use the M25 until I reach the M11, and then travel north on that motorway until I turn off onto the A14 towards Wellingborough and Knuston Hall.
Whichever route I eventually choose to use, I hope to get to Knuston Hall at around 4.00pm. I can then help set up the conference before the bulk of attendees arrive. Once that is done, I can sit back and relax ... I hope!
Please note that the images featured above are © Google Maps.
Hi Bob,
ReplyDeleteHave a great time Bob - I shall look forward to reading the after action report(s)!
All the best,
DC
David Crook,
DeleteThe journey was awful ... but if Friday night is anything to go by, COW is going to be great!
All the best,
Bob
M25/M11, I would say. M11 has got to be a quieter motorway than the M40 (and you're approaching the venue from the right side)?
ReplyDeleteObviously the M25 is the main issue, however. Having driven on it a couple of days ago I believe that a direct consequence of its existence must be a massive increase in the murder rate of the capital.
See you later
Andrew
Rumblestrip (Andrew),
DeleteM25/M11 is the most obvious route, and the one that I chose. Unfortunately it is not the one I actually used, as access to the M11 was closed when I reached the junction and I ended up going on a most odd route from then on.
I regularly use the M25, and it can be a great way around London ... but it wasn't yesterday!
All the best,
Bob
Good luck with the march and I hope you all have a marvellous weekend.
ReplyDeleteRoss Mac,
DeleteGetting to COW was awful ... but it Friday evening is anything to go by, it'll be worth the effort.
All the best,
Bob
I'd be tempted by the M11 route but as always, your biggest challenge is escaping from London!
ReplyDeleteTim Gow,
DeleteThe M11 route is the best ... if you can get to it! The traffic out of London was so bad that I was unable to join it, and had to take an different and somewhat erratic route to Knuston Hall.
All the best,
Bob
Yes, getting out of the Big Smoke is always a problem on a Friday. Is the Blackwall tunnel that bad? I used to use it a lot, although it doesn't really get you anywhere at the other end!
ReplyDeleteMartin Rapier,
DeleteAs London's traffic has grown, so has the demands on the cross-Thames links. To put it into some sort of perspective, from Tower Bridge going west, there is a river crossing point for approximately every 259,000 people; from Tower Bridge going east, there is a crossing point for every 2.5 million people! Blackwall Tunnel is one of those eastern crossing points.
The Tunnel joins the North and South Circular roads as well as feeding to and from the A2/M2 and A20/M20. What cannot use the Dartford Crossing has to use the Blackwall Tunnel.
All the best,
Bob
Here in the colonies, whenever we can manage it, we leave for conventions a day early. The extra night on the hotel bill is worth it to be able to arrive completely relaxed and ready to game. In your case it would save that Friday traffic!
ReplyDeleteDick Bryant,
DeleteI wish we could do that, but accommodation in the area is limited and expensive at this time of year due to the proximity of Silverstone, where the British motor racing Grand Pix is held this weekend.
All the best,
Bob