That thing

Sorry Rita, was having dinner, hence delayed response.

I live within a mile of the M27 near Portsmouth, so I head west on that. In the New Forest this road becomes the A31, and beyond Bournemouth it then becomes the A35 (same road all the way!). I stay on that until Honiton (where it joins the A303), I then get on the A373, which joins the M5 at Junction 28 (service station at that junction). I head NORTH on the M5 for one junction, and take the A361, all the way to Barnstaple. 187 miles to Morrisons in Bideford. Usually about 3hrs (+ stop). We're leaving at 4am on Thursday, aiming for a cooked breakfast in Bideford at 8am!

For you to do this route, I'd use the M25, then the M3 (which is probably your normal route), but then stay on the M3, rather than join the A303 at Basingstoke. This would lead you onto the M27 at Southampton. Probably 4hrs+. How does that compare with your normal journey?

Hope that helps,


R.

Quoted from richardjackson99

White t-shirts then  

R.

wrong

Quoted from richardjackson99

Sorry Rita, was having dinner, hence delayed response.

I live within a mile of the M27 near Portsmouth, so I head west on that. In the New Forest this road becomes the A31, and beyond Bournemouth it then becomes the A35 (same road all the way!). I stay on that until Honiton (where it joins the A303), I then get on the A373, which joins the M5 at Junction 28 (service station at that junction). I head NORTH on the M5 for one junction, and take the A361, all the way to Barnstaple. 187 miles to Morrisons in Bideford. Usually about 3hrs (+ stop). We're leaving at 4am on Thursday, aiming for a cooked breakfast in Bideford at 8am!

For you to do this route, I'd use the M25, then the M3 (which is probably your normal route), but then stay on the M3, rather than join the A303 at Basingstoke. This would lead you onto the M27 at Southampton. Probably 4hrs+. How does that compare with your normal journey?

Hope that helps,


R.

No problem for the delay!

Thank you for your suggestion, your route backs up a plan that I was hatching.

In the past we have normally come down the M4 (stopping at Reading) and M5 (stopping at Gordano), which comes out at 70-80 minutes for each of the 3 legs so 3½-4 hours in all. Many years ago we used to do the A303 but that has its moments around Stonehenge so we are looking at something that is hopefully a little more peaceful. I'd rather drive a longer route for half an hour than sit in traffic for 30 minutes.

We'll probably do the A31 from Guildford to Winchester (which means we can avoid the M25 and a large chunk of M3 and in theory only takes 5 minutes longer) and then stop at Rownhams and the services at the M5/A361 junction. Autoroute reckons that'll be just under 4 hours.

We're looking at leaving at 4am on Saturday.

I can remember our first 'thing' when we camped at braddocks, then the next year we stayed at a hotel for some reason . Every since then we've had a weeks holiday with our caravan, but sadly this will be our LAST!            In our old caravan that is, with the arrival of our second child we have simply outgrown it after twelve years

Only Monday and Tuesday to work then we are on our way to sunny Devon...

Finally I have a question for you. should I break with tradition or can the red teddybear come as a hippy

Quoted from richardjackson99

What colour are they this year? Or is it a secret?

R.

I'll leave that for Terry to tell you  

Sounds like a plan Rita. See you for breakfast on Saturday!

R.

Quoted from richardjackson99

Sorry Rita, was having dinner, hence delayed response.

I live within a mile of the M27 near Portsmouth, so I head west on that. In the New Forest this road becomes the A31, and beyond Bournemouth it then becomes the A35 (same road all the way!). I stay on that until Honiton (where it joins the A303), I then get on the A373, which joins the M5 at Junction 28 (service station at that junction). I head NORTH on the M5 for one junction, and take the A361, all the way to Barnstaple. 187 miles to Morrisons in Bideford. Usually about 3hrs (+ stop). We're leaving at 4am on Thursday, aiming for a cooked breakfast in Bideford at 8am!

For you to do this route, I'd use the M25, then the M3 (which is probably your normal route), but then stay on the M3, rather than join the A303 at Basingstoke. This would lead you onto the M27 at Southampton. Probably 4hrs+. How does that compare with your normal journey?

Hope that helps,


R.

Thats pretty much the same route im taking, though im coming from sompting so would have to tackle worthing, arundel and chichester first. lots of roundabouts  

Thought it moght be Charlie - Bazzer too, if he's comimg from Worthing.

R.