18:45
TB - Second hour passes after 75.3 miles with average of 66.2mpg. Matt full of concentration behind wheel; you can't relax on an economy run.
19:45
TB - 117.8 miles gone with 66.0mpg passed. Not much to do on economy run apart from eat and sleep. Heady stink of petrol coming from boot. I do hope Matt tightened up those cans - there's a 500V battery back there.
20:05
TB - Need to stop for food. Been in Prius nigh on 15 hours; bodies revolting against torpor. Probably wonderful guest houses around who'll give us a good feed, but getting off main road is no-go. Little Chef it'll have to be. Two mains, two coffees, twenty quid.
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| Matt puts his photographers hat on |
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21:05
MP - Resume driving, Tom at wheel. Cripes! First blob on digital fuel gauge has disappeared. One down, nine to go. God, this is boring. Get some textual relief from mobile phone, take some dusky pictures, book
Our Mutual Friend goes unread.
TB - Half a chicken and a bucket of coffee. Stomach complains. Long uphills hammer fuel intake to 62.7mpg. Matt tells me I've got to try harder or we'll never get there. Emotions flare. Cabin silence ensues.
21:45
MP - Rough itinerary I'd planned had us in Carlisle by now. Still actually very much in Scotland. Some dual-carriageway sections now, mixed with singles. Would normally make for fast progress, but not today. Current fuel estimations get us to Bristol. Fingers crossed for better economy when we reach motorways. Time for snooze.
22:38
TB - 200 miles in, but 630 miles to go to Land's End. Seeming ever more unlikely. Second blob on fuel gauge disappeared 15 miles ago.
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| Night-time texting eases boredom |
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23:55
TB - Struggling. Night driving tricky when you've been up 20 hours. Petrol station on A9 brings Red Bull and couple of sweet-bags. Crawl into the back for shut-eye. My 6'2 frame doesn't stretch out well in front.
Tuesday 6th July
00:00
MP - No idea where we've stopped. I take over driving. Have decided to drive on through the night, one sleeping, the other driving, stopping at hotel if we really need it.
00:05
TB - Motion sick after only minutes. Pumping tyres up to 45psi may aid economy, but it really screws up ride. Every bump and cats' eye jars suspension. Absent boot bits mean it's a lot noisier too. Clamber over to front seat and get fitfull sleep.
