Toying with the idea of a drive & lunch this sunday...

[Rashman]

Thinking of perhaps another visit to the Squirrel Inn, in Battle.

I'd really prefer to have my decent, lighter wheels on for the drive... but they gritted the roads the night before last and it's not going to rain for a while now - so there will still be salt all over the place.

 

[w124nut]

It is tempting to get your cherished wheels onto the road when the sun is shining but as you say, there is a possibility of grit/salt on the road. I know that if I succumbed to the temptation, I would not really enjoy the drive, patience.

 

[donshl]

Blast! Won't be able to make this Sunday (or any Sunday till 1st week of April)

 

[Chrishazle]

If you fancy a change from The Squirrel, look up The Black Horse at Monks Horton, you won't believe how good the Sunday roast is there - £8.95 and literally all you can eat from the carvery, all properly cooked (so you can have rare beef and lamb!!).

Take your satnav though, it can be fun to find first time!

 

[Rashman]

It is tempting to get your cherished wheels onto the road when the sun is shining but as you say, there is a possibility of grit/salt on the road. I know that if I succumbed to the temptation, I would not really enjoy the drive, patience.

Yeah, I know exactly what you mean.

I know there is salt on the roads.. all ground in and powder-like.

Sounds crazy but I wish it would rain. Just one more time, to clean the roads.

Weather is going to be great this weekend.
Really want to take the car out for a good run... and finally put my decent wheels back on!

I'll see what happens.

 

[Rashman]

If you fancy a change from The Squirrel, look up The Black Horse at Monks Horton, you won't believe how good the Sunday roast is there - £8.95 and literally all you can eat from the carvery, all properly cooked (so you can have rare beef and lamb!!).

Take your satnav though, it can be fun to find first time!

Hey Chris,

Yes, I may well do that.

The Squirrel is a nice place but a change is always good.

To be honest, the drive/route is more important to me. The venue needs to have good, safe parking.

I'll check out the location of the Black Horse.

Bit nervous about it though.... last time I went to a pub/restaurant named after an animal, I ended up hitting one!

May that "White Dog" rest in peace.

So you can understand me being abit concerned about going to a place called the Black Horse...

I'd much prefer to hit a squirrel.

lol

 

[Rashman]

Blast! Won't be able to make this Sunday (or any Sunday till 1st week of April)

No worries, bud.

You know, you'll get high on that Austrian air if you're not careful.

 

[donshl]

No worries, bud.

You know, you'll get high on that Austrian air if you're not careful.

Lol, I'll make sure to have plenty of breaks

Off to the US next weekend and just hope the weather is good in Seattle

 

[Chrishazle]

Hey Chris,

Yes, I may well do that.

The venue needs to have good, safe parking.

I'll check out the location of the Black Horse.


lol

Parking at The Black Horse is superb - very large gravelled off road area - I've suggested it to our Porsche Club Kent region for a drive and lunch partly for that very reason. Pub is owned and run by an Italian family and is very well known in the area for superb food. Normally also has 2 cask ales available! As for route to get there, although the easy way is down the M20 to J11 then a little way towards Canterbury before turning down country lanes, there are many other options that ignore main roads - including part of the Pilgrims Way!

 

[davidjpowell]

Gravel? You'll bring Rash out into err a Rash

 

[Chrishazle]

Rash, if you see a Tahoe Blue K reg 968 coupe in the car park back of noon - it'll be wife and I stopping off for a pint! Weather forecast is such that my baby may be woken up for the first time this year, and only the second time since early October (when the wife broke her hip. I knew I could get her into the car, but getting out would have been impossible!!).

 

[Rashman]

Parking at The Black Horse is superb - very large gravelled off road area - I've suggested it to our Porsche Club Kent region for a drive and lunch partly for that very reason. Pub is owned and run by an Italian family and is very well known in the area for superb food. Normally also has 2 cask ales available! As for route to get there, although the easy way is down the M20 to J11 then a little way towards Canterbury before turning down country lanes, there are many other options that ignore main roads - including part of the Pilgrims Way!

Sounds like a nice place.

As for the route, yes, I was hoping for something other than a boring motorway journey.
Equally, I want to try an avoid really small country roads too.

To avoid the M20, I may have to take quite a detour.

I'll see what happens.

I'm still concerned about the amount of salt that is likely to be on a lot of the roads

 

[Rashman]

Gravel? You'll bring Rash out into err a Rash

lol

My second phobia, next to rain.... gravel!

 

[Rashman]

Rash, if you see a Tahoe Blue K reg 968 coupe in the car park back of noon - it'll be wife and I stopping off for a pint! Weather forecast is such that my baby may be woken up for the first time this year, and only the second time since early October (when the wife broke her hip. I knew I could get her into the car, but getting out would have been impossible!!).

Ok cool.

I'll see what happens.
I could really do with taking mine for a run too.
If the roads don't look that bad, I may well see you down there.
It will be dry at least, which is good.
May even see if my friend wants to join with his girlfriend in his Skyline..

 

[sjmaxwell]

I can do Sunday and may bring the wife!

 

[Chrishazle]

Forecast dry and sunny Sat pm and all day Sun, so looking like the cab will be out Sunday morning to take wife to church then off for a potter round the lanes and a pint.

Rash, another one to put in the memory bank for this neck of the woods - The White Horse at Bilsington. Free house, so good (and normally cheap) cask ales, plus good food - arrive hungry, the portions are not small! Car park behind pub is not the greatest, a bit small but OK. Nice patio and garden area behind pub for warmer weather times.

 

[Rashman]

Right, I'm actually thinking about doing the Squirrel Inn again purely because the route is abit more appealing.

The Black Horse would mean 90% motorway

Does anyone have any information about the roads down near Battle?

Will be going through Staplehurst, Cranbrook & Hawkhurst and was abit concerned about flooded roads.

Anyone know what the roads are like down that way?

If a few are interested, we could meet at Hellfrauds in Aylesford again?

 

[Rashman]

Post up if you fancy a little drive & lunch.
See if we can get a few of us together.
I'm waiting to hear back from a couple of guys so hopefully we can get a few of us together.
Rude not to, considering the weather.

Gonna have to keep my forged wheels off the car for a while longer though I reckon, just to be safe

 

[sjmaxwell]

1. Rashman
2. SJMaxwell

 

[Chrishazle]

OK, so you're on the A229 then the dreaded A21 (I know every bend on that road between Batttle and the M25!). for a bit more interest, after you turn left onto the A21 just north of Hurst Green, take the right in Hurst Green towards Heathfield.

As you come into Heathfield you'll see a big Marstons pub on the right just after Heathfield market - turn left (almost a 180 back on yourself), signpost Battle, and follow that road to the end. Turn right and the Squirrel is about 300 yards on the left!

As for Aylesford to Monks Horton, it's a nice run to pick up the old A20 at the M20 Maidstone Services turnoff and follow it all the way to Sellindge, south of Ashford, then turn left signpost Monks Horton Sports Club, follow that until you see the signpost for the Black Horse. Coming back from there, head for M20 J11 but go straight across the roundabout and route via Howletts Port Lympne park then Bilsington, Ham Street, High Halden, Biddenden and you're back on the A229.