I followed the new route on the sat nav under tunnel run 1 when we first left, I'm sure the idea was to drive over the QE2, first exit on the left to follow through the Dartford Tunnel, all I saw was most other participants just carrying on the M25, I ended up doing Dartford then on the A13 and back to Blackwall, all with a guy in a P1 who was confused as much as I was until we got to McD's at Billingsgate

 

The new route won't go on my TomTom Start 25 so can't see. You were right doubling back to go through the tunnel then taking A13. Did you double back after Limehouse link in Rotherhithe Tunnel or go straight to Blackwall? Going once through Blackwall would leave you South of the river at McDonalds (Peninsular Park). I'm guessing you doubled back in Blackwall & ended up at McD's at Billingsgate.

ORDER OF ROUTES & TIMES LEAVING

Google map links provided


Tunnel Run - Route 1 - M25 Servs to McDonalds (Peninsular Park) Re-Group Via A13 ( North of the Thames ) - LEAVING M25 SERVS AT - 9pm

Route 1 ....... http://goo.gl/maps/PNZ22


***** Basic itinerary of each route *****



Route 1 ( LEAVE AT 9PM ) - M25 Servs > QE2 Bridge > Dartford Tunnel > A13 to Docklands > East India Dock Tunnel > Limehouse link tunnel > Rotherhithe Tunnel x2 > Limehouse Link Tunnel >
Blackwall Tunnel > McDonalds Car Park Re-Group

Hmm

No mention of M25 apart from M25 Servs

No mention of McD's at Billingsgate

I reckon the P1 got the munchies.

 

TBH after seeing everyone carry on the M25 I thought the sat nav was wrong, it was only when after bout 20 minutes of being on the a13 a friend called and said head to McDonald Billingsgate.

The route is spot on shame half the people didn't follow it as it really broke down from there

 

I was one of those who carried on the M25; just didn't get over into the left hand lane in time But came off at the next exit and still got back to the Dartford Tunnel in time to go through with lots of others
That was just the first of my many mistakes last night but Mark was spot on - it wasn't the run that was disorganised, it was the participants (especially me ) as thanks to Ron the instructions were all there, but as someone without a satnav, I agree it is kind of difficult to keep track of written instructions 100% of the time, particularly if not familiar with driving through London.

But there'll be another one next year, maybe even one in the summer , so there'll be another chance to get it right

 

Yea indeed the route is great, how some of us ended over tower bridge maybe next time. Summer one sounds good I certainly wouldn't miss the freezing temperature!

 

Yes, a summer one was an idea that was bandied around a bit last night, it was too bloody cold!

Maybe simplify the route a bit, but definately include Westferry Circus; haven't really thought about it yet, need everyone else's input anyway - but if we are having a new name, then maybe a good way to launch it

 

Unfortunately we were some of the muppets that went the wrong way, was gutted as it was the first time I'd driven and missed out on a lot of the atmosphere - moral of the story, don't let L.J.F be in charge of directions! Hopefully will be able to make up for it next year......

 

No worries mate!

After getting lost so many times during the 1st route I nearly gave up... but glad I stayed for 2nd/3rd as it turned out to be a great night all in all, loved the massive bangs the car makes now!

 

Thanks to the ppl that gave positive comments on the night

I'm sorry for those who's satnav's was sending them on a magical mystery tour

There was a few glitches with the way-points when the satnavs loaded them up and tried calculating the route
i have now identified the glitches , and all i can say is that the sat nav files for tunnel run 2013 ( hopefully a summer one ) will be spot on

i just can't believe that allot of ppl stuck to doing the old route !! HOW COULD YOU MISS IT THAT THE ROUTE HAD BEEN CHANGED FOR THIS YEAR !!!!!!
Surely those ppl just don't seem to bother reading the forums anymore to find out the information for the nights events

For those of you that followed the printed route details , i'm glad something turned out right , That took me over a week to perfect that printed route , and it seems that the ppl that bothered to invest the time in reading the instructions and having a good co-navigator on board done the whole route in it's full and had a enjoyable night

As with the sat nav files , all i can i say is that i'm soooo soooo soooo SORRY for the glitches that became apparent on the night , i did suspect that there might have been a few glitches with some of the waypoints, but i thought that it was my crappy nokia N95 with a hacked version of Garmin mobile XT on it that hasn't had a map update since 2008 , If you load the same waypoints into google maps , google maps calculates it perfectly !!! Thats why i thought it was my crappy Garmin mobile XT that was messing up the route !!!

Also i was dropped the bombshell on thursday that fords dagenham stamping and tooling operations was being shut down , and yep , that's me
My head has not been right since thurs , my whole life has been tipped upsidedown , and to be honest i really didn't fancy doing this event at ALL , but i said i was going to be lead car , and i had to keep my promise !!

All i can say is that i'm deeply deeply sorry for those of you that didn't have a enjoyable night, and rest assured that Tunnel Run 2013 will be better planned with NO satnav glitches !!!!

Regards Ron

 

Nothing to be sorry for fella, you took up hours of your own time to get this event sorted and all for a great cause in the charity that was chosen. You can't help the fact that London roads are a pain in the *** unless you know them well!

Any moaning or criticism should be overlooked because most of us are very appreciative of the effort you put in.

The only thing I can say about your job is I am gutted for you, but sometimes these things lead to bigger and better...

 

thanks ron, well organised printed version, we used it and did all the tunnels and finished the route after getting lost a couple of times but we had some other nice cars to follow .we gave up on the sat nav but thanks Adam(knotty) for the loan of yours which we need to arrange it's return, we got back to lakeside earlier than others as we left west ferry after lorraine, didn't bother going back through dartford tunnel though as it was only us so just went to lakeside, summer run will be more fun, loads of ppl gonna get some nasty shocks through the post though. we see the camera's get at least 3 people, prob alot more than that though. we nearly got involved in accident going into one tunnel when a **** in smart car decided to u turn last minute and car in front of us just woke up in time so we carried on our way

 

Dont be silly mate. I was really surprised at how many people turned up saturday night. You done a great job mate. Ive done tunnel runs in the past and it is impossible to keep everyone together.

Good job tho fella but not so good about your job

 

Can only echo Adams point, you have put in hours for this and what feedback we got @ Westferry you should be proud of the turnout. Re the job, that is bad news mate I hope they can sort you out with something in another dept maybe?

 

Thanks for your supportive words guys ......

Knotty
Trotters
Bean 1984
AWG
lorrainecallison
Essexdon
BRI4N
Scooby_Lee101
PPP1
FLAT ERIC

 

The night was still good though but good effort all round Ron, I found there was alot of cars I had not seen before and didn't reconise and some seemed to be there only to street race.

I think maybe writing this one off maybe a good move and setting up a summer tunnel run just to avoid the cold would be great!

 

Well said mate

Tut tut tut Being one of the organisers dan You should have studied the route to Group lead a pack

That was part of the route mate ! Tower bridge is planned into the route ! The idea for this, was to combat the congestion of the right hand turning coming out of the limehouse link tunnel , thought i'd take us down the A13 over tower bridge , down Jamaica road to Rotherhithe Tunnel , Just thought i could keep more scoobs together instead of getting split up at the limehouse link right hand turning lights

AND HERE , HERE !! SUMMERTIME TUNNEL RUN GETS MY VOTE ALL THE WAY

 

OK we'll write this one off as a .... ESOC Summer Tunnel Run 2013 pre warm up

BTW mate , we never got meet

I don't know what your car looks like or nowt , was looking about at other scoobs with the www.essexscoobycrew.co.uk sticker with a Essexdon at the end ! But never came across ya

 

We turned a few heads! Kids love scoob's, thought it would of been past their bedtime!!

 

Ron the rought was great! Sorry to hear bout your job but as they say one door closes another opens!
Thanks for puttin the effort in and planning a great night! Me n my co driver enjoyed it ( even if we did flake out after the first leg)

 

Great effort on the routes Ron was fun at the beginning but got there in end mate and sorry to hear about your job

 

Ron, I really dont see what you have to apologise for. I can not imagine how much work you have put into the tunnel and I thought the new route was great. Sadly people are always going to get lost and go a different route and there is nothing you can do to stop that except have a police escort which isnt going to happen. I totally take my hat off to you and have to say that I am slightly surprised at the amount of slightly negative comments. Lets put it this way, Im female and I followed your printed instructions and we didnt go wrong once so a big well done to you

Cant wait to see what the summer tunnel run will be. Oh could you arrange for all the speed cameras to be turned off for the night while your at it

As for your job Ron, really sorry to hear that. I faced redundancy last year and I have to say its the best thing that happened to me. Good luck for your outcome

 

Lol same mate, when I first got there I walked up to some random fella by your car and said "Ron"?

And got a vacant look back haha. I did recognise your car thou but you weren't to be seen, maybe next time. I was in the Silver WRX classic parked up to martin2010.

 

No problem mate.

I know only too well what it's like to spend hours on setting up an event only to have a minority winge when it doesn't quite work for them.

Listen to the good feedback & ignore the rest. It was their mistakes not yours.

Sorry to hear about the job.

 

Ron you did spot on with directions mate:-)). I'm a London cabbie so I should know. Ignore the negative comments. I thoroughly enjoyed it. West ferry circus was great fun. Really sorry to hear about your job as well

 

i did try ron but didnt have much time to learn it due to being busy making sure the car was on road for the night

will be more prepared for the next 1 have a few ideas i shall run past yourself and lorraine sometime soon

sad news about the job mate hope they can find you another space somewer in the company member you saying youve been there sinse school or somthing

 

So is any one going to the posers cruise this weekend?

 

Sorry haven't had time to post up posers been abit busy

 

Yes I believe I am

 

I'll prob be there

 

i drove down from skegness been on a few tunnel runs with you guys,did take a few wrong turns and yes it was cold but a great nite and had a good laugh ......many thanks