h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Does it have to be specific countryside? Some stations are in suprisingly rural locations. I'm thinking specifically of Kemble in Gloucestershire, which is far further than you need. There must be some rural railway stations in Kent.

yes its Ashdown Forest in Sussex where I lived and worked for many years in my twenties.

Kent was where I was born and grew up. Unfortunately much of that specific area is now developped to a degree.

Ashdown Forest is common land and has been Forest and heathland forever. It is one of the remants left of the great forest that once stretched from the weald of Kent to the New Forest in Hampshire.

There are many secret places I know there.

Oil has been discovered beneath it. Thatcher tried to have oil wells built there..but the community came together to resist...including all the local Tories. She gave in

It's a very magical area. The nearest station is East Grinstead which is about 6 miles from its edge.

Just had a good long chat with Ollie next door and he has given me some fab advice on Vespas...

Right have bought this. Have to arrange pick up and delivery from Wrexham with a company...there seem to be quite a few that do it.

Ollie studied the details of its restoration...and said it was genuine Italian quality parts. Plus disc brakes, and raceman tyres. It's exactly what I want...plus its a slightly bigger engine which is much better for longer journeys; small ones can overheat. It is a 4 speed manual. 2001 Vespa PX 200

He said I'd have no problem reselling for the same price at least if I needed. And he said all the prices tend to go up when the warm weather comes. Winter is the best time to buy.

All my vehicles have been manuals.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150757330668&fromMakeTrack=true#ht_500wt_1413

Damn gorgeous It's a re-paint with metallic paint. The exact colour I wanted. Couldn't let this go. I still regret the black Polo coupe I hesitated over 15 years ago, and missed out on.

Yay.

Ollie is very excited and wants a go...also he says we should go into Soho at some point to the Bar Italia where the Vespa scooter club meet, he belongs...Plus he told me one of those men with the aprons at the deli owns the same model as me, but a really ancient one.

I thought it was about the countryside...sudenly its about trips into the busiest part of London..

But that cafe is so brilliant..there are always Italian scooters and bikes parked outside.

Oh and so now I'm a finally

In my neighbourhood (on what you would call the High Street, I think) there was a little shop that combined an Italian Cafe and a scooter sales and rental thing. Sadly, but no surprise, it went out of business. It seems that the Cafe couldn't carry the business through the winter. Normally you'd be lucky to get seven month of use out of a scooter each year around here. Today, however, I saw a scooter on the road. It's been a very odd winter.

My mother had a moped. It was fine for about-town hops, but long-distance travel on it can be exhausting. I don't know whether it would be practical for getting far out of London. But hers was a Honda 50. I don't know how that compares with a Vespa. (My mother later moved to a motorbike.)

Personally, I'd prefer to cycle.

TRiG.

Yes anhaga there's a really nice little street in Waterloo full of the mostintersting shops and cheap Indian cafes etc. It has a small scooter place and an Italian cofee bar next door.

I shall be making a trip there shortly.

Need to get helmet, and spare raceman tire for the bike. Apparently changing tires on that model is dead easy according to Ollie which is reasuring if I got a flat in the wilds.

Essentails also, a rain cover whilst parked in the street and a wheel lock.

I hope to god it doesn't get knocked over much by idiots who can't park properly. That happened to my Moto Guzzi bike a few times. I'll try to buy a bright one.

Found this on You tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNUGD73qllo&feature=related

Another good thing about being a 200cc...it's much more realistic to go places with a passanger.

Oh crikey yes and some cool wing mirrors. I'll be able to get something easily second hand as its such a popular model. And I'll gradually customise it...just a little bit. that's the idea with the bikes..Maybe a couple of extra lights on the front or something.

I won't rush.

That goes at a pretty good clip!


Here's the place in my neighbourhood before it closed: http://g.co/maps/na9kf

It's too bad they couldn't make a go of it -- I think scooters are going to become more and more popular here as people realize their practicality, and as the summer continues to lengthen.