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Post by sprockit on Jun 19, 2018 21:02:54 GMT
I'll more than likely be a day visitor this year, and if all the trains run on time should arrive about 10am.
Looking forward to seeing, and riding with, everyone again.
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robt
Viscount
Posts: 559
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Post by robt on Jun 19, 2018 21:21:17 GMT
I'll more than likely be a day visitor this year, and if all the trains run on time should arrive about 10am. Looking forward to seeing, and riding with, everyone again. I’m beginning to think that a ride departure from Warwick Parkway station (plenty of car parking) might be sensible. Any thoughts on that? I could park a car there to leave any rail travellers’ bags/change of shorts etc in.
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,391
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Post by Jem on Jun 20, 2018 18:29:31 GMT
I'll be down for the day on this one, but my friend Jon is hoping to stay over.
We couldn't get the Camper Van on this site and the nearest decent site is so far away from this one that it didn't make sense to do it this time. Strangely my wife wasn't keen on the communal tents...not sure why? Also, I have a works night out booked the night before and the 2 days before that am away on a residential course with work, so really didn't want to risk marital strife. It's taken me nearly 53 years to work some things out and realise that I can't do exactly as I want...
So, I'll be at Parkway for 10.18am, ticket booked.
Vive le Viscount!
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Post by cusqueno on Jun 27, 2018 13:46:26 GMT
I'm coming for the day and bringing a friend - Dave Happy. He plans to bring what sounds like an interesting 1970s French bike.
Will there be a charge for parking at Parkway?
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Post by dracco on Jun 27, 2018 17:01:50 GMT
I shall be day-tripping also. Where I park depends on where we set off from!
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Post by sprockit on Jun 27, 2018 21:56:57 GMT
Booked my ticket last week and if all the train cogs mesh correctly will arrive at Berkswell at eleven minutes past nine.
The DFR4 lunch stop was at Berkswell, and with former Viscount employees as potential visitors, is this where we could/will meet them?
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Post by theformeremployee on Jun 28, 2018 9:44:46 GMT
The best laid plans etc etc Peter Britton) has been back in hospital. He's booked in for a big social 'do' on Saturday lunchtime...... Says he may be back late afternoon. However, he may be tired out and I don't want to make him worse. I am also trying to get Mick Ives out. So (such an annoying way to start a sentence !) I shall try to get up to the campsite, with or without him, late afternoon on the Saturday. Sort of tea-time.Will you be aiming to be back there by 5.30 ? I am mindful for many, it's a day trip. Unless a Sunday morning get-together is preferable ? But I know that Steve will have been and gone. It may be quicker to email me - am away on business part of next week and surfing when I am meant to be working isn't always possible.
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robt
Viscount
Posts: 559
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Post by robt on Jun 28, 2018 11:22:59 GMT
I'm coming for the day and bringing a friend - Dave Happy. He plans to bring what sounds like an interesting 1970s French bike. Will there be a charge for parking at Parkway? John - quick answer is yes, parking at Warwick Parkway is £5.50 for the day on Saturdays. Please bear in mind that there would be a notional charge for cars and extra people to go onto the Mousely House Farm campsite, which would probably total about the same. As we only have two pitches booked and a very small number of overnight campers, I'm trying to avoid us all planning to meet at the campsite with vehicles. Hatton station is closer to the campsite and the car park there is free of charge ('to rail users'), but isn't served by as many stopping trains as Warwick Parkway. If you park at Hatton station, Warwick Parkway is a 4-mile downhill road ride away, or shorter and more scenic on the Grand Union Canal towpath, via Hatton Locks, if you're feeling adventurous. I'm trying to pull peoples' various requirements together and will propose a plan and route some time over this coming weekend. Looking forward to seeing you all. Sprockit, it's about 10 miles from Berkswell station to Warwick Parkway station, which I guess you're happy to ride on your own between 0911 and 1030. The two stations are on different lines out of Birmingham. Let me know if you want to change your plans at all or want any local road and rail advice. If anyone is still in two minds whether to come, my outline plan at the moment is: 1. Friday night's campers (Stella, RobT and his brother, and possibly Sooper 8's mate John) set off from Mousely House Farm at 0930 (ish) 2. DFR6 riders assemble at Warwick Parkway station car park for the ride start at 1030 2. Ride 7 miles to the tea shop near Kenilworth Castle for elevenses (try to get served before visitors arrive for lunch). 