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

Have a mufflewhump!

I figured any notes I made would be easier to find here instead of getting buried in PMs

So, anyway, the map is at https://www.zeemaps.com/map?group=2044852# and the itinerary so far is at A87879046 Some things not on the itinerary are that I noticed that I don't have anything in Wales on the map (though folks in the FB group say that most of the good stuff there requires a car, and both Tom and I agree that I'm not driving over there), nor do I have anything in the regions the guide book calls "Cumbria and the Lakes" or "The Northeast" (no idea if those are actual official names or not...) Or Devon and Cornwall, for that matter...

I would like to do either the Caledonian Sleeper or the Night Riviera (London to Penzance)--with the Britrail Pass, I'd just need to pay the sleeper berth supplement.

Z and Ben (Edinburgh) have suggested that my time with them include a weekend (and, with it looking like a meet is going to be happening up there, that pretty much confirms that).

Pastey is open to hosting the Manchester meet any day, though I'm thinking a weekend would likely be most convenient for the most folks there, as well (I already checked--occupancy for Beer Nouveau is more than large enough if there's a meet there when he's normally open on the weekends).

Wand'rin has said any day works, though arriving or leaving on a Sunday isn't possible. She's willing to meet me in either Lincoln or Grimsby.

The order the weekend meets happen doesn't matter, though the London meet is already set for my first weekend there.

If I think of anything else that will simplify things (or if I add anything to either the map or itinerary before we speak) I'll post here, so it's all in one place

As far as when to speak--I figured out that, if we time it right, I can have an entry for NaJoPoMo so Thursday at 8pm your time would be great, unless you feel better towards the beginning of the week (Tuesday being the start of NaJo, I'm going to do an intro, and Wednesday I'm running around 'cause the girls get out of school early each Wednesday).

I'm actually feeling a bit human today! Hurrah! May even have energy to look properly - I'm getting bored of playing Hidden City.

Thurs wd be great as Nod is home on Tues and Weds is Sic's birthday.

Mol

I've added Windermere Lake and a few spots along Hadrian's Wall as possibles--green thingy instead of flower. Now the middle of Great Britain doesn't look so bare As it is now after 2am, I should take out my contacts and go to bed

Ok had a sudden burst of energy and looked at this properly for the first time.

I think you should ignore Cornwall (it's too far, and impossible to get around by public transport). Also there is nowhere to charge your phone on the sleeper train! The Caledonian Sleeper is much nicer and would fit better - the Zens can put you on it to bring you back to London.

Hadrians Wall and the Lake District will be difficult by public transport but I will look at this in detail to see if either is possible. But fear not, the Peak District is very accessible from Manchester, and there is lots of other Roman stuff you can see. Don't worry about the middle of England looking empty, that's a fairly good description for it, just consider it scenery which you can view from the train.

If you come to me at the end of your stay in London, (I'm about an hour away on the train) I can take you by car for a day out in Stratford. You could stay the night and then either go straight on to Manchester, or have an afternoon in Cambridge first.

I've assumed the Saturdays will be in London, Manchester and Edinburgh, possibly each with their own meet. I've also assumed Sundays will be non-travelling days as our public transport is rubbish on Sundays (you'll be OK on the sleeper).

That's as far as I've got. There are some places you could do as day trips while staying in London or Manchester but I'm worried you'll end up exhausted.

Tired now.

Mol

Sorry I meant 'stay the night here at Mol Towers' just to be clear!

Mol

My original plan had been to take the sleeper from the Zens', actually, then someone had mentioned seeing the west coast on the way back from Scotland That's really the only reason I looked at Cornwall.

Oo, would I be able to invite Agapanthus along, as she has a friend in Stratford that I'd like to meet, as well (nonh2g2er, fellow commenter on an anonymous blog Ag had)? I'll certainly add Northampton's train station to the map as a flower (or get distracted and add it before finishing typing this, whichever)

Yes that wd be fab, I think I met Ag briefly at a meet about 10 years ago.

In which case, might be better for you both to get the train from London to Stratford and then I'd meet you there. You'd probably get better scenery and less duplication doing it that way.

The West Coast mainline isnt very spectacular so you won't be missing much. I mean it's got some nice bits, and I'm quite fond of it, but you can't do everything.

Mol