Motoring Discussion > Turpin's alive	Miscellaneous
Thread Author: Runfer D'Hills	Replies: 63

New Tue 3 Feb 15 16:28   Turpin's alive - Runfer D'Hills

Just totting up some receipts when I noticed one in particular from the M6 Toll. I use it a fair bit because it really does save time especially with the roadworks on the normal M6 right now. Anyway, I must have gone through a toll booth ( I always auto pay by card, have you ever seen a quicker card reader !? ) in the wee small hours before dawn with my top box on. Didn't notice at the time but the receipt shows that I paid £8 something ! Normal night rate is £3 something. A fiver extra to go through with a top box ! Robbing so and so's ! Edit- been through previously with the bikes up top ( therefore taller still ) but wasn't charged extra. Last edited by: Runfer D'Hills on Tue 3 Feb 15 at 16:31 Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 3 Feb 15 16:43   Turpin's alive - WillDeBeest

Perhaps there's a detector beam that can pass through the bikes. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 3 Feb 15 16:49   Turpin's alive - Runfer D'Hills

Just checked their website, apparently the height of the top box re-categorised my car as a van. How infra dig don't you think? Last edited by: Runfer D'Hills on Tue 3 Feb 15 at 16:50 Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 3 Feb 15 17:08   Turpin's alive - Dave_

>> Just checked their website, apparently the height of the top box re-categorised my car as a van. When doing tip runs with the back seats down and the net bulkhead thing clipped into place, daughter calls our car the "really posh van". Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 3 Feb 15 17:12   Turpin's alive - Zero

>> Just checked their website, apparently the height of the top box re-categorised my car as >> a van. Its a fixed price fine for being such a dirk and having a roof box on your hearse. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 3 Feb 15 17:15   Turpin's alive - Runfer D'Hills

Perhaps I should randomly distribute McDs wrappers and back copies of the Daily Mirror on the top of the dash and hire a feral looking youth in a hooded garment to fall asleep in the passenger seat in future. ;-) Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 3 Feb 15 17:17   Turpin's alive - Zero

>> Perhaps I should randomly distribute McDs wrappers and back copies of the Daily Mirror on >> the top of the dash and hire a feral looking youth in a hooded garment >> to fall asleep in the passenger seat in future. More street cred than a roof box. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 3 Feb 15 17:38   Turpin's alive - Runfer D'Hills

Just ever so slightly reluctant to take any advice on street credibility from a train spotter. Could be wrong of course... ;-) Reply to this message | Report message       4

New Tue 3 Feb 15 17:44   Turpin's alive - CGNorwich

Is it the bobble hat? Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 3 Feb 15 17:46   Turpin's alive - Runfer D'Hills

And the cargo pants. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 3 Feb 15 19:08   Turpin's alive - Zero

>> Just ever so slightly reluctant to take any advice on street credibility from a train >> spotter. Could be wrong of course... A roof box is de rigueur in the train spotter world, I'll save you a place on the platform next week Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 3 Feb 15 19:14   Turpin's alive - WillDeBeest

A roof box is de rigueur in the train spotter world... Just how many fish paste sandwiches can one man's mum make? Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 3 Feb 15 19:23   Turpin's alive - Runfer D'Hills

Somewhere for the spare duffel coats I suppose? Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 3 Feb 15 19:30   Turpin's alive - CGNorwich

And the tartan Thermos flask. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 3 Feb 15 19:31   Turpin's alive - Zero

The note books, 50 years of train numbers takes up a lot of room. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 3 Feb 15 19:32   Turpin's alive - Zero

>> A roof box is de rigueur in the train spotter world... >> >> Just how many fish paste sandwiches can one man's mum make? Fish paste sandwiches!!!! Hmmm love them What happened to fish paste? (hate bloater tho) Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 4 Feb 15 06:26   Turpin's alive - wokingham

www.princesgroup.com/brands/shippams/ Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 4 Feb 15 08:59   Turpin's alive - Crankcase

>> >> What happened to fish paste? (hate bloater tho) >> No problems getting fish paste in Tesco or anywhere else I imagine. Crab paste often gets into my trolley. I use it for my Bacon Surprise. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 4 Feb 15 09:07   Turpin's alive - Zero

>> >> >> >> >> What happened to fish paste? (hate bloater tho) >> >> >> >> No problems getting fish paste in Tesco or anywhere else I imagine. Crab paste often >> gets into my trolley. I use it for my Bacon Surprise. The surprise being its fish instead of bacon? Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 4 Feb 15 10:20   Turpin's alive - Crankcase

>> The surprise being its fish instead of bacon? No no, it's bacon. After the first mouthful though there are cries of "What the..." and "My word..." But it's like learning a magic trick. You spend weeks learning how to make the Ace of Spades appear out of someone's ear, and then you get all excited, and you show it to everyone you know. Once. Allegedly, of course. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 3 Feb 15 16:50   Turpin's alive - Bromptonaut

