I (Mr) recently had a business meeting with a 37 year old guy from Peterborough, who divorced a few months ago. He has no kids, or other commitments, so is fairly free. Since his divorce, he has taken himself on a rather strange road trip once per month.
He uses Google Maps, and selects 'Avoid Motorways'. He then chooses a random location about 3 hours away, and drives to it. If at any point Google suggests an alternative route with a 'Similar ETA', he takes that route instead.
Apparently, this costs him about £30 in fuel, but rather than sit at home alone, it gives him a change of scenery. I'm not sure whether this is eccentric or genius (or both)?
|
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
Quite a nice little game, tbh.
When I got divorced, on the weekends I didn't have the kids, I bought a one man tent and would cycle to a campsite I had never been to between 25-40 miles away. Criteria were shower facilities and a bar.
Not thought about that in ages, and might start again next spring. Thanks for the inspiration |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
 |
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
Last time I did that on the way home from somewhere, I ended up in a Bristol no smog zone, so had to pay the fine when I got home and also ended up on a quaint toll road/bridge and had to pay a man another whole pound to pass. Im sticking to the roads I know  |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"Last time I did that on the way home from somewhere, I ended up in a Bristol no smog zone, so had to pay the fine when I got home and also ended up on a quaint toll road/bridge and had to pay a man another whole pound to pass. Im sticking to the roads I know "
Ah, you need to activate 'Avoid Tolls'  |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By *orny PTMan
over a year ago
Peterborough |
As someone who has very, very itchy feet (30+ house moves later), loves reading maps and has even worse cabin fever: I think he's a genius, as travel broadens the mind and all that.
He's not trying to get lost, but trying to find himself.
This is vital in recharging those mental batteries, that must have be drained for so long. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By *orny PTMan
over a year ago
Peterborough |
"Last time I did that on the way home from somewhere, I ended up in a Bristol no smog zone, so had to pay the fine when I got home and also ended up on a quaint toll road/bridge and had to pay a man another whole pound to pass. Im sticking to the roads I know
Ah, you need to activate 'Avoid Tolls' "
and trolls  |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"Last time I did that on the way home from somewhere, I ended up in a Bristol no smog zone, so had to pay the fine when I got home and also ended up on a quaint toll road/bridge and had to pay a man another whole pound to pass. Im sticking to the roads I know "
.
Wow what did you drive, the bus from Summer Holiday?
Oh Smog zone!  |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
I like it! A lot.
Let life take you wherever it takes you, sounds like he's open to whatever path lies ahead and is excited by it rather than scared if it.
I sometimes bugger off for a weekend and it'll be dictated as to where by the cheap deals on things like booking . Com. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By *orny PTMan
over a year ago
Peterborough |
One Idea is to find a trunk road, say the A5 or A6 or even the Grand Union Canal, visiting each town or village to see what shops and pubs are around. We've spent the last few years doing this and have based weekend breaks 2 or 3 hours away on those roads.
Not all road trips are all on Route 66! |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
You don't even need random locations.
I had a flat tyre and replaced with the space saver forcing me to travel no faster than 50mph. That practically ruled out motorways.
For a whole week anywhere I'd go, I'd ask the GPS to avoid motorways. Added about half an hour to most journeys, but it was pure wanderlust. There's so much to like about the UK that we simply don't get to see.
(I wanted to order a specific set of tyres and they were a week away, I wasn't willing to spend money on anything temporary and tyres are frikken expensive these days anyway, even the cheap ones.) |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
» Add a new message to this topic
