st4
Banned
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2008
- Messages
- 8,624
- Reaction score
- 13
- Location
- Sunny Scotland
- Your Mercedes
- Disqualified driver
- Banned
- #1
Good morning folks,
I appologise for not doing this sooner but work has been mental and I had other commitments over the weekend.
As you know, I organised a touring trip of the Lake District for the forum. A few showed up from both forums and we did a tour. I owe Brian (BEJ) a huge thank you for his help in plotting an alternative route as weather (snow) was not on our side.
It was a great pleasure to meet Andy (Palmball), teabag (albiet a bit briefly and I applogise re the pace of the driving) and Andys inlaws plus Marty who I could chat photography with. Andy, your father in law has a taste in cars second to none.... The rest of yous I know well.
As the other tourers were wimps or were not as photographically motivated as me, I was up to capture the morning light BEFORE breakfast. I love my food but getting a hotel to make me a breakfast at half five is nigh on impossible so I braved the cold with an empty belly.
Soft glorious morning light bathed the banks of Ullswater
DSC_0109 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
However it was blooming cold
DSC_0119 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
Thats ice. I had taken the winter tyres off the finest car money can buy to revel in the joyous grip and steering precision that only a C220cdi estate can offer, but was already wondering if this was a bad decision. Offical reports say summer tyres below 7c are dangerous and I would be courting with instant death if I drove my very powerful and lethal C220cdi
I decided that without the back up crew that a car like a C220cdi needs, I would need to venture down the Glenridding road to get some heat into the tyres, and I did that. It was still early, and a morning attack run was comitted to, before breakfast. Its an excellent road to punt a small(ish) car down, not good for a big one, and with the sun shinning onto the road, I got some heat into my tyres (and some) and booted it down the lake.
Here is a view on the way to Glenridding
DSC_0130 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
I met up with another keen photographer who got up even earlier than me, but hadn't sadly yielded great results. IMHO he left it too early and the banks of the lake weren't illuminated as the sun hadn't risen high enough to do so. So I cheated. Anyway, I got him to take this of me...
DSC_0131 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
So what happened next. I got back to the hotel, breakfasted with the Sassenachs who were bermused by the presence of black pudding so they gave me theres. It was very good, but not as good as the real black pudding your get from Stornaway. Mean sausages however and a round or two of toast and some bermused faces as I explained my love of second breakfast and my general wariness of PCP deals but Andy, the master of this, explained all....
Then we met in a car park, I have many friends from car forums but the meeting ground will remain the same, we met in a car park...LOL
_DSC0488 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
From here, it should have been a straight convoy to Kirkstone, but BEJ and I like to drive progressively, others like to take in the view and thats sadly how teabag dropped off, I stopped to take a picture and BEJ was leading the way, and as I stopped, I was the last to arrive but no Teabag...
Here is a thing of joy at the top of the Epic Kirkstone pass, well its epic when there is less traffic on it as you can drive very fast along it, but muppets seem to think 20 to 30 is the pace to go, whereas 50 -60 is...but not 1mph above 60 as you will instantly crash off the road and die...
_DSC0492 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
Another C Class estate in white, what a beautiful car, one of gods finest creations, if not the finest.....:lol::lol::lol:
We Convoyed down the Struggle, here I felt the SLS was a little too big for its own good, it filled my entire mirror and when I met another car in mine, it was a bit of a squeeze, in that thing....well....Andys a braver man than me, and to be honest even taking it here is a credit to him.
_DSC0494 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
After clearing Ambleside we took the A595 to Keswick up by Grasmere, this is an epic sweeping road and whilst BEJ and I led the way, my mirror was fully filled with bellowing and snarling SLS. This car I have named the batmobile, it is utterly OTT and a thing of joy. It pops and crackles and thunders, but Andy here was not for trying, BEJ and I were and we pushed on at progressive speeds and awaited the troops at Keswick to take a short cut over to Derwent Water. We were driven past so brought up the rear in the end as a bus obscured the view of BEJ and I waiting.
Still, I stopped to take this at Ashness Jetty, Derwent Water
DSC_0143 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
We met at the top of Honister slate mine:
_DSC0497 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
Some moron in an Audi who cannot drive to save their lives, thought it would be wise to drive up at 10mph all the way. I think some people should just stay off these roads and allow those who can drive on them properly, to enjoy them. Or at least pull in to let them past. Its a narrow and twisty road, but 30 is still slow and perfectly safe. Its people like this that lead to our roads getting ever more restrictive as they simply are dreadful drivers.
