Driving distances

Greengran78 I think I know exactly where you are coming from . Satnav is a great help for when you need to be doing at least three things at once, eyes on the road, coping with heavy traffic , being in the right lane, reading the signs etc. I just use Google Maps on my phone and “she” has a nice clear voice.
Another thing I have done is have somebody with me the first couple of times I have to do a tricky journey until I feel I can recognise things for myself , or “rehearse” directions for finding a house (left at the Fire Sation, 5th right, second left, first left again) Still find it easy to miss a turning though!

I used to love driving and would often go out "just for a drive" for the pleasure of it.

Nowadays, it's a means to an end.

I don't mind driving long distances, especially with google maps on my phone, as "she" knows traffic conditions and can divert the route to avoid jams where possible. It's also very helpful in towns I don't know.

I do find myself gripping the steering wheel a bit tighter in unknown towns these days, but I'm not yet at the point where I won't drive there.

For long journeys, I just make sure I take regular stops, and in hot weather, I rely heavily on the air-con (which reminds me that I need to get the gas level checked again )

Over 30 years ago we lived on the outskirts of London and I would regularly drive up to Heathrow to meet my sister who lived abroad. She lived in a very remote area and I can remember her expressing horror at the M25 which I laughed off. Now at nearly 70 I don't think I would tackle such a drive. I have a small car which is great for around town but I rarely drive on motorways now. It probably doesn't help that DH is a dreadful passenger so it's more relaxing to let him drive and I programme the Sat nav! I have a couple of friends who have given up driving completely and I would hate to do that. So I suppose I had better get myself out onto the motorway and use it or lose it.

Eight years ago we decided to drive some 1600 miles for the birth of our last grandchild. Our daughter had pre eclampsia and she had to be induced early. DH and I took turns every three to four hours, while the other rested or napped. It's the most I've driven in one shot and it was tiring, but we made it with time to spare and no less for wear.

Today, it's another story. We both still drive normal distances, but with DH's health issues, marathon road trips like that are no longer an option.

When driving to an unfamiliar area for the first time, eg. a holiday destination, we find it helpful to check out those last few miles on google earth. You can 'drive' down side roads in a virtual way and so not miss a crucial turning. It works!

I frequently drive to Brighton about 210 miles to see DS and frequently 85 miles to Hale to see DD. In 2016 I drove to the South of France from the East Midlands and last year drove around Northern France. My partner was with me, so no solo driving and she was always available to drive if I felt too tired, I still enjoy driving and would tackle driving almost anywhere, but try to avoid London and Paris if possible. I am in my early 70's so hope to keep driving for several more years.

I don't mind distance so much, but really hate driving on unlit country roads at night now - avoid it as far as poss.
The furthest I usually drive now is about 1 1/2 hrs to dd. But only outside the rush hour,msince the journey includes the horrible M25.

If going anywhere not local with Dh, he nearly always drives his car, which is a lot bigger than mine. I don't mind driving it but I don't want to have to park it!
For local journeys on his own, he'll take mine, always used for short journeys now.

I am very conscious of NOT doing what my mother did - having had her own car before my father retired, she then let him drive her everywhere for several years, and since they did everything together, she got right out of the habit of driving at all.

So when my father fell ill, she was a bag of nerves over needing to drive again, even just to visit him in hospital. She had to do it, but I don't think she ever became properly confident again.

Google maps sounds interesting will take a look..

With the aid of GPS on my phone I tackled Bristol yesterday (20/04) and got to the airport csr park an hour ahead of ETA as I'd given myself so much time in which to get lost . Well chuffed, as DDs would say .....

Long distance driving used to be no problem for me - usually solo, though several times I shared the towing of our caravan with ex-H. The longest, not quite continuous journey was when I took the car to France for an OU summer school in Caen. On the way home, I drove from Chartres to Amiens where I spent the afternoon; Amiens to Calais; Folkestone to Cheshire with a few short stops for a kip as there were no rooms left in the service areas' motels! The very thought of this marathon now fills me with dread. I have given up driving to Scotland or 'down south' and now 'let the train take the strain'.

Does the GPS have a voice ?when used on the phone.... have had a fiddle with mine but cnt seem to find a voice...will fiddle again

it says you can hear traffic alerts but not turn by turn hmm...

On Google Maps, the sat nav does have a voice.

Will investigate further thanks

I live in Norfolk and my DC and DGC all live in Shropshire. I wouldn’t dream of expecting them to trundle over to see me - a 3 - 4 hour journey by car with assorted small children in the back and I really can’t face a car journey to see them. All that motorway traffic, battling the M6, its the stuff of nightmares so I go by train. It’s so much easier and, even with one change to make, takes the same amount of time. I bought an Old Fogies Rail Card which reduces the train fare considerably. I make the journey four or five times a year, staying for a long weekend (Friday until Monday) and as far as I can see it’s a win-win situation.

Love driving esp on my own with own music, dog and time on my hands, not so keen at night but out of that habit. Don't have to do long distances but wouldn't mind them as long as I can have the odd break

My journey to Cromer was horrendous. The Google map thingy said it couldn't find the connection, the wind and rain was lashing down, car park 50p for 30 minutes, then jumped to 3hours for £2 Before I got there I got lost. Then the receptionist was a right cow to me. It has has totally reinforced my fear of driving anywhere apart from my two destinations. I am supposed to return the monitor tomorrow before 12 but I am not attempting to drive there again so they can lump it, unless I can get a taxi to take it. I just can't cope with it.

I might have to buy a sat nav. Any reccommendations for a cheap one please?

Oh Wot I am so sorry you had such a traumatic time.
You need to ring them and get them to offer an alternative.
Patient transport? Or return the monitor to your GP and they arrange its return by courier.
There WILL be a way round and it is up to them to find it.

Thank you Maw. I'll try my GP I phoned hospital transport on Friday and they said one has to be physically unable to get into a taxi to be elligable. I'm in a filthy mood now. And why did the receptionist have to be so damn rude??
My followup is at the Norfolk and Norwich but I may have someone to take me for that.
Sophie dog had me up 6 times last night with diarrea, poor thing. When i got home she'd had accidents in the sitting room but I couldn't tell her off. Crikey, I am a miserable old bat!!

Poor Sophie and poor you.
Hope you’ve got a good carpet cleaner spray!

RVS offer transport to hospital appointments as do AgeUk - at least round here. It's usually free.