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View from the cab
Page 51
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Julian Milnes writes
Of the four separate journeys the first had the most potential for a win: partly due to the distance involved and partly due to the time (it hadn't yet turned midday).
Having been handed the destination I duly contacted Traffic Master (see panel) via the push of a button to get my coordinates piped into the dash-mounted system so I could be on my merry way. A relatively efficient process was only hampered by the race off icial (CMs befuddled news editor) replacing the word "Way" with the word "Road'. on the destination list. No matter, the bloke at Traffic Master suggested the correct wording and we were good to go.
So now I was on my way with only a woman's monotonous voice to guide me. Approaching the west side of Hyde Park I encountered temporary traffic lights. Why the hell wasn't Smart Nay diverting me through the park?
Not to worry. I was on the move again and heading up towards Euston. What was interesting was the amount of black cabs that were also taking the same route, giving some indication that the knowledge given by Smart Nay was high grade.
After turning right onto Euston Road I really started motoring as the Berlingo pulled with plenty of verve thanks to its strong torque delivery. Approaching King's Cross train station I banked a hard left to get round the back to the BP garage.
Approaching the petrol station I spotted the race official and pulled in. Hurrah. I beaten my nemesis, who arrived SOME minutes later. Next up I had to double and down to the SMMT offices near ME Arch. But this time the traffic around Kir Cross had built up to tear-inducing levE After a 10-minute crawl to the main trat lights I tried to get a move on, but still encountered sporadic congestion that me crawling for most of the journey.
The next challenge took me into the heart of the capital's tourist and shoppi district. The RAC building is on Pall Mal I had to cut across Hyde Park Corner a up through Piccadilly, taking a sharp ric down to Pail Mall. To its credit SmartNa had me weaving down some side stree that I didn't know existed. avoiding the obvious (and far more congested) routi But alas, I'd been thrashed again.
So it was 2-1 down with one more mission lined up. This time there was sc distance involved so the odds were tipi in my favour. The destination was the Design Museum in Shad Thames by To Bridge and again SmartNav had me weaving down the side roads taking ME straight to The Mall on the edge of the Thames. It was looking good.
Traffic was light, considering the time day, and the traffic lights were staying green (just about).
As the road opened up Tower Bridge could be seen in the distance, and I wa: still moving at a decent pace.
Crossing over the Thames with only h a mile to go I thought surely I'd have my revenge. And then, turning the corner ir Shad Thames, I spotted our man smugl. stood by his push bike. But this time it w only a matter of minutes so I'd managec at least retrieve some dignity. •