Have a look at the pricing list. It's not obvious that a roof box is extra. What counts is vehicle's height at first axle. www.m6toll.co.uk/pricing/vehicle-classification/ Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 3 Feb 15 17:01   Turpin's alive - Runfer D'Hills

I could drive the Westfield under the toll barriers on French motorways. Not that I ever did of course... Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 3 Feb 15 20:10   Turpin's alive - TheManWithNoName

A friend sold his Westie to a guy who was going to take it to France. Wasn't maroon was it? Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 3 Feb 15 20:15   Turpin's alive - Runfer D'Hills

No, bright red. Long time ago too. Sold it in 2002. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 4 Feb 15 09:03   Turpin's alive - legacylad

My Westies were always white. Come buy. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 4 Feb 15 16:25   Turpin's alive - Boxsterboy

>> Have a look at the pricing list. It's not obvious that a roof box is >> extra. What counts is vehicle's height at first axle. >> >> www.m6toll.co.uk/pricing/vehicle-classification/ >> Worth a complaint to the operators, in my book anyway. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 4 Feb 15 17:03   Turpin's alive - Bromptonaut

>> Worth a complaint to the operators, in my book anyway. I though that too. OTOH if it's just a business expense Humph may feel game not worth candle. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 3 Feb 15 22:38   Turpin's alive - Duncan

>> A fiver extra to go through with a top box ! >> >> Robbing so and so's ! It's your own fault for going around with a top box on. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 3 Feb 15 22:43   Turpin's alive - Zero

>> >> A fiver extra to go through with a top box ! >> >> >> >> Robbing so and so's ! >> >> It's your own fault for going around with a top box on. cost him more than an extra fiver in Fuel to get to the M6 as well. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 4 Feb 15 05:49   Turpin's alive - Duncan

>> >> >> A fiver extra to go through with a top box ! >> >> >> >> >> >> Robbing so and so's ! >> >> >> >> It's your own fault for going around with a top box on. >> >> cost him more than an extra fiver in Fuel to get to the M6 as >> well. >> Yes, I think it's what they call a loose, loose situation. ;-0 Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 4 Feb 15 09:33   Turpin's alive - Bill Payer

>> Just totting up some receipts when I noticed one in particular from the M6 Toll. >> I use it a fair bit because it really does save time especially with the >> roadworks on the normal M6 right now. >> I normally avoid it apart from the morning rush-hours as paying the toll irks me. I wonder what the time difference is when the other roads are clear as the toll is a longer route (plus you have to stop, of course)? >> Anyway, I must have gone through a toll booth ( I always auto pay by >> card, have you ever seen a quicker card reader !? ) The toll is the only place I've used a contactless readers and they work almost instantly. I did notice one of my cards says you have to put a pin in first time - not sure how they'd deal with that. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 4 Feb 15 16:32   Turpin's alive - Dave_

>> I wonder what the time difference is when the other roads are clear as the toll is a longer route As a regular user of the Brum stretch of the M6, it's a long time since I've been through there without the overhead signs showing 60 or 50. Even on a journey without any queues there can't be a lot in it time-wise. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 4 Feb 15 17:01   Turpin's alive - Bromptonaut

>> As a regular user of the Brum stretch of the M6, it's a long time >> since I've been through there without the overhead signs showing 60 or 50. Even on >> a journey without any queues there can't be a lot in it time-wise. As my 1.9IDI Berlingo gets noisy and starts to guzzle diesel above 3k rpm I tend to cruise at 65ish which is about 2750rpm. Cannot remember when I was last badly delayed in the Brum stretch. No speed gain on toll road and it's longer too. South Staffs, J11 on, is more of a problem IME. Use the Brum section if going to N Wales and M1/A50 for Stoke and points north. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 4 Feb 15 18:35   Turpin's alive - Bill Payer

It's a crying shame that the toll road isn't used more - last I read it was still only running at half the numbers that were originally projected. I came through there one morning recently heading home north after an overnight stay down south, and the queues towards B'ham were immense. I thought maybe the toll road was closed, but it wasn't. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 4 Feb 15 18:48   Turpin's alive - Runfer D'Hills

Well, feeling ever so slightly admonished for using it, this morning I went south on the normal M6 instead. I was at Cannock ( where it splits ) J10 I think at 06.45. It took me nearly an hour to get down past the M5 spur. Traffic was chaotic. I'll stick to the Toll road in future. Sat next to a new X3 in the jam. Decided I quite liked it. Never really looked all that hard at one before. Always dismissed them as a bit of a mummy truck or X5 wannabe but it seems better proportioned than the old one. This one was white though so probably an estate agent or worse. Sunglasses on top of his bald head while it was still dark sort of cove. You know the sort. Slappable type. ;-) Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 4 Feb 15 18:55   Turpin's alive - Avant

