The art of the commute..A call to explore!

Whether you get the Bus, the train, a plane or drive, commuting affects most of us more than we realise.

Since starting my new job, I’ve been experiencing the joys of the M80 slog to and from Stirling.

I’m not too fussed, as even with fuel/parking/insurance/servicing and VED factored in, the Octavia is proving to be about 1/3 the cost of a weekly train ticket. Add in the ability to always get a seat, your own choice of music and the heater set just so and you’re onto a sure fire winner.

On the negative side, there are some minor frustrations and one major one..

Drivers expecting a written invitation to use gaps on roundabouts, those who fail to comprehend how merge in turns work etc are common, but low on the annoyance level.

What really is insufferable? The sitting in traffic! For 24 miles, I can often be spending in excess of 50mins – not ideal on a road network that is meant to be high speed. I’m lucky if I see an average speed north of 30mph, and a view better than a truck trailer.

However, Salvation is at hand!

Judicious application of eye to map has identified super solutions. Firstly, when expediency and simplicity are in demand the morning commute can utilise local Aroads to sneak past the worst snarls on the M80, removing the lag of the motorway, whilst retaining the 60+mpg I’ve come to expect. Should I require a languid approach to the homeward commute, it functions just as well in reverse.

Secondly, should we be blessed with a day sans rain and avec sunshine, the real backroads are where I will be found! 30 miles in length, and winding down Broads with little traffic, even the Octavia can be fun. Add in the fact that the commute time is the same as the M80, and it makes perfect sense. The commute home is oft the best part of the working day.

So there you have it – a little effort sees the commute shift from annoying to awesome – I urge you to see what you can do!

 

However, be warned! I’m now looking at renewing the Octavia suspension so it is more compliant on the A/B roads. Commuting can still be expensive..

 

 

the joy of the barge commute

7.43am-almost a civilised hour…when the night is not what it once was. The day bursts into being with a lashing of rain and a glacial gust of wind.

Bracing against the wind, i emerge from my cave like the proverbial half shut knife-eyes shielded from the piercing shards of water.

One thing on my mind-reaching the sanctury of the 7.

Ensconsed in the electric captain’s chair, arm laid on the provided rest, one can survey his fine ship-the black prow stretching out fore, covering the sleeping giant below.

A deft twist and the giant rises from his slumbers, gnawing at handbrake cables in his eagerness to depart. Up anchor and off.

Furnace adjusted, and sails to intermittant we plow onwards, rounding Prelude cape and passing Discovery Bay.

A little further and the coast parts to reveal the deep water of the shipping lanes.

Here the gargantuans lumber, stopping to pick up their breathing cargo in sporradic fashion. My rudder and prop are fit to deal, and i skirt them in the doldrums with aplomb.

Onwards then to the bouys controlling the harbour. I wait in line, a ship surrounded by tugs. Lights alter and the giant is pushed into action once more-urgent in his dash for a berth.

Some helmsmanship is required to position the craft in the harbour berth-touching neighbouring schooners can elicit rage within the captain.

Moored, tis time to depart my charge and continue my quest o’erland. A chance glance at the sonar reveals the legend 14.0mpg.

Bugger.