Well, I managed to get from Gatwick to Derby (pronounced "Dahrbee") without killing others or myself. I have to say, the M1 is probably one of the nicest highways I've ever driven- slower traffic to the left and use the right only to pass (wish some Americans would learn this simple concept).
The gentleman at the rental car place (hired car, in the UK) initially offered me a 2 door Alfa Romeo (oh yeah)- then discovered that the only car he had was a Ford Focus (sigh)... Anyway, after one mis-turn off the M25, I made it to the M1 and was off to the races- I'm doing 90mph and an Aston Martin comes flying up from behind... passing me like I'm sitting still!
As easy as the major roadways are to navigate, the A roads are simply confusing. Whoever invented the "roundabout" should be shot! Oh, and apparently yellow lights serve multiple purposes here (the light goes from red to yellow- telling you it will soon turn green). Oh, and it turns out the "soda" over here is in concentrate form (the folks at my table allowed me to try to drink this orange stuff from Schwepps before informing me you're supposed to add water to it first- yuck!).
Anyway, the weather is lovely (I thought it was always supposed to be raining in the UK), and so are the people. I've enjoyed trying new foods (like "spotted dick")- although I'm not so sure of the "haggish" (sp?) recommended by my new Scottish friends (Scots seem to be the most outgoing of the various kinds of Brits). In fact, it seems the "United" part of the United Kingdom comes from the fact that the Scots, Welsh, and Irish are all united in their disdain for the English!
No pictures to post yet, but I'm going to venture out tomorrow for a day of sightseeing (the locals recommend visiting a place called Buxton up the A6- there's a few manors worth seeing along the way, and the weather is supposed to be nice again tomorrow).
Ah well, to all the OptiBoard Brits, you have a lovely country (as you already knew)!
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