The Anonymous Widower

Taking the High Road

I got up early on Sunday morning and by half-past-seven, I was on the road to see an old friend near Peebles in the Scottish Borders.

First stop was Wetherby Services on the A1(M), just north of York and Leeds.  So the petrol was it’s usual expensive price, but the service area seemed better than most.  Perhaps it was just a mirage as service areas in the UK, tend to be very poor, tired, of bad design and serving the same crap food.  At least Wetherby had a Marks and Spencer, so if I had wanted to buy some decent food, then I could have done. 

I should say here, that I never stop unless I absolutely have to in a motorway service area, that does not have either an M&S or a Waitrose.

I took the A1 or A1(M) all the way to Newcastle and past the Angel of the North before taking the A696 through Ponteland and towards Scotland.  Things must be getting more civilised up in the North East, as I noticed that Ponteland has a Waitrose, which until a few years ago was restricted very much to the South.

The A696 and A68 route from Newcastle to Edinburgh is one of those roads that needs driving.  It also needs a nimble car with lots of acceleration.  In other words it’s a road fit for a Lotus.

I didn’t hang about on a road that was almost free of traffic with snow to both sides and a good bit of mist.  But the smooth trip to Peebles was interrupted by bridge works at Jedburgh, which meant that I had to take a detour via Hawick and Selkirk.

The latter did slow the Lotus, but I still arrived in time for lunch in Peebles.

January 25, 2010 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Lotus Elan, Northumberland, Scotland