05:48
MP - Idiotically, miss M6 junction. In my defence, thought we were only at M45. Wasn't checking because surprised we're here so quickly. Maybe the fact that we've changed our minds from taking the M1/A1 had something to do with it. More likely, because it's half bleedin' five in morning.
06:30
TB - Signage on M6 near Birmingham awful, we could be on any of M6, M42 or M6 Toll expressway. FYI: M6 Toll is best £2 you can spend - you avoid Brummieland completely. Mildly confused RoadPilot, a device which warns of impending speed cameras, is bleating about 30mph speed cameras in villages around Birmingham, which we're flying past at 70mph+...
07:05
MP - Stafford Services. Nice loos - flowers and all. Consider drinking water from vases during painful wait for below-average coffee. Early hour seems to be affecting vendor. Perhaps he played pool last night. Get chocolate croissant.
Tom takes over. I mis-navigate us out of car park - some wag has turned the exit sign around so we tour it a couple of times. Ho bloody ho. Like falling over, it's amusing when it happens to somebody else.
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| Matt soldiers through his coffee-chocolate croissant |
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07:10
MP - Disaster! Chocolate croissant is in fact chocolate
and coffee flavoured. Manfully soldier through it. Take taste away with chocolate chip cookies.
08:37
MP - Two-hundred and twenty miles down already. At Windarleigh or something similar. Usually make tea and contemplate work at this hour. Tom driving, so try for a snooze. Dream we're on hot-lap at Spa.
08:40
TB - M6 very quiet at this hour... Decide to test Prius' limits. Bury throttle. Seems to be a limiter, though economy slumps to Range Rover-like 12mpg at this speed. Won't be trying this method on way back.
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| Super economy when cruising |
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08:42
MP - Wake and realise Tom thinks we
are on Spa hot-lap. He reckons Prius has a speed limiter. Decide against attempting sleep, relax into Radio 2. Terry Wogan's on holiday. In his place is Richard Allinson, who I quite like. Wonder what 'Radio 2 Round Thing' is.
08:58
MP - Undertaken by low-flying Bentley Continental GTs - two black cars seemingly travelling in convoy. Two young blokes in each, so perhaps they're development cars ride/handling testing in Scotland. Nice work if you can, etc.
Need to read RoadPilot (also on long-term test) instructions more carefully as its decided not to shut up about things, which is bloody irritating.
Sat-nav just as annoying. Can't change address on move, only when stationary. I know that Prius knows a passenger's on board, because there's a seat-belt warning light and buzzer. Suggested solution: single occupant, disable sat-nav when mobile; passenger in front, leave it on. Decide that with a mind like mine, I should run a car company.
