----- Original Message -----
From: "Dave" <b52d@southwind.net>
To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
Sent: Saturday, December 02, 2000 3:38 PM
Subject: [MV] Beltring questions
> To all those seasoned travelers out on the list......
>
Well, there are several US listees who I met at Beltring who should be able
to give an insight from a strictly US perspective.
> My wife and I are looking into going to Beltring next year and we know
> nothing about anything to do with the place. We have a great many
questions
> about.... well, just about everything.
>
Fire away.
> Where do you fly to from the US, how
> do you get there, where to stay.
>
Apart from some package deals using Manchester and Stanstead you can safely
assume its Heathrow or Gatwick, Heathrow more likely on the west outer
limits of London about 1 hr from Beltring at a pedestrian pace depending on
the traffic state of the notorious London circular M25 which can take on the
appearance of an 8 lane parking lot.
Beltring is a tiny place that is totally overawed once a year by the War and
Peace show, sure accommodation books up a year in advance but I'm sure Nigel
Hay can direct you to accommodation.
> Basics like food.
>
Typical fast stuff available on-site and catering throughout the UK is
expensive (everything is expensive compared to the US), do not expect your
typical American multiple-choice of ethnic restaurants where a single
portion for 10 bucks feeds three people, McDonalds is about 10 bucks a head.
>Should we rent a car or
> use public transport. What to plan for and expect in the way of
logistical
> issues while there. I think you get the idea.
>
Public transport, a national bad joke and the mode we're supposed to use
officially according to the deputy Prime Minister Mr Two-Jags Prescott and
encouraged by stated govt policy of swingeing taxes on fuel, cars,
cancellation of road schemes and huge reductions in city parking spaces,
however, with two public cars he never buys fuel, road tax or has to find a
parking space.
The Underground works well in London, the Average American spends three
weeks in London using the Tube and taxis, I reckon the rest will need a
rental car, you may well be able to book an auto if unhappy with a left hand
stick shift. The rental companies are quite good at giving you a basic
teach-in and a single sheet of info to get you on the road, busy and
possibly scary compared to the open spaces of the US is quite likely. You
will be necessarily familiar with the "traffic circle" within the first 10
mins and do remember red lights are stop, no creeping round if nothing seems
to be coming, we have a separate green arrow light for this. Fact is
millions of visitors a year do it so its not impossible.
Gordon mentioned a camper van/motor home, bit of a specialist hire these and
hugely expensive apparently, do not expect a leviathan like we see in the US
often with a car on tow behind, think more like a high-roof panel van.
> At any rate, if any of you would care to share your knowledge so that we
do
> not suffer from a harsh learning curve while in England, please contact
us.
>
I suspect the curve will be a bit steep initially whatever. With flight,
car and some accommodation booked any local at Beltring can point you in the
right direction for anything. Do remember the Beltring site is a collection
of open fields in the middle of nowhere for 51 weeks of the year, then all
hell breaks loose.
Don't forget to come and visit, nice cup of tea fixes everything.
Richard
Southampton - England
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Tue Jan 02 2001 - 23:13:20 PST