Would You Drive From London To Lakes And Back?

[maturin23 10]

Aaargh.

 

Can't decide whether to risk driving from London up to my parents in the Lakes tomorrow (FRiday). Its meant to be an early Christmas celebration with them for my two young boys, open their presents (plus Mum's got a huge rib joint of beef in!) iso it's pretty important for me that we go, but my wife is looking at the weather forecast and I can feel it'll be one of those 'on your head be it' decisions if we do go.

 

I've organised a loan of the inlaws' Lexus 400h so we'll be in a 4x4, but it's on summer tyres. They are only a few miles off the motorway near Kendal, so it shouldn't be too bad at their end.

 

We're due to come back Sunday evening.

 

Anyone like to help me with this decision?

[Tom Fenton 1,541]

Get on with it, you are driving on motorways 95% or more of the way, in a 4x4. You'll be fine.

[dcc 855]

If it were me, Id go

[Richie 32]

Yeah i'd go too. Do it do it do it.

[GilesW 41]

poof.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(on your head be it!)

[maturin23 10]

This is good

[Masekwm 2]

Go for it.

 

I'm doing Luton to Newcastle on Boxing day with pregnant wife & dog in the car.

[davey sprocket 14]

Go for it.

 

I'm doing Luton to Newcastle on Boxing day with pregnant wife & dog in the car.

 

You got the dog pregnant too?

 

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

It's not a 4x4 thou, Petrol engine on the front and batteries at the back, Quick for what it is thou but grip wise are poor

[maturin23 10]

You are correct Miles. No transfer box or central diff. Probably only slightly better than the Focus to be honest, but I'm not going over Hardnott Pass. Plus if someone slides into to us I'd rather be in the Lexus (from a safety point of view!).

[Peetypug 5]

Just grow a pair

[ORB 227 1 Cars]

Well, I am in Carlisle not half an hour up the road from where you are going. The weather is not bad at all. I went out into the sticks today and it was very cold and a bit of black ice but the Audi did not worry about it one bit so your Toyota should be fine. I know the snow is coming and it has been pretty bad here when it does, but I think you will be fine. If you want any local weather reports I can answer in minutes, I have a lot of friends and relatives round the Kendal/Penrith area so I can get you true info sharpish.

 

Where exactly are you going?

[maturin23 10]

North London to Gatebeck near Kendal (just off the A65).

 

Leaving mid afternoon on Friday.

[SurGie 54]

If you smoke something different im sure the answer will come to your head soon enough

[maturin23 10]

Pete - I have them. Fortunately the wife doesn't, and she's coming too!

Edited December 16, 2010 by maturin23

[JRL 14 1 Cars]

Anything other than a 205 and ul be fine. sounds like an adventure. wish I could be in the lakes this time of year.

[Andy_C 50]

Piece of cake - as Tom said, mostly motorway. Bit of snow forecast for down here Saturday if the BBC are to be believed but nothing nasty AFAIK.

 

Will be typical Friday afternoon traffic - suspect the M25 and around Birmingham will be the worst of it but the M40 and M6 are usually pretty fine, accidents aside.

[mickie 3]

you'll be fine.. im not sure about coming back though, thats when it'll hit

[CaptainK 11]

Crack on with it mate - shouldn't have any worries at all.

[maturin23 10]

Well - we made it up!

 

Luckily Tom's school closed early, so we were on the road at 2pm and arrived here just after 8. All was clear up to Manchester (although the traffic was dreadful on the M1) - from Manchester to Lancaster was very heavy indeed, going by the news today we were very lucky to get up here. M1 closed just North of London a couple of hours after we passed through, and the snow up in the NW ended up blocking the motorway with people sleeping in their cars.

 

Just been sat in the hot tub with the boys with snow all round - glad we did it!

[tagy 1]

Yeah lucky you didn't leave latter. I got stuck on the slip road onto M1 yesterday, after not moving for about 30 mins most people on the slip road turned around and drove back the wrong way up the slip road. Chaos ensued.