I always used the toll coming north-west from Berkshire (whether admonished or not....), but now we're in Dorset I can't see much alternative to M5/M6 if we drive to the north-west or to Scotland. Is there one? There seems to be much more traffic on the roads before 7 am than there used to be. There were always those who had long distances to go, like you Runfer - but are people just keener to get to work or what? Glad to be semi-retired, with what work I do being mainly at home! Last edited by: Avant on Wed 4 Feb 15 at 18:56 Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 4 Feb 15 19:03   Turpin's alive - Runfer D'Hills

You can do M5, M42, M6 toll, M6 but it's a heck of a long way round. I only do that if Sally Traffic or one of her cohorts says the M5/M6 merge is stymied. Someone clever, or maybe not, said recently quite convincingly anyway, that huge percentages of motorway journeys are for just one or two junctions by local people hopping on and off. That sort of anti-social behaviour should probably be subject to the death penalty or at least severe and permanently maiming torture. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 4 Feb 15 19:07   Turpin's alive - Armel Coussine

Even back in the day I preferred driving long motorway distances overnight in the small hours. Fewer mimsers and so on. I can live with lorries anyway on a 3-lane. I'm not such an eager beaver as I once was, and have more time and more sense these days. One just has to live with the huge traffic volumes and pathetically-driven silly little winegum cars. But it comes hard, Gaffer; cruel hard... Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 4 Feb 15 19:21   Turpin's alive - Bill Payer

>> There seems to be much more traffic on the roads before 7 am than there >> used to be. There were always those who had long distances to go, like you >> Runfer - but are people just keener to get to work or what? I've commented on this before, but the thing I find odd is how busy many motorways stay all day - get on the M6 from the NW to B'ham mid-morning and it's moving, but it's pretty full of vehicles. What the heck are they all doing? It's too late for work, it's not an obvious shopping route. They can't all be reps and others on the way to meetings. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 4 Feb 15 19:16   Turpin's alive - Bill Payer

>> Well, feeling ever so slightly admonished for using it, this morning I went south on >> the normal M6 instead. I was at Cannock ( where it splits ) J10 I >> think at 06.45. It took me nearly an hour to get down past the M5 >> spur. Traffic was chaotic. I'll stick to the Toll road in future. >> At that time I would always use the Toll. :) In fact I did it last week at about that time and the lines at the toll booth were 5 or 6 cars long - can't recall seeing more than 1 or 2 before. Doesn't your car's sat nav show the traffic? Mine has little red cars where it's all stopped. I believe current X3 is pretty identical in size to the original X5. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 4 Feb 15 19:24   Turpin's alive - Runfer D'Hills

Yes indeed my sat nav shows the traffic but I thought I'd defy it. :-( Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 4 Feb 15 22:16   Turpin's alive - Bill Payer

>> Yes indeed my sat nav shows the traffic but I thought I'd defy it. >> I wouldn't dare defy Claudia, the fierce German lady who lives in my sat nav. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 4 Feb 15 22:27   Turpin's alive - Auntie Lockbrakes

Having had 2 X3's: a 2006 model (stonker) and the new 2011 model (bloated bag of nails) I'd be very wary of buying an X3 Humph. Just replacing ours with a new Mitsubishi... Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 4 Feb 15 22:30   Turpin's alive - Runfer D'Hills

Oh ok, wasn't really all that up for it. "She" sort of fancied one as a replacement for her QQ but not on any urgent timescale. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 4 Feb 15 22:55   Turpin's alive - legacylad

Wot 'she' needs is a cared for 10yo 330 soft top. Will throw in the nice trailer and leave on the Michelin Alpin tyres. Not that ewe need them. We are not all driving Gods. Sorry about the £100 recent price increase. I forgot to press submit on my SA and was fined accordingly. No rush, might have to wait 14 weeks for my new wheels. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 4 Feb 15 23:39   Turpin's alive - Avant

"Someone clever, or maybe not, said recently quite convincingly anyway, that huge percentages of motorway journeys are for just one or two junctions by local people hopping on and off." That is so true, particularly on the M25, and is surely a major cause of congestion. Some of these jokers could probably reduce their journey times if they planned a route avoiding the motorway (indeed the one that people used before the M25 was built). Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 4 Feb 15 23:45   Turpin's alive - legacylad

What's a motorway ? Ah yes, I remember now. It's something I cross when I drive up to the Lakes for a days walking. That M6 near Kendal seems really busy. Vehicles every few hundred yards. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 5 Feb 15 09:42   Turpin's alive - Bill Payer

Dodged an M6 bullet today - I was asked to go to a meeting down south but said no. I'd have been completely stuffed by the closure this morning. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 5 Feb 15 10:05   Turpin's alive - Bromptonaut

