Gillingham away

[AustrianAndyGull]

If i get no replies to this i promise i won't have a rant about it like the Southend one.

Working on getting to Gillingham on saturday as i've a free weekend but i'm a bit skint, might be able to pull it off but it's 50/50 at the minute.

Firstly, i was thinking of going on the train as it would be a lot easier but i have to change at London St Pancras. That's not gonna happen, LONDON SCARES ME AND I HATE IT!!

Secondly, that leaves the long drive down from Derbyshire but as someone who has been on the M25 once in his life that means going on it again AND going through the Dartford tunnel. I'm a decent, confident driver who doesn't mind driving anywhere in the UK, even in cities and stuff but anywhere ON or inside the M25 and indeed the Dartford tunnel thing panics me a bit i've got to say. I know i'm being a puff but is it pretty standard and easy to find out where you are supposed to be going? ( for anyone who has been through it). I obviously don't want to end up in London where i will get attacked, maimed, chased, mugged, burgled, robbed, stabbed, breathed on by cockneys, ripped off, mugged off, ignored, disorientated, lost, phobic, nauseaous and other daily London related fates.

Thirdly , anyone who has been to Gillingham. Is it a hovel? Is there anything nearby in terms of shops, supermarkets, bookies, pubs etc and is parking ok? I've heard the away end is just an open air stand.

Be great to hear from anyone that can answer any of these things and hopefully i can get down there on saturday.

Cheers all!!

[Kernowgull]

Not been to Gillingham myself Andy but when my Dad was doing his 92 grounds my mother ended up being whisked away to all sorts of wonderful locations, and she said Gillingham was the worst hole she went to!!

And also, Im from Cornwall, which is remote as it gets, and I lived in London for three years, so man up man!!

[AustrianAndyGull]

Seriously Cornish, i lived and worked in St Columb Major for a while soi know the Cornish are bloody weird but friendly and affable. :na:

London mate, it's a different kettle of fish. In fact it's a different world for me. Weird, congested and i'd feel safer walking through any South African city late at night! :-o If someone seriously offered me a job in London for say 100k a year i'd have to turn it down. It's a big mess.

[ferrarilover]

Andy, it's a bit of road with a roof. If you can't manage it, please resign your license to the DVLA immediately. The only thing to be wary of is that the run up to both the bridge and the tunnel are 50mph zones and the average speed cameras are often switched on, sometimes to stun, sometimes to kill.

Matt.

[AustrianAndyGull]

Andy, it's a bit of road with a roof. If you can't manage it, please resign your license to the DVLA immediately. The only thing to be wary of is that the run up to both the bridge and the tunnel are 50mph zones and the average speed cameras are often switched on, sometimes to stun, sometimes to kill.

Matt.

superb!

I don't mind northern tunnels, i've done the Tyne Tunnel quite a few times without emitting faeces.

[AustrianAndyGull]

Oh and it's a bridge and not a tunnel but i did the second severn crossing once on a blustery day and sh*t myself with that too! It was like driving for miles over the sea! ( which i suppose technically it is isn't it?).

The only vehicles that should be going over the sea are airborne ones and boats! Forget the spare tyres, cars need f*cking inflatable lifeboats for that journey!

[ferrarilover]

What makes you think this one will be any different to any of your northern tunnels, apart, perhaps, from being in a part of the country where people might reasonably wish to live?

Honestly, it's fine. My Nan lives off the most difficult junction on the whole M25 (the one right out of the Tunnel, within a mile of so of the mouth) and I cope just fine. Provided you're a competent driver (in other words, not a girl or an old person), you won't even notice the difference.

Driving home from Exeter a couple of months ago, even on the ground level road, cars, including mine, were being blown from lane to lane by the wind. One of the most fun things I've ever done, like driving a shopping trolley.

Matt.

[AustrianAndyGull]

What makes you think this one will be any different to any of your northern tunnels, apart, perhaps, from being in a part of the country where people might reasonably wish to live?

Honestly, it's fine. My Nan lives off the most difficult junction on the whole M25 (the one right out of the Tunnel, within a mile of so of the mouth) and I cope just fine. Provided you're a competent driver (in other words, not a girl or an old person), you won't even notice the difference.

Driving home from Exeter a couple of months ago, even on the ground level road, cars, including mine, were being blown from lane to lane by the wind. One of the most fun things I've ever done, like driving a shopping trolley.Matt.

Is the Ferrari out of favour now then?

[bengull]

Not sure how driving on the m25 is different to any other motorway in so far that you make a note of what junction you need to turn off at, and then duly turn off at it. Although as a man prone to random bursts of irritable bowel syndrome perhaps we should make an exception in your case. Dartford crossing is actually quite good providing its a clear day.

Gillingham itself is indeed a complete shithole, the ground is set deep in amongst terrace housing and we get chucked right at the very top of some very unsafe looking scaffolding for the duration. Completely open to the elements and if it is anything like the last six months it is going to be ridiculously cold!

There is a pub, chippie, co-op and bookies all next to each other about 5 mins from the away end entrance, plenty enough to keep even you occupied. No one tried to kill, mug, rape, maim or castrate me on my last visit so you should be ok, although you are a lot less tolerant than me.

Hope you can make it mate!

[AustrianAndyGull]

Not sure how driving on the m25 is different to any other motorway in so far that you make a note of what junction you need to turn off at, and then duly turn off at it. Although as a man prone to random bursts of irritable bowel syndrome perhaps we should make an exception in your case. Dartford crossing is actually quite good providing its a clear day.

Gillingham itself is indeed a complete sh*t, the ground is set deep in amongst terrace housing and we get chucked right at the very top of some very unsafe looking scaffolding for the duration. Completely open to the elements and if it is anything like the last six months it is going to be ridiculously cold!

There is a pub, chippie, co-op and bookies all next to each other about 5 mins from the away end entrance, plenty enough to keep even you occupied. No one tried to kill, mug, rape, maim or castrate me on my last visit so you should be ok, although you are a lot less tolerant than me.Hope you can make it mate!

Classic Queen!! Cheers mate, i'll see what i can do.