Centenary Bookings

[Hugh Barnes]

When I drove from Cambridge to Guildtown a couple of years ago, I wanted to avoid the A1 at all costs, though it was hard to do as it followed the obvious route north. However, a couple of evenings dabbling with Google maps, zoomed in, revealed many bits of the old Great North Rd, which I was able to follow in almost splendid isolation whilst I could see the new road, flooded with traffic, just a few hundred yards away. I noted the route I researched in a Word document and then printed it out 'Large print edition' so it was easy to refer to as I drove. Google street view also gives the opportunity to 'rehearse' the various junctions you may encounter on any given route, so you know what to keep an eye out for. 'Turn left 100yds after the Fox and Hounds which will be on you right' That sort of thing..

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Oh, and one other thing. If you can get hold of any OS maps from say the 1940s or 50s, they predate many of the more modern roads that we are often directed towards. The earlier maps reveal what were the main routes much more clearly and are often better roads for our cars now as they have been superceded...