Longish trip, covid related questions

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Richard_C
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Longish trip, covid related questions

Post by Richard_C »

Not been more than 20 miles since mid March. My daughter moved the day before lockdown, our plan was to deliver her bike to her now she has room and need for it but that got put on hold. So the plan inow s to drive up (c.220 miles each way) deliver the bike which will help her tremendously as she can stay off bus travel for now, have a socially distanced coffee in front of her house then drive home. Waiting for a sunny day at her end.

2 practical questions which might seem silly but are a concern to my wife:

Are toilets open normally on motorway service areas? 9 hours is an impossibly long time without relief.

Are breakdown/recovery services still operating? I really wouldn't expect to need them but you never know.
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Re: Longish trip, covid related questions

Post by myglaren »

Couldn't say with regard to motorway services toilets but there are breakdown services operating. They will tow your car if it can't be repaired at the roadside but you will have to arrange transport yourself as you are not permitted to be in the cab with the driver.
There is a breakdown repairman writes on autoshite and has discussed this recently.
Just give Barnard Castle a miss.
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Re: Longish trip, covid related questions

Post by mickthemaverick »

You should find all you need to know here Richard,: https://motorwayservicesonline.co.uk/Coronavirus
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Re: Longish trip, covid related questions

Post by myglaren »

mickthemaverick wrote: 09 Jun 2020, 12:44 You should find all you need to know here Richard,: https://motorwayservicesonline.co.uk/Coronavirus
Of course!
Considering that there are lots of deliveries that have to be made, there must be provision for delivery drivers covering long distances.
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Re: Longish trip, covid related questions

Post by Richard_C »

Thanks all, simple really. I was searching for individual service areas and getting frustrated. My trip is just as much delivery driver as visit.

Yes, will avoid Barnard Castle, but now of course that would be perfectly legal. I did read that the self contained cottage that DC stayed in might not have planning permission and might not have been paying council tax - Durham CC are investigating. It would be tragic if the family ended up with a big bill......
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Re: Longish trip, covid related questions

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

The toilets are available in the motorway services I have visited (I am still working), but what is happening is only half are available (to deal with social distancing).
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Re: Longish trip, covid related questions

Post by Gibbo2286 »

Man is, by nature, a lazy beast, he does not need twice encouraging to do nothing.
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Re: Longish trip, covid related questions

Post by myglaren »

Gibbo2286 wrote: 09 Jun 2020, 17:33 This might be a better way to go.

https://www.parcelforce.com/help-and-ad ... g/bicycle
Good idea. My son recently sold a bike and sent it with a courier for not a lot of money, less than the fuel costs to take it in the car, similar distance.
Got a bike box free from a bike shop - possibly the one where my grandson works but they will all give them away, it saves them having to dispose of them.
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Re: Longish trip, covid related questions

Post by old'uns »

as said above, urinals, sinks and hand dryers in the men's are every other one closed, not sure about the cubicles though?
i think only the shops are open WHS, M & S etc for snacks, coffee etc, possibly the drive through Coffee? ( a complete nonsense as far as i'm concerned)
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Re: Longish trip, covid related questions

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

Every other cubicle is also closed to allow for distancing. At first it doesn't make sense, until you allow for people entering/leaving them.
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Re: Longish trip, covid related questions

Post by Richard_C »

Thanks again.

The box and send doesn't quite work - as she has moved we are taking other bits and pieces in what might be the only visit for months. Who knows if things will get better or worse, second wave and all that. Never use services for anything other than toilets anyway (except, guilty secret, in normal times Greggs at Blythe if you get there before 11, bacon roll and coffee deal). Always take own food and flask. So off we go.

Now they have finished the top of M11/A14/A1M link and all the roadworks and temporary speed limits are gone it carves 15 or 20 minutes off the journey time we have had for the past 3 years.
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Re: Longish trip, covid related questions

Post by myglaren »

There is a Greggs in the Washington/Birtley services if that is easier to access and the time is right.
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