Gassaway's Adventures: A BRITISH ADVENTURE-DRIVING AND WALKING

Driving on the left side of the road can be challenging in its self, but for a real adventure add narrow roads and a 60 mph speed limit. That’s the speed limit on most rural roads that aren’t otherwise posted. That means nice two lane roads with ample shoulder (rare), nice two lane roads with no shoulder (more common), and narrow single lane roads that carry two way traffic at high speeds (the most common). To make things really fun, a 60 mph speed limit and oncoming cars, trucks, semi trucks, and lots of really big tractors. Even the tractors cruise along at 45 mph. So we’re tootling along at what would be an acceptable speed for us of about 35 mph with hedgerows on each side so close that the dashboard alert keeps beeping warning you that your too close. Before you know it there is some guy in a Jaguar bearing down on your rear who, realized at the last moment that my 35 mph doesn’t coincide with his 60 mph and slams on his brakes. I find the nearest break in the hedgerow and pull into it so the guy can get to where ever it is he’s going.

On coming cars, trucks tractors speed around blind corners and we only avoid a collision because my speed around corners is a safe 2 mph. Why is it that I only meet oncoming cars at corners? So one of us has to back up to the nearest unsuitable spot for passing, which usually means a place where one lane becomes 1-1/4 lane. There is enough room for passing if you can drop a shilling out the window sideways as you pass and it just makes it to the ground. That’s generally enough. And this is not just with cars. It’s also with big ass tractors with wheels that are 10 feet tall, I kid you not! The dash board warning buzzer’s screaming causing more distraction as you squeeze by. It’s no wonder this rental car had two pages of previous damage on the rental contract.

FOR THE ENGLISH THIS ROAD IS FOR FREEWAY SPEEDS

But you know, it’s different on the motorways as the freeways are known in these parts. You don’t see many speeders as there are speed cameras EVERYWHERE. They call their motorways, Smart Motorways. There are variable speed limit signs which change with the traffic conditions. If there’s an accident, or obstruction ahead, the signs tell you and tells you which lane it’s in and give you plenty of warning. Like 5 miles warning. We witnessed this and the traffic merged out of the effected lane well in advance of the obstruction. And the British don’t use that lane, even if your sill a couple of miles from the actual closure. No trying to get ahead by using the closed lane till the last minute. Very orderly. Of course those cameras are watching.

We have been decompressing from the excitement of driving by walking. Walking is the national past time here. Everywhere there are pathways that crisscross the countryside. Many of this paths are part of the National Trails which follow designated right of ways and may go from point A to B. But many are permissive rights of ways where landowners allow one to pass. So you end up crossing farmer’s fields where you share the path with sheep, cow and horses. There are designated entry and exit points with a gate allowing you to pass, but keeping the animals in. These “gates” take many forms. Traditional type gates one would expect, but others that allow you to pass over a fence or wall. They make allowance for dogs too. Look out for the sheep shit as there is plenty of it. So we’ve been walking these pathways most every day so we can work off some of the massive English Breakfasts provided at every B&B we are staying in. Of course most of these pathways pass through small and large towns where one can stop at the local pub for food and refreshment so you can pack those calories right back on. But that’s what travel is all about, isn’t it?