>> Dodged an M6 bullet today - I was asked to go to a meeting down >> south but said no. I'd have been completely stuffed by the closure this morning. Not an easy one to avoid. Heard it mentioned on 5 live and thought how would I avoid it if doing a Liverpool Uni trip. There were no easy answers. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 5 Feb 15 12:17   Turpin's alive - Bill Payer

>> Not an easy one to avoid. Heard it mentioned on 5 live and thought how >> would I avoid it if doing a Liverpool Uni trip. There were no easy answers. >> I'm near Chester so my normal early morning route to the M6 is via the A51 towards Nantwich and then on at J16. But J16 is screwed up due to long-term roadworks so I've been heading to Middlewich and on at J18 - so I'd have joined where the queue starts. If, by chance, I'd have been aware of it in advance then I could easily just go my old route but stay on the A51 through Stone and onto the M16 at J14. I quite often end up doing that in reverse if the M6 is screwed up coming home. From Liverpool you could head for the A49 towards Tarporley and then join the A51 (it becomes the same road for a brief stretch). The snag is that for an event like this morning's one, a lot of truck drivers do the same thing. ETA: I just looked and the A49 is showing long delays. Last edited by: Bill Payer on Thu 5 Feb 15 at 12:22 Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 5 Feb 15 20:49   Turpin's alive - Runfer D'Hills

I saw that jam this morning. I joined the M6 at J16 but fortunately was heading north today. Looked horrific. Even so, it took me nearly 2 hours to do 60 miles due to somethingorother happening on the M62 round about Birch. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 5 Feb 15 10:22   Turpin's alive - NortonES2

Yes, it's bedlam up there! www.flickr.com/photos/malahide/16262571979/ Reply to this message | Report message       1

New Thu 5 Feb 15 22:31   Turpin's alive - MD

Beautiful view, stunning. Where is that? Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 5 Feb 15 22:33   Turpin's alive - Runfer D'Hills

Cumbria, Tebay-ish at a guess. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 5 Feb 15 22:40   Turpin's alive - T junction

Yes. Just south of Tebay. I know that road well! Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 5 Feb 15 22:42   Turpin's alive - MD

That is some view. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 5 Feb 15 22:56   Turpin's alive - CGNorwich

Would be a lot nicer of course without the motorway. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 5 Feb 15 23:56   Turpin's alive - Ted

It's a northbound view..Tebay is the village. We often use this stretch to visit our friends in Appleby. The WCML hugs the M6 to the right. This stretch was where the four unfortunate Carillion Rail guys were killed by a runaway wagon 11 years ago during an engineering possession. news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3489873.stm Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 6 Feb 15 08:42   Turpin's alive - Old Navy

Cruise control territory, the test is to get from Carlisle to the outskirts of Glasgow (or southbound equivalent) without dropping off CC. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 6 Feb 15 10:06   Turpin's alive - NortonES2

Ted has it. Taken from Grayrigg Forest (I think - map OS 91 is missing.) Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 6 Feb 15 11:11   Turpin's alive - Runfer D'Hills

One of those places where when the weather is calm and the traffic light that the 70 mph limit seems painfully low but is nonetheless vigorously enforced. Presumably because there isn't much else going on to occupy the forces of the law. Ironic perhaps. Best not to over think it I suppose. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 6 Feb 15 11:22   Turpin's alive - NortonES2

Was pretty well unenforced when I had the need to venture up to the Eden valley and Solway Firth. Although I kept it to bursts of speed and looked out for lurkers in spots convenient to junctions. Which I suppose is a good place to monitor, given the propensity of accidents to occur in the vicinity. The A6 in that area was a lot more fun though: rolling, winding and camera free. Penrith to Kendal when the road was virtually empty.... Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 6 Feb 15 12:20   Turpin's alive - Pat

Before the days of satnav I tipped at a farm somewhere around there and asked the farmer if that road was a good route for an artic back to the M6. Yeah, 'nowt wrong with that Lass, he said. It was .......challenging! ....and car drivers moan at us for using roads like that too. Pat Last edited by: Pat on Fri 6 Feb 15 at 12:21 Reply to this message | Report message       1

New Fri 6 Feb 15 15:54   Turpin's alive - Ted

We regularly use the A6 if we're not in a hurry. Come off the M6 for Milnthorpe where there was a good cafe at Bob Parrott's outdoor shop. The cafe's gone now but we tracked down the girls to Arnside so we divert there now for lunch. Back on the A6, Kendal can be a bit of a bummer but after that the road to Shap is delightful motoring. We turn right at the chippy in Shap and our friends are 8 miles over the hills from there in the Lyvennet Valley. Lovely run on a nice bright day. Reply to this message | Report message