3. Ride 4 more miles, mostly on the Kenilworth Greenway to the Brickmakers Arms in Balsall Common (near to Berkswell station if anyone wants to join us just for lunch) 4. Lunch at The Brickmakers Arms from about 1:30pm to 3:30pm. 5. Ride 6 miles to Mousely House Farm campsite for cups of tea and chats. 6*. Either start to make your ways back home or walk up to the The Case is Altered when it opens at 6:00pm. Note: there is no TV in this pub if anyone wants to watch the World Cup for any reason. Nor is there any food service. Mobile phones are also very unwelcome. Beer's good, though! 7*. Later on, think about making some sort of dinner on a camping stove or going out to eat or collect a takeaway, depending on numbers, appetite and availability of drivers. (*I am very flexible on items 6 and 7 - we may prefer to ride to the Tom O' the Wood pub in Rowington at the end of the ride and have a meal there, with The Case is Altered as a drinking option for those staying the night.) If anyone thinks this is all a bit too relaxed, we could delete the tea shop stop in Kenilworth, but it was very pleasant in 2016. theformeremployee: Would it suit you to meet us at the Tom O'the Wood from 5:30? If so, that would probably settle items 6 & 7 above for me. Thinking about the World Cup, there are two Quarter Finals scheduled at 3:00pm and 7:00pm on Saturday 7th. If England are in either of them, I propose to re-plan the route to enable us to watch the game at a pub. I will also understand if people want to watch it with their families at home.
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Post by cusqueno on Jun 28, 2018 15:40:24 GMT
Thanks for doing all the thinking Rob. It looks to be about 5 miles back to Warwick Parkway from the camp site, with a lot along the A-road. Would it be possible to join the canal for most of that route or would there be another alternative for Parkway users?
Thanks.
EDIT: Just seen your comment on using the canal !!
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,391
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Post by Jem on Jun 28, 2018 16:19:34 GMT
Thanks for all the planning Rob!
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Post by cusqueno on Jun 29, 2018 7:46:45 GMT
I note that, as a sideshow to the Viscount Grand Depart, there is an event taking place in France on the same day. Is that affecting anyone's plans - need to view?
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Post by theformeremployee on Jun 29, 2018 13:34:33 GMT
Thanks for the itinerary. If I say 'yes' to Tom o the Wood, 5.30 on Saturday, hopefully I can get Peter along. But I can't guarantee it. However, you will have my undivided attention to answer any questions. PS The French distributor got some riders in the Tour de France onto Viscounts for one or two stages, but that was before I joined.
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Post by sprockit on Jul 1, 2018 15:30:48 GMT
My train home leaves Berkswell at 5-40 so my riding plans will take account of that.
Rob, thank you for all your planning and scheming.
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Post by theformeremployee on Jul 1, 2018 22:48:25 GMT
I had a long chat to Mick Ives yesterday and he is keen to come to Tom o the Wood and meet up with you Saturday at 5.30. I'll scoop up Peter and join you. Mick knows a lot of detail. At this rate, Carpetright will be sold out of red if all three of us can come ! Is that a date ? I'm sorry to miss sprocket, but Mick is organiser of a race on Sunday morning. We can come to the campsite, it you prefer, though. Please confirm. Thanks
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Post by theformeremployee on Jul 3, 2018 15:00:27 GMT
Peter Britton is up for this - we should be at Tom o' the Wood nearer 6 than 5.30 but he'll let me know if he can make it earlier. Please confirm that is what suits you - it's gone very quiet. Could be that you are thinking up loads of questions - hope so, and hope we can answer them.
