THE DRIVE

Following directions on a printed route, this is a chance to see the countryside, towns and villages in the area around our campsite, and it's a chance to show off our Minors to the populace. All these 'funny little cars' - oh look!, there's one without a roof, and here comes one covered in wood!

It all starts at the campsite where everyone is given a piece of paper and any last minute instructions before being sent on their way, spaced at regular intervals. The end of the route usually finds us at a place of interest, for instance a brewery, bell foundry, wine co-operative, beauty-spot, motor museum, distillery, car racing circuit, cheese or mushroom caves, whatever there is that will entertain, amuse or educate.
Starting in the morning, the drive usually lasts for an hour, or maybe a little more, and concludes, where possible, at about midday, just in time for lunch.
It's normally very relaxed, and you can go at your own pace. There's no time limit unless something has been organised by way of guided tours at the place of interest. You are then free to explore as you wish. There is no specified route home, so again you are free to explore some of the places you passed through, or you can find another road back to the campsite.
 
 
On occasion, just to add a little spice to the drive, this has been in the form of a treasure hunt, one where the directions are interspersed with symbols which have to be deciphered and, to combat the 'I'll just follow the Minor in front' brigade, even one where alternate cars have different instructions. Carnage, cars passing each other in opposite directions, drivers and passengers with very puzzled looks on their faces and arguments abounding.
There've been some unintentional errors in the instructions which have led to some interesting drives. 'Turn right' instead of 'turn left' was one such, and the vagaries of the Minor odometer have led to many missed turnings. On more than one occasion, sudden road closures or diversions, usually started during the early morning of the drive, have thrown the whole thing into utter chaos. The confusion caused when several Minors inadvertently turned up a narrow farm track, with nowhere to turn round, made for blue air, comments about the lineage of the organiser and interesting tales back on the campsite.