[R5CPD]

Date & Time: 19th October @ 07:00

Location (Town/City): Central London.

Venue: West Carriage Drive parking area. Hyde Park. (Just south of the Serpentine).

Multimap Link: http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=5...000&coordsys=gb

Meet Basic Route Map:http://www.pumapeople.com/album_pic.php?pi...b695bd4ef43f997

Contact Person: Chris Downes - R5CPD@aol.com - Mob. 07719748863

Usergroup Link: here


Take part in this first Pumapeople meet around the exciting streets of Central London. Enjoy the spectacle of London's many famous landmarks, whilst taking advantage of the Captital's light early Sunday morning traffic. Piccadilly Circus, Boppsham Palace, The House's of Parliament, and Tower Bridge will form just some of the sights you will see during the course of this Central London AM Drive Mini-Meet.

The meet start point will be along the on-street parking area of Hyde Park's West Carriage Drive, just to the south of the Serpentine. Parking here is free up until 08.30. Hyde Park can be found by approaching along the A4 / A40 from the west, the A202 from the south, and the A41 from the north. Please see the Multimap link for a clearer view of the location of the meet start point.

The basic route of the meet will take us out of Hyde Park, down Park Lane, and on to Hyde Park Corner. Those attending the meet will then be able to to choose the routes around Central London that they will take. A series of suggested loops and links will connect a number of the capital's landmarks and major junctions. A map, attached with basic directions, will be supplied to all those attending the meet. By following these suggested routes, you will be able to experience the sights and sounds of London, whilst travelling along some of the city's better roads. :wink: Also, if you have a problem somewhere on the route, it is likely that another Puma group would come along in a short while to help out.

For those that are more familiar with London's roads, and who would like to visit a site not included on one of the suggested routes (i.e Millenium Dome), then no problem. You are free to stray from the suggested route plan, but I would request that you make others aware of where you are going to head off to. :wink:

After a couple of hours of whizzing about Central London, we will then head back across to the famous Ace Cafe which is just off the A406 North Circular Road. It is here that we will all enjoy a hearty post-meet breakfast.

The meet format will also feature a number of spaced out mini-Puma groups rather than the more conventional 'convoy' system used at meets. Due to the large number the traffic light junctions, Pelican Crossings, etc. it would be impossible to keep an even modest Puma convoy together safely. In order to avoid this concern, those attending the meet will be split up into mini-convoy's of two Kats at a time. This will give peeps the flexibility to navigate around the route plan within a pace and order that is most comfortable to themselves. Over the next few days, I'll appoint the mini-group leaders and then forward a copy of the route plan to all those who have signed up.

If possible, it would be great if those attending could also bring along a 'co-driver' passenger to the meet. Their help could prove invaluble with both navigating and helping the driver to experience the unique roads and junctions of Central London. Also, If anyone would like to attend this meet, but are not keen on bringing their Puma, then I'm sure that there would be an available 'co-driver' position in one of the Kats. I know I need one!!! :wink:

Don't forget. :idea: This meet will also give everyone the chance to get some great shots of their Puma alongside some of the world famous London landmarks. I'll be most disappointed if peeps don't take advantage of this event to enter their Kat into the Pumapeople Calender Photo competition!!! :wink:

If you have any questions or queries about this meet, then please don't feel afraid to ask. Otherwise, I'll look forward to seeing you all there!!

[R5CPD]

Meet Description now just updated!!!

Thanks to the four PP who have already signed up to this meet!!! :wink:

[slimbloke]

This sounds great! Exactly what we discussed in the last mini-meet... super idea... running around on a grown-up scalextric set!

I won't add myself to the usergroup until I'm positive I'll be there, but you can count me in! It'll be like driving in my own back yard

[Gay]

Chris wrote...

"you will be able to experience the sights and sounds of London"

.... big fat double-width bus lanes, congestion charge notices, double red lines, CTV cameras, road humps, chicanes, traffic wardens, tow-away trucks, police cars, beggars, grafitti, rubbish, & non-stop sirens to name a few!

Sorry to kid Chris but living and working in London makes us all cynical old *****s in the end. Hope to join you, work permitting. Thanks for organising it.

Gay (Thunder)

[R5CPD]

Thanks for your support guys!! I hope to see you both there. :wink:

[slimbloke]

My propsoed co-driver/navigator has to go to a wedding... one day I'll actually get my girlfriend to a meet! :roll:

if anyone fancies being a navigator, let me know!

[R5CPD]

It's not a total disaster if you can't bring along a co-driver. As your local, I'd be confident that you would know where your going anyway. The co-driver suggestion is aimed more at PP who are less familiar with central London. :wink: Having an assistant in the car just will help out with finding your way about the route.

I'm heading up to London again early tomorrow to do another final recce. I should then be able to post up a map of the roads used on the route later on Sunday. Especially if your coming on your own, I'd urge you to dig out the London A-Z / Multimap and study the roads that we will be using. It's all pretty much straightforward stuff and anyway, I'll be providing a more detailed map to those attending on the day of the meet.