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robt
Viscount
Posts: 559
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Post by robt on Jul 3, 2018 20:10:15 GMT
Peter Britton is up for this - we should be at Tom o' the Wood nearer 6 than 5.30 but he'll let me know if he can make it earlier. Please confirm that is what suits you - it's gone very quiet. Could be that you are thinking up loads of questions - hope so, and hope we can answer them. At 90 minutes of England vs Colombia, I was ready to book a table at the Hatton Arms after visits there and to the Tom o’ the Wood today to compare menus and TV viewing facilities. Looks like I’ll need to wait another 30 minutes (plus penalties?) until we know whether I need to plan a late lunch near a TV on Saturday. Route is all sorted, includes views of Warwick and Kenilworth castles then, after elevenses, finish the ride with late (2:30) lunch at the Hatton Arms, which has a big garden with good views over Hatton Locks if there’s nowt to watch on the telly. TFE: Are you, Mick and Peter OK to join us a bit further down the road at the Hatton Arms? There should be most of us left by 6:00, but some will have needed to head home.
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Post by theformeremployee on Jul 3, 2018 20:54:52 GMT
Hatton Arms will be OK at 6 or before. Having just seen young Master Pickford save the day (!), maybe you will be there in body but not in minds.....?!
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robt
Viscount
Posts: 559
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Post by robt on Jul 3, 2018 22:10:49 GMT
OK, England play Sweden at 3:00 pm on Saturday - great news! I will understand completely if anyone wants to watch the game at home with their families. There will be more DFRs over the next four years. I have booked a table for lunch for 12 people at 2:30 at the Hatton Arms, which has a bigger TV and viewing area than the Tom o’ the Wood, and is only a short run down the road or canal towpath back to Warwick Parkway station for those who need to head home during the afternoon, but may want to stay for extra time and the penalty shoot-out. We will need to book starters and mains before we set off at 1030, so please take a look at the Menu and have an idea what you’d like for lunch so that I can send it in before we set off. Could those still planning to ride please let me know? 1030 departure from Warwick Parkway station ticket office. I think we have the following riders: Stella (arriving Friday evening); Sooper8 and friend Jon; Sprockit#; Dracco; (veloci)Pete*; Cusqueno and Dave Happy; RobT and brother VaughanT, plus 3 of my local friends. The former employee, Mick Ives and Peter Britton will join us at the pub from 6:00 pm. #Dave, I appreciate you have a ticket to Berkswell booked, presumably changing at B’ham New St. I know you’re perfectly capable of riding from Berkswell to Warwick Parkway and back, but if you wanted to cut down your riding time, an off-peak return between B’ham Moor St and Warwick Parkway on the Chiltern Line would cost £8.50. New St to Moor St is a 10-minute walk. The 0955 out of Moor St arrives Warwick Parway at 1018, and the 1732 from Warwick Parkway gets into Moor St at 1756. Chiltern Line trains are generally OK to carry bikes, particularly at weekends. *Pete, the tandem is being prepared for you to act as Stoker if you wish. Any problems on the day, please call me on 07748725132.
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Post by cusqueno on Jul 4, 2018 12:27:24 GMT
Wot! No Raymondo + 1 this year??
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Post by cusqueno on Jul 4, 2018 13:30:48 GMT
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Post by sprockit on Jul 4, 2018 22:02:05 GMT
Busaste said he was coming along.
Is he riding, or has his injury ruled him out?
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Post by scottw on Jul 5, 2018 5:32:04 GMT
At the moment I am planning on coming down on the day, and now maybe park somewhere near Hatton, if that is the proposed last point of call. See you soon. Scott
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robt
Viscount
Posts: 559
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Post by robt on Jul 5, 2018 6:58:23 GMT
At the moment I am planning on coming down on the day, and now maybe park somewhere near Hatton, if that is the proposed last point of call. See you soon. Scott Scott, looking forward to seeing you. There is a big car park at the Hatton Arms. Given we’re booked in for late lunch, you should be OK to park there. It’s an easy run from the pub to the station either down the locks on the canal towpath or the A4177 (which has a cycle path from the roundabout at Charingworth Drive to the junction for Warwick Parkway station). (Cusqueno, likewise, the pub car park should be good for you too.) Sooper8 is trying to contact Busaste.
