What is a long drive?

[Clivefog]

I often read on here about long drives. I drove from Bristol to Doncaster to collect an e-bike from Scout (lovely couple). 180 miles each way. Due to a visit from the gas man we had to be back for the next day. With several stops, including refreshments at Scouts, all done in under 11 hours. All done under the national speed limit and any other imposed limit for road works/lane blockage/congestion. Both of us had no ill effects for being stuck in the seat for a long time. It was also a very hot day and cab A/C was only just working above 60 mph so I had to keep behind the lorries or melt.
The plan was to stop over but as gas man was due, and appointments are as rare as hospital ones and not to be missed. Already made arrangements to collect the bike so day trip it was.

 

[fat haggis]

I can do more than that just going on a shopping trip with the boss. When I was young I used to do Glasgow to Dover them on to Berlin. The only real break was the ferry. Oh to be young and invincible again.

 

[starquake]

Last weekend we done 210 miles each way to look at and inspect the motorhome we put offer in on (8 horus in total according to car).. In a day as had to be back the following day. Also in an Electric car, so anyone saying they can't do 450 miles in a day talks rubbish. Didn't even cause any additional stops beyond what we would have done in the old Diesel. (Stopped for toilet breaks, breakfast and charged during. We did plan stops with > 3 charge points to guarantee availability though). This for us wasn't a long drive. A long drive is 5 hours plus each way, ie, not really viable round trip in a day.

 

[BikerGraham]

Last year popped down to look at a motorhome south of Bridgewater. 360 miles each way. Left home at 7 in morning and was back for about 8 that night 720 miles in the day.
Was a nice day so took the SLK

A fortnight earlier had done the same but only to Solihull and back.

Often do over 200 miles a day with work.

With the van down to the tunnelThe other week 365 miles in 8 hours.

It all depends on what you are used to to be honest. Also, more importantly, what you are comfortable with.

A nice day out on the motorbike with the lads is usually around 200 miles.

 

[steve69]

Mainly an age thing.
20 years ago I could drive 500 miles with a couple of breaks and no trouble at all. Nowadays after I drive 200 miles and exit the driver's seat the stiffness of the joints is unbelievable.

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[Jo662]

We regularly do the south france to the tunnel in 2 days. We always stay too long on the Med,meaning we have to race home.

 

[JockandRita]

A few years ago, we drove all the way down from north of P/boro to Torquay, to view a Hymer, then drove back the same day, ie, 530 x miles.
May pal drove me down a fortnight later to collect it, then drove back the same day. I overnighted at a pub stop.

Gravelines to Reil (Mosel), is about the furthest I drive these days if I need to do it in one hit.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[PaddyM]

Four hours with a midway break for eats is my sweet spot .

 

[Peter & Elaine]

Our record many years ago 1982 ish
Lloret de mar to leeds via dover 2 drivers in a Vauxhall cavalier
1100 miles in 17 hours including ferry

nowadays a minimum of 4 days and backache for 3 days after

 

[Jev88]

I do Peterborough to Cardiff and back in a day sometimes and Liverpool Peterborough.

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[Lisa]

Suffolk to Devon and back again in a day - to view a horse . Will travel most distances for something that I want….

 

[poppycamper]

Early 80's
Leave Ayr midnight Sun... Arrive Plymouth or Portsmoth about 6 or 7 Mon morning..
One stop half way for petrol and pee..

 

[PP Bear]

Ask bobnick and his journeys across down under, now that’s a lots a long drive.

 

[PP Bear]

Mind you, we’d not blink an eyelid to finish work on the base in Germany on a Friday afternoon, 4 of us jump in the car, drive all the way from Fallingbostal to Calais, jump on the ferry, then drive to various locations in the UK dropping off ya mates, Saturday and Saturday night out with the lads and leave early Sunday morning to pick up the lads you dropped off, straight to the port, ferry and back to camp ready for Monday morning parade. Mostly we’d make the parade shattered and head off to work for the day, but die that evening.

Oh to be young again.

 

[chesterfield hooligan]

I used to drive Nottingham to Malaga 8am Monday be home Friday night 7pm 25+ trip's a year for 7 year's admittedly in a car easily 800,000 miles in 7 years and loved it.

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[Tombola]

Murcia to Calais, grabbing naps on the way, about 1200 miles 24.5 hours wasnt what youd call fun but I honestly enjoyed the experience.
And slept on some motorway services without being gassed , and collected a hanging solar panel which flew off on the way

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Four hours with a midway break for eats is my sweet spot .

That’s about my average, have the 2 pups on board so may do an extra stop.

 

[Roby2008]

For me a medium drive is 3-4 hours From here to Slovenia, or to Lago Di Garda or a long way up into Germany, a long one is here to San Remo or Cote D'Azur, the max in a day is just around 1000km if we want to get somewhere, a really short journey is to potter around Tyrol which is on our doorstep.

