13-10-2023, 09:44 AM
The A38 is a superb road for Austin Sevebs. It’s a 1930s build - perfect undulations and curves to keep going in top gear.
It was one of the first roads I ever drove the Ulster on, coming south I felt I was pulling quite a lick in the car. Flat out, with a smile on my face I became aware of a strange noise in the background. It got louder and more machine-gun like. In a flash a 3 wheeler Morgan passed as though I was parked up. A solitary left hand was raised by the driver as he quickly became a spot on the horizon. This was the point that I realised my red Ulster was not, in fact, “the fastest car known to mankind”! What a crushing blow!
I stopped in the Camping shop, Attwools, to buy some gloves, something I’d missed off the kit list, and also some large rubber bands to stop my sat nav from rattling out of it’s cradle!
I was taught to map read at an early age. Pure necessity really as I felt I had to do something stop my parents from divorcing each holiday. With the onset of sat navs I still use a map and between the two I find wonderful routes.
Gloucester appeared sooner than I expected and was passed quickly, then on to Ledbury. The roads were quiet and travel was swift. Beautiful houses passed me by, the borders of England are very beautiful. Soon I was passing Leominster and found a 1950s style diner to eat in. Next to me a group of older gentlemen in wheelchairs were treating their young female carers to a lunch out. The chat was wondrous and the beer kept coming! I left them all in fits of laughter, comparing notes about “courting”, such a great thing to see. Both ends of life lifting the other up on a day out.
The car was running better as the day went on, it’s lack of use had made it sluggish at first, now it was loosening off, a bit like the gents in the wheelchairs!
I stopped to admire Ludlow, it is a place o would like to return to and explore properly, just divine!
At Shrewsbury I joined the A5, a busy but dualled road. I was able to maintain a reasonable speed and kept to the left, although busier traffic was passing safely and I was able to get miles done a little faster.
At Chirk I left the A roads and headed up into the mountains. The tracks are superb and the views amazing. Soon I arrived at my hosts for the night, Mark and Gaynor Fetherstone. I’d done an engine for their van the previous year and they were kind enough to be looking after me. I fixed a few issues on the van, then a few more on their neighbour’s Ruby before settling in to a wonderful meal and a superb nights sleep!
It was one of the first roads I ever drove the Ulster on, coming south I felt I was pulling quite a lick in the car. Flat out, with a smile on my face I became aware of a strange noise in the background. It got louder and more machine-gun like. In a flash a 3 wheeler Morgan passed as though I was parked up. A solitary left hand was raised by the driver as he quickly became a spot on the horizon. This was the point that I realised my red Ulster was not, in fact, “the fastest car known to mankind”! What a crushing blow!
I stopped in the Camping shop, Attwools, to buy some gloves, something I’d missed off the kit list, and also some large rubber bands to stop my sat nav from rattling out of it’s cradle!
I was taught to map read at an early age. Pure necessity really as I felt I had to do something stop my parents from divorcing each holiday. With the onset of sat navs I still use a map and between the two I find wonderful routes.
Gloucester appeared sooner than I expected and was passed quickly, then on to Ledbury. The roads were quiet and travel was swift. Beautiful houses passed me by, the borders of England are very beautiful. Soon I was passing Leominster and found a 1950s style diner to eat in. Next to me a group of older gentlemen in wheelchairs were treating their young female carers to a lunch out. The chat was wondrous and the beer kept coming! I left them all in fits of laughter, comparing notes about “courting”, such a great thing to see. Both ends of life lifting the other up on a day out.
The car was running better as the day went on, it’s lack of use had made it sluggish at first, now it was loosening off, a bit like the gents in the wheelchairs!
I stopped to admire Ludlow, it is a place o would like to return to and explore properly, just divine!
At Shrewsbury I joined the A5, a busy but dualled road. I was able to maintain a reasonable speed and kept to the left, although busier traffic was passing safely and I was able to get miles done a little faster.
At Chirk I left the A roads and headed up into the mountains. The tracks are superb and the views amazing. Soon I arrived at my hosts for the night, Mark and Gaynor Fetherstone. I’d done an engine for their van the previous year and they were kind enough to be looking after me. I fixed a few issues on the van, then a few more on their neighbour’s Ruby before settling in to a wonderful meal and a superb nights sleep!