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Post by Stella on Jul 5, 2018 9:59:10 GMT
Bad new on my part, I'm afraid. Due to a fall at work on Sunday, I won't be coming after all. My knee keeps swelling and hurting once I get off my sofa and move about for an hour or two. Rather annoyed about the whole thing!
Hope you lot will have fun, though. The weather's excellent.
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Post by cusqueno on Jul 5, 2018 16:07:03 GMT
Stella, no chance of a recovery before Saturday? I guess you wouldn't want to risk your knee seizing up though.
Robert, you mentioned pre-selecting from the menu. I think I'll go for the fish & chips.
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robt
Viscount
Posts: 559
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Post by robt on Jul 5, 2018 18:16:41 GMT
Pete, if you're able to join us, your carriage awaits you, sir! (Can you let me know if you'll be there so I can confirm arrangements with the tandem guys?) IMG_1127 by RMT@261, on Flickr Really sorry to hear about your injury, Stella. I hope you get well soon, and thank you for your call and texts. We agreed that an item for discussion on Saturday should be a DFR6S (for Stella) in North London or the South East in the Autumn. Given that Stella was the only one, other than my brother and me, planning to camp on Friday and Saturday, I have notified the site owner that he can offer the pitches to any late callers. Vaughan and I will go back to my house on Saturday night. So DFR6 will be a one-day event on Saturday 7th July, commencing 10:30am from Warwick Parkway station, concluding at 2:30pm at the Hatton Arms, then footie and Viscount chats into the late hours for those able to stay. I have also booked a table at 11:30am at 'Time for Tea' in Kenilworth for Tea, Coffee and Cakes after our first 8 miles. Thanks to those who have already made their menu choices. I'm really looking forward to Saturday - don't forget your sunscreen!
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Post by velocipete on Jul 6, 2018 6:15:31 GMT
Rob,I'll be there. Not sure on the food front yet,I may just have a bag of crisps in the garden. I hate football,but I'm happy for those who like it! Shame Stella can't make it,I know how much she enjoys it. See you all tomorrow. Thanks for the tandem,it looks a heavy old beast! Good for going down hill anyway. Cheers, Pete.
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robt
Viscount
Posts: 559
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Post by robt on Jul 6, 2018 6:42:07 GMT
Rob,I'll be there. Not sure on the food front yet,I may just have a bag of crisps in the garden. I hate football,but I'm happy for those who like it! Shame Stella can't make it,I know how much she enjoys it. See you all tomorrow. Thanks for the tandem,it looks a heavy old beast! Good for going down hill anyway. Cheers, Pete. Pete, that’s great. See you tomorrow. The tandem is a lovely thing, apparently built for the 1940 Olympics, possibly by Chater-Lee. Robert (pictured) is looking forward to drawing on the assembled experience of the Viscount forum members to spot clues to its heritage.
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Post by dracco on Jul 6, 2018 12:23:37 GMT
For any cheapskates (i.e. all of us), who are planning to drive to the rally (some of us), there is a (possibly free) car park conveniently located away from main roads, midway between the Hatton Arms and Warwick Parkway station. It is located immediately next to St. Michael's Church and can be accessed from the (wonderfully named)Ugly Bridge Lane just next to the Shell station on the A4177 or from the other end, via Old Budbrooke Road (the road that leads to Warwick Parkway Station). Check it out on Google maps.
I reckon that this car park is most likely used principally on Sundays, or (for weddings) on a Saturday. Admittedly, we are in peak wedding season, but I'd guess that anyone arriving before 10am is likely to get first dibs on a parking slot. Alternatively, it's probably possible to park streetside in nearby Hampton Magna.
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Post by theformeremployee on Jul 6, 2018 17:06:06 GMT
a) I'll switch Mick Ives to the Hatton Arms - Peter is coming with me (not by tandem.....) and b)a rally in North London could include a visit to the place in Potters Bar where the 'rump' of Viscount wound up until it shut the lights off in the early 80s. Good access to the area known as Little Switzerland - small ring, big sprocket territory. Kind regards, John
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