I think the furthest I've ever driven without stopping - even at a service station - is about 260 miles (4.5 hours) to Northumberland and pretty much the same amount in the opposite direction to Cornwall without stopping.

My bl*dder couldn't cope with that.

I didn't say I wasn't going to stop on the way, I meant that I wasn't going to have an overnight break. As it happened I stopped for a w*e 3 times, each time combining it with a fuel and/or food stop for maximum efficiency.

The furthest I've driven in one day is 501 miles, from Colchester to Hay-on-Wye and back, to get a book I left behind in a bookshop.

Yesterday's journey was awful, it took me an hour to get out of Glasgow due to roadworks, and then the A1(M) kept inexplicably grinding to a halt near Doncaster. But I deployed my strip map to use a by-route via the A60, rejoining the main road at Blyth.

As I crossed the river Trent, an ominous purple and orange sunset was reflected in its waters.

I have washed my little car for the first time in about 2 years. I noticed the left-hand side was a lot dirtier than the right-hand side.

I have to drive to Darlington today. I'm going to make sandwiches to take with me, so as not to have to wait ages for a burger again.

I should have gone by now actually, I shouldn't still be on the internet.

Have you gone yet?

Has you arrived yet?

I have. How odd to be at a point in my life where I'm pleased to see Darlington in the evening sunlight.

Darlington has an interestingly tall clock tower in the town centre if ever you dare venture that far deep within.

Not Big Ben (tower) epicness, but mildly surprising for.... Darlington.

Butterfield wrote:

Not Big Ben (tower) epicness

It's not that big.

Nightjar wrote:

Butterfield wrote:

Not Big Ben (tower) epicness

It's not that big.

It's not that big, but it's impressive to look at.

...And listen to chiming.

Seriously, on my mental list of things everyone must do at least once in their lives, one of them is stand next to Big Ben and hear it chime. It's one of the most iconic sounds in the world.

Butterfield wrote:

Darlington has an interestingly tall clock tower in the town centre if ever you dare venture that far deep within.

I did once try to get back to the A1(M) that way, but I got completely lost, and sadly missed seeing this tower.

Quote :

Seriously, on my mental list of things everyone must do at least once in their lives, one of them is stand next to Big Ben and hear it chime. It's one of the most iconic sounds in the world.

If I tried that I'd inevitably go on a day when it wasn't working.

And then be arrested for looking disappointed in the vicinity of parliament.

Yes, it must have been devastating for unknowing once-in-a-lifetime tourists to show up at Big Ben and see it shrouded in scaffolding and sheeting and all silenced.

The last time I was there they'd just started erecting the scaffolding at the base and I didn't realise what was about to happen in coming months and years.

More disappointing tourist photo opportunities.

I haz applied to renew my driving licence.

I successfully spotted no fewer than 4 lurking camera vans today, I'm getting really good at it.

There were a lot of false positives too, I slowed down 3 times just on account of random vans parked by the roadside.