Road Trips – Driven To Write

Going for a Drive

The author regrets an increasing antipathy towards a pleasure that was very much a part of his earlier life experience and remained so until recently. There are, however, grounds for hope and optimism.

I have been driving for over forty years. In that time, the automotive landscape has changed in ways that were simply unimaginable when, as the proud owner of a newly minted driving licence, I took to the road in my first car, a second-hand VW Beetle.

Owning a car gave you freedom to Continue reading “Going for a Drive”

But Will It Do the Washing Up?

DTW reader, Dave Fisher matches wits with a recently purchased (previous generation) Honda Civic and finds himself coming a distant second.

The question one asks on entering a car such as this – a 2016 Honda Civic Tourer – is whether it is more intelligent than its owner. The car can certainly do many things its owner cannot, but if that means it’s more intelligent is a moot point. Many a dog would agree with the car, especially because, with its rear seats down, the car could easily swallow three or four Great Danes. And if you want to give Mr. Honda another three hundred pounds for a wee gadget, you can mount two bicycles (front wheel off) inside. Very clever.

The entering is the tricky bit, you are forced to Continue reading “But Will It Do the Washing Up?”

Up To The Col

An inhospitable ascent. Taking the scenic route to Italy by motorcycle, reader, Dave Fisher discovers some uncomfortable truths.

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Still raining.

I stood in the gathering dark looking down at the bike, rain and sleet pinging off my ancient XJ 900’s hot exhaust. 700 miles from London through the rain and it wasn’t happy; like me, it was waterlogged, refusing to start and feeling cursed. All this way for a birthday party in an Italian villa, via the Alps, but it’ll be a great ride said some envious friends, it’s summertime and only a day or two to get there. So much for the wisdom of friends. Continue reading “Up To The Col”