Still, the view at the top was alright...
_DSC0497 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
We drove onto Buttermere (and I will back here in the summer camping and will provide proper pictures then) and ate. The pub was good, food was epic, I had a half roast chicken, a few whoofters just had sandwiches...LOL...
Who's got the cleaner engine bay?
BEJ
_DSC0502 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
Or Andy
_DSC0504 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
_DSC0501 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
From discussions with Andy, it transpires AMG are a very accomodating bunch, he's met the chap thats made the engine, and has dealt with their sound engineers over his stereo, which he put on for me. Its not £5ks worth, but its better than mine. Where I think it stems from is Andy listens to his music very loud, but explained he has too as the car is very loud. The other issue is whilst its a very broad car (clear to see when its in your mirror and the occupants sit very far away from each other) its cabin is still small. Andy strives for perfection and that's probably seen him progress so far to have such a car, but this stereo IMHO is good, but there are blatant limitations.
We're all nerds...LOL
_DSC0503 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
After this BEJ and I had a chat about routes, there is a little side road back to Keswick which is ace, but not when there is traffic, and I go very fast along it as its extremely well sited. I've scratched many an undertray on it, but its very good fun.
But we took the Winlatter pass, which is a) wider b) faster again and less chance of being held up by a slow driving weekend touring OAP sort. Andy was in front, and there was a sweeper, I stepped down to 3rd gear to boot it out, and as I was out the bend, Andy was 100m ahead. The Batmobile effing moves and the road was a little wider to let this epic car shine a bit.
And boy did we shift....
After Keswick (again) we attacked the trout beck, I was bring up the rear and we followed the SLS. We went progressively quickly and it was fun following another C estate, Colins one wasn't a sport, mine might have been a little quicker through some of the turns but probably very little, I was comitted to keep up with it. His has the newer 7g plus box, which I will not bash as I haven't driven one with the 7g plus.
We stopped at the Aira Force car park...
A thing of splendour...
_DSC0510 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
Afterwards the tour was concluded and I headed up the A7 from Carlise to Edinburgh to see my mate. I had an epic drive as it was quiet and I thought to myself as I stopped to take a wiz....
My cars wonderful....I love it....
_DSC0514 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
I appologise for not doing this sooner but work has been mental and I had other commitments over the weekend.
As you know, I organised a touring trip of the Lake District for the forum. A few showed up from both forums and we did a tour. I owe Brian (BEJ) a huge thank you for his help in plotting an alternative route as weather (snow) was not on our side.
It was a great pleasure to meet Andy (Palmball), teabag (albiet a bit briefly and I applogise re the pace of the driving) and Andys inlaws plus Marty who I could chat photography with. Andy, your father in law has a taste in cars second to none.... The rest of yous I know well.
As the other tourers were wimps or were not as photographically motivated as me, I was up to capture the morning light BEFORE breakfast. I love my food but getting a hotel to make me a breakfast at half five is nigh on impossible so I braved the cold with an empty belly.
Soft glorious morning light bathed the banks of Ullswater
DSC_0109 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
However it was blooming cold
DSC_0119 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
Thats ice. I had taken the winter tyres off the finest car money can buy to revel in the joyous grip and steering precision that only a C220cdi estate can offer, but was already wondering if this was a bad decision. Offical reports say summer tyres below 7c are dangerous and I would be courting with instant death if I drove my very powerful and lethal C220cdi
I decided that without the back up crew that a car like a C220cdi needs, I would need to venture down the Glenridding road to get some heat into the tyres, and I did that. It was still early, and a morning attack run was comitted to, before breakfast. Its an excellent road to punt a small(ish) car down, not good for a big one, and with the sun shinning onto the road, I got some heat into my tyres (and some) and booted it down the lake.
Here is a view on the way to Glenridding
DSC_0130 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
I met up with another keen photographer who got up even earlier than me, but hadn't sadly yielded great results. IMHO he left it too early and the banks of the lake weren't illuminated as the sun hadn't risen high enough to do so. So I cheated. Anyway, I got him to take this of me...
DSC_0131 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
So what happened next. I got back to the hotel, breakfasted with the Sassenachs who were bermused by the presence of black pudding so they gave me theres. It was very good, but not as good as the real black pudding your get from Stornaway. Mean sausages however and a round or two of toast and some bermused faces as I explained my love of second breakfast and my general wariness of PCP deals but Andy, the master of this, explained all....
Then we met in a car park, I have many friends from car forums but the meeting ground will remain the same, we met in a car park...LOL
_DSC0488 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
From here, it should have been a straight convoy to Kirkstone, but BEJ and I like to drive progressively, others like to take in the view and thats sadly how teabag dropped off, I stopped to take a picture and BEJ was leading the way, and as I stopped, I was the last to arrive but no Teabag...
Here is a thing of joy at the top of the Epic Kirkstone pass, well its epic when there is less traffic on it as you can drive very fast along it, but muppets seem to think 20 to 30 is the pace to go, whereas 50 -60 is...but not 1mph above 60 as you will instantly crash off the road and die...
_DSC0492 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
Another C Class estate in white, what a beautiful car, one of gods finest creations, if not the finest.....:lol::lol::lol:
We Convoyed down the Struggle, here I felt the SLS was a little too big for its own good, it filled my entire mirror and when I met another car in mine, it was a bit of a squeeze, in that thing....well....Andys a braver man than me, and to be honest even taking it here is a credit to him.
_DSC0494 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
After clearing Ambleside we took the A595 to Keswick up by Grasmere, this is an epic sweeping road and whilst BEJ and I led the way, my mirror was fully filled with bellowing and snarling SLS. This car I have named the batmobile, it is utterly OTT and a thing of joy. It pops and crackles and thunders, but Andy here was not for trying, BEJ and I were and we pushed on at progressive speeds and awaited the troops at Keswick to take a short cut over to Derwent Water. We were driven past so brought up the rear in the end as a bus obscured the view of BEJ and I waiting.
Still, I stopped to take this at Ashness Jetty, Derwent Water
DSC_0143 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
We met at the top of Honister slate mine:
_DSC0497 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
Some moron in an Audi who cannot drive to save their lives, thought it would be wise to drive up at 10mph all the way. I think some people should just stay off these roads and allow those who can drive on them properly, to enjoy them. Or at least pull in to let them past. Its a narrow and twisty road, but 30 is still slow and perfectly safe. Its people like this that lead to our roads getting ever more restrictive as they simply are dreadful drivers.
Still, the view at the top was alright...
_DSC0497 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
We drove onto Buttermere (and I will back here in the summer camping and will provide proper pictures then) and ate. The pub was good, food was epic, I had a half roast chicken, a few whoofters just had sandwiches...LOL...
Who's got the cleaner engine bay?
BEJ
_DSC0502 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
Or Andy
_DSC0504 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
_DSC0501 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
From discussions with Andy, it transpires AMG are a very accomodating bunch, he's met the chap thats made the engine, and has dealt with their sound engineers over his stereo, which he put on for me. Its not £5ks worth, but its better than mine. Where I think it stems from is Andy listens to his music very loud, but explained he has too as the car is very loud. The other issue is whilst its a very broad car (clear to see when its in your mirror and the occupants sit very far away from each other) its cabin is still small. Andy strives for perfection and that's probably seen him progress so far to have such a car, but this stereo IMHO is good, but there are blatant limitations.
We're all nerds...LOL
_DSC0503 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
After this BEJ and I had a chat about routes, there is a little side road back to Keswick which is ace, but not when there is traffic, and I go very fast along it as its extremely well sited. I've scratched many an undertray on it, but its very good fun.
But we took the Winlatter pass, which is a) wider b) faster again and less chance of being held up by a slow driving weekend touring OAP sort. Andy was in front, and there was a sweeper, I stepped down to 3rd gear to boot it out, and as I was out the bend, Andy was 100m ahead. The Batmobile effing moves and the road was a little wider to let this epic car shine a bit.
And boy did we shift....
After Keswick (again) we attacked the trout beck, I was bring up the rear and we followed the SLS. We went progressively quickly and it was fun following another C estate, Colins one wasn't a sport, mine might have been a little quicker through some of the turns but probably very little, I was comitted to keep up with it. His has the newer 7g plus box, which I will not bash as I haven't driven one with the 7g plus.
We stopped at the Aira Force car park...
A thing of splendour...
_DSC0510 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
Afterwards the tour was concluded and I headed up the A7 from Carlise to Edinburgh to see my mate. I had an epic drive as it was quiet and I thought to myself as I stopped to take a wiz....
My cars wonderful....I love it....
_DSC0514 by stephentaylor4@hotmail.com, on Flickr
Last edited:
