 | I am reminded of seeing a play in Australia House in London in 1980. It was David Williamson’s Travelling North. All I remember from this tale of a Melbourne family relocating to FNQ (Far North Queensland) was a scene sitting the the FNQ bush drinking Swan Lager. We laughed deeply at that in our holier than thou aussie manner. The scene dropped into my brain today as we were travelling south not understanding the intricacies of Scottish road rules. |
Signposting on UK roads has been amazing in almost all areas. The one that is missing is the speed limit.
Directions, however, are really well noted. Navigating is about as easy as can be. I admit to thinking my iPhone would do it all and we have used it to great result occasionally, but so often there is no reception at all or just GPRS so we cannot rely on it. We can rely on the sign posts.
We discovered that we really could rely on the notice 50 miles north of Edinburgh telling us that 20 miles south of Edinburgh there was a motorway closure. Plan Early!
We crossed the Firth of Forth to see a brilliant new bridge rolling across the water. Not ready for another year but very close. Its planning goes back to the early 1990s.
A favourite road sign we have now left in FNS (Far North Scotland) is the warning that oncoming traffic may be in the middle of the road. Now that could be nasty. And it is true. Often the roads are so narrow you can never be sure you have a clear road ahead. Bit like driving to Whyalla in the 70s.
The signs do not lie so the warning about roads south of Edinburgh eventually caught up with us and everyone else travelling south.
I think the entire population of FNS tried to turn off the freeway at exit number 4. 20 minutes to exit then probably 2 hours of minor winding roads before we crossed the boarder into England and on to Yorkshire.
I have to say I have found the British drivers to be most tolerant and forgiving. It has been quite easy to work with these roads. It has also been slow.
All drivers just seem to accept that there will be delays, road works and contra flows. Today we sat at a road works site on a roundabout. Each side of the roundabout got 60 seconds of flow then 3 minutes wait as the others ran. It took over 20 minutes to get through but there was no sign of frustration or tempers. Everyone just accepted the flow and moved slowly along when they could.
Driving, of which we have done lots, has not been too bad once we got in the flow of things. Not sure I would plan a 500 mile day again. You just can’t rely on the road conditions, but you can rely on the navigation aids. Clear warnings, early notifications and road markings to tell you which lane to be in with lots of notice. If you are alert, you can’t go wrong.
Directions, however, are really well noted. Navigating is about as easy as can be. I admit to thinking my iPhone would do it all and we have used it to great result occasionally, but so often there is no reception at all or just GPRS so we cannot rely on it. We can rely on the sign posts.
We discovered that we really could rely on the notice 50 miles north of Edinburgh telling us that 20 miles south of Edinburgh there was a motorway closure. Plan Early!
We crossed the Firth of Forth to see a brilliant new bridge rolling across the water. Not ready for another year but very close. Its planning goes back to the early 1990s.
A favourite road sign we have now left in FNS (Far North Scotland) is the warning that oncoming traffic may be in the middle of the road. Now that could be nasty. And it is true. Often the roads are so narrow you can never be sure you have a clear road ahead. Bit like driving to Whyalla in the 70s.
The signs do not lie so the warning about roads south of Edinburgh eventually caught up with us and everyone else travelling south.
I think the entire population of FNS tried to turn off the freeway at exit number 4. 20 minutes to exit then probably 2 hours of minor winding roads before we crossed the boarder into England and on to Yorkshire.
I have to say I have found the British drivers to be most tolerant and forgiving. It has been quite easy to work with these roads. It has also been slow.
All drivers just seem to accept that there will be delays, road works and contra flows. Today we sat at a road works site on a roundabout. Each side of the roundabout got 60 seconds of flow then 3 minutes wait as the others ran. It took over 20 minutes to get through but there was no sign of frustration or tempers. Everyone just accepted the flow and moved slowly along when they could.
Driving, of which we have done lots, has not been too bad once we got in the flow of things. Not sure I would plan a 500 mile day again. You just can’t rely on the road conditions, but you can rely on the navigation aids. Clear warnings, early notifications and road markings to tell you which lane to be in with lots of notice. If you are alert, you can’t go wrong.
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