Here is Rosenheim, about equidistant from Munich, Salzburg, Innsbruck....

Leaving for the UK tomorrow, with car as new MH due on 10th July , first stop a Brau Hotel in Luxembourg, just under 700km, not an unusual distance living here.

Still young at 65 so can do the distance.....

 

[Millcourt]

A German lorry driver was in a pub in Newcastle gobbing off about how lazy the British are, as he drives his load from Düsseldorf , goes through Holland, up to Newcastle and back to Düsseldorf in two days.

This old Geordie man mutters... "Ay! Way back man... I used to pick up my load in Newcastle drop off in Düsseldorf and be back in Newcastle the same day."

The German trucker snorted and said... "Oh Yeah....what rig were you driving?"

The old fella replied... "A LANCASTER BOMBER!!!"

 

[gus-lopez]

Also in an Electric car, so anyone saying they can't do 450 miles in a day talks rubbish. Didn't even cause any additional stops beyond what we would have done in the old Diesel.

"Additional stops" this is the problem. 896kms recently without a break or any need for fuel.
In the car I've done lorca>Dunkirk, 1250miles in 21hrs including stopping for diesel.

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[bobnick]

Too many long long drives over the years in many country's to mention.
Google map Dubai to Salalah Oman 1,200 ks through the desert (black top) in the summer. Did it plenty of times in my Land Crusier (Amazon V8, lots and lots of petrol used)

 

[gus-lopez]

just under 700km, not an unusual distance living here.

This is where we are spoilt having decent clear roads.
If I'm looking at a 500 km journey I think to myself "that's 4 hours"

 

[Roby2008]

This is where we are spoilt having decent clear roads.
If I'm looking at a 500 km journey I think to myself "that's 4 hours"

Exactly, we should do the 700km in about 6 hours or so, where the autobahns are unlimited I keep the speed at around 160-70 kmh ( 100 Mph or so ) to make progress but stay within my own reaction times. My old CLK would do 240 Kmh, which was faster than me and scary to concentrate for long at that velocity.

 

[Ridgeway]

In the ice-cream van, we go slow, stop often and enjoy the journey. When i used to drive back to the UK solo in my car, 1280km with 1 fuel & toilet stop of max 10mins and off again.

These days my mind knows there’s a kettle about 2m away and my bladder reminds me there’s a toilet 3m away = we never actually get that far with something being filled and something being emptied

 

[Jev88]

Mind you, we’d not blink an eyelid to finish work on the base in Germany on a Friday afternoon, 4 of us jump in the car, drive all the way from Fallingbostal to Calais, jump on the ferry, then drive to various locations in the UK dropping off ya mates, Saturday and Saturday night out with the lads and leave early Sunday morning to pick up the lads you dropped off, straight to the port, ferry and back to camp ready for Monday morning parade. Mostly we’d make the parade shattered and head off to work for the day, but die that evening.

Oh to be young again.

Fallingbostal..... A name I haven't heard for some time. Late 80's my school Cadets got to visit for our summer camp..... Firing SMG, pistols and driving Stalwarts all illegal I'm the UK of course !
Nice lads in the Staffordshire regiment hosted us.

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[Bessy765]

Our dog had a stroke when we were in Portugal near Sagres wasn’t too happy with the treatment he was getting so drove to Limoges to our specialist vets we had used before when we were at our cottage near there. Virtually on stop well worth it old fella managed another 15 months afterwards.

 

[L' Hobo]

My longest drive, which I never want to repeat, was on the Eurythmics tour in 1986. Annie had throat problem on the Norwegian leg at Dammam nr Oslo and a couple of concerts were cancelled. We later had a 5 day break in Rome, so we were asked IF it was possible for us to travel up there to do replacement concerts. Initially I said no, but after talking to my driver on the other Coach, we agreed to do it (totally illegally) for a large amount of money, this was forthcoming and after documents relieving me of safety for the band were signed by the tour manager.
We drove, with short breaks to Helsingor in Denmark, took the ferry to Sweden,where we rested for 6hrs, then travelled to Oslo.
While the 2 concerts were being performed, my driver in the other coach and I, slept, (off and on,) for the next 24hrs. The contract and shows were completed and we ( my coaches, the band & I) returned to Rome to continue the 'Revenge' Tour.
Estimated mileage, 3000+.

That's what you call a long drive!

Today, after about 150mls, (sometimes less, I take an overnight break!

 

[UptheGas]

A long drive isn’t a long drive ….. it’s just until you’ve had enough.
A long drive with kids is a bloody nightmare. It’s all relative.

 

[Just smiffy]

Cornwall to Inverurie a couple of times a year, I drive over night with a couple of wee stops..700m.

Longest Calais to near Benidorm non stop, a few wee stops an a few naps then back again a day later, in a car….

 

[AndyPK]

THIS is a long drive……

Well actually, it’s called The Long Walk…….but you know what I mean!

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