[R5CPD]

Please take a look at the map I've just posted in the Album section:

http://www.pumapeople.com/album_pic.php?pic_id=1678

This basic map shows the roads that we will be using during the meet. The roads that are to be used are highlighted in a Purple arrow.

Now that you all can see the general layout of the route, I'll talk you through some of it in a little more detail. After leaving the meet start point in Hyde Park, we will head over the Serpentine and on to Marble Arch. Marble Arch forms one of five Westminster / West End Landmark junctions that form the hubs of the routes that you will be able to take. Hyde Park Corner, Traflagar Square, and Parliment Square are the others, with the chosen routes linking up these points. :wink: All of these points are easy to find and are very well signposted. :wink: There is also a longer loop out to Tower Bridge. This route takes you from Big Ben, along the 'dual carridgeway' Victoria Embankment - Upper / Lower Thames Street (A3211), and then circulate the Tower Gateway oneway system. This will then take you over Tower Bridge and back, via the A200 (Tooley Street) and the A2207 (Tanner Street - Druid Street - Tower Bridge Road), before returning to Westminster along the A3211.

At about 09.00, we will all head away from the city centre and towards breakfast at the Ace Cafe. The Ace Cafe can be found just off the A406, North Circular Road's 'Park Royal Junction' This junction is the next one north of the A406 / A40 'Hanger Lane' junction. After our meal, we can then all head back for home. You can find out more details about the famous site where we are going to have breakfast here:

http://www.ace-cafe-london.com

As stated previously, I'll be providing a far more detailed route map to those attending on the day. This will be of a 1:7000 scale, and will show all street names, the direction of travel of the route's oneway streets, etc. :wink:

I'm using the A-Z 'Motorists London Atlas' (ISBN 0-85039-827-4) in the planning of this meet. It would be sensible to make use of a similar, more detailed map in addition to the one I have just posted, in order to make yourself more familiar with the route prior to next weekend. :wink:

I hope this information gives you a better feeler of what to expect next week. Hopefully we will be in for a fun meet. However, if you have any questions regarding the meet, then just please let me know and I'll do my best to help!!!

[mcazurphy]

Just a few questions :

So , we start near The serpentine , where's the finish line ?

I take it you will be sorting out a more detailed map for the day?

and when do the clocks go back ?

Thanx Chris


Caz :wink:

[R5CPD]

Just a few questions :
So , we start near The serpentine , where's the finish line ?
I take it you will be sorting out a more detailed map for the day?
and when do the clocks go back ?

I've edited my post to answer your questions.

As far as the clocks go, I believe that they go back on the night of the 25/26th :?

[R5CPD]

Stop Press!!! :yell:

I've just found out that the day of the Central London AM Drive Mini-Meet is also the last day of David Blaine's Box stunt at Tower Bridge. He's apparently due to come out at 21.00 that evening. The route of the meet takes you right past his box as you exit / enter the southern approach of Tower Bridge. :wink: However, I don't think that this will effect things for us and our Kats too much, due to the early start of the meet. That said, I'll probably arrive in London early on Sunday and head over to Tower Bridge, just to make sure there's not a problem. :wink:

[Mogsmex]

Hup,


whats the latest on this, I'm deffo gonna be there, anyone else ?

Cheers Glyn "n" Charlotte

[R5CPD]

Yep, it's all systems go for this one!! Judging by the meet's usergroup, I'm expecting about nine peeps to come along. Of course, if there's anyone else who still would like to come, but have not yet joined the usergroup, then please contact me and let me know.

I'll be making a more detailed post about the meet later this evening. So please check back at about 21.00 :wink:

[slimbloke]

Well, I'll be there, even though I have no co-driver. I know my way around London, but the route following might be interesting... but, ahem, I guess it's not a race :wink:

[R5CPD]

It's only just over a day now until this first Central London AM Drive Mini-Meet takes place. I've just finished the final route maps and I'll be handing them out to you on the day. :wink: However, if your also coming to tomorrow's SX meet, I'll probably give them to then. At least it will give you a chance to study them overnight!!

It might be an idea to also bring along a London A-Z if you find yourself very lost. :help: However, it's not a total disaster if you don't have a copy, as I will provide three spare ones on the day.

Also, due to the present security situation, there is quite a noticable police presence in the Capital, especially around the Whitehall area. This shouldn't be any problem for us, but just be aware that the Police could be watching and therfore drive appropriately. :wink:


Anyway, I'm certainly looking forward to Sunday morning as it should be great fun. I'll look forward to seeing you all there. Any problems, then just give me a call.

[happy-kat]

they let Blaine out today...

[R5CPD]

they let Blaine out today...

You sure. :? The BBC news says he's still planning to come out on Sunday night, but he's just feeling a bit tom and dick. :greenmad:

[slimbloke]

I've got free access to his "box cam" and he's still in there :roll:

[heed]

:yell: "The American magician is approaching Sunday's end to a 44-day fast-cum-vigil in a dangling plastic case - hungrier, hairier and, he says, wiser, than when he went in."

from a newspaper

[happy-kat]

yep he is still in, just Friday they were saying he was coming out earlier.. never believe what u read or hear