 | Home > Off Topic > Is Adventure Dead!? |
 
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| SJM2018 Member Since: 06 Jul 2018 Location: Bristol Posts: 296   
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I feel that way too.
It’s also the political instability of areas. I’d love to get one of the 2.8i’s from South Africa; fly there, pick it up and drive it home. I tried to plan a route back (staying at hotels in / near airports - I assumed these would be safest), but I couldn’t find a route back to Europe that doesn’t go through an area which the foreign office states you shouldn’t travel to. 2011 CSW XS 90 |
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21st Dec 2020 7:07pm |
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| ickle Member Since: 22 Jul 2010 Location: South Vendee Posts: 1822  
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^^^^FO advice - thats Kent isn't it?
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21st Dec 2020 7:48pm |
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| Bluest Member Since: 23 Apr 2016 Location: Lancashire Posts: 4236 
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In this country, no chance. Everywhere is regulated or owned by someone and each group of trail users hates the other. One of the reasons this country is becoming more unpleasant. But all is not lost. You’ve only got get as far as Pyrenees and you can feel like you are having an adventure without upsetting anyone, even if it’s a bit of an illusion. Morocco’s not much further. If you want real adventure just go further south or further east. Australia isn’t short of wilderness either.
No, you can’t go crashing through virgin rainforest, forging a path never previously trodden by humans, but there’s plenty else if you can afford the time off work to get there. 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS |
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21st Dec 2020 8:12pm |
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| markb110 Member Since: 22 May 2010 Location: Guildford Posts: 2656  
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Political correctness and then need for the main sponsor (Camel Adventure Wear) to sell watches and shirts had already had a effect on the last two land Based CT's. The last being water based using ribs (one can still be seen every summer in St Mawes harbour.
South American with the Freelander 1 was orienteering and the final Land Rover based one was in Mongolia, only memorable by the fact that the vehicles were seen struggling with the BF Goodrich MT's instead on the Michelin XZL's (750 / 16). You can drive from John O'Groats to Johannesburg on tarmac. Adventure these days is what you make it and not so much getting stuck for the sake of it. Hence the increase in off piste driving which in turn will give the various councils the excuse to close byways to those of us that stick to the law - those scumbags will still trash the surroundings. Have you been down to Salisbury Plain, its the size of the island of Wight. You make the adventure as easy or hard as you want to, ditch the GPS and go old school and use a map and compass. Its the way i started.  Click image to enlarge The British Army Navigation events are amazing, especially as you be on land that the normal public would never see - The old ammunition dump in Brambley north east of Basingstoke was especially memorable. Where else can you get to drive through old workshops and over railway lines. Me in my TD5 90 HT with cage Yes the world has changed, hence look at the soft roaders JLR have been churning out, we moan but they are fit for purpose , tarmac, urban jungle etc. Us 'oldies' are a dying breed but at least we can say we had our fun and experienced things others will never experience. That in turn is a massive shame . |
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21st Dec 2020 8:24pm |
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| Caterham Member Since: 06 Nov 2008 Location: Birmingham Posts: 6318 
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no I believe its Birmingham  |
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21st Dec 2020 8:29pm |
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 8171  
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the BAMA at Bramley is good fun over a very small are, also ran training there for apprentice college many moons ago.
Roadmaster was the one to do! like you say adventure is where you pitch it. Cheers James 110 2010 XS Utility 130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper 90 2010 Hardtop 90 M57 1988 Hardtop |
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21st Dec 2020 10:41pm |
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| JOW240725 Member Since: 04 May 2015 Location: Suffolk Posts: 7908 
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Ewan McGragor and Charley Boorman latest adventure was on electric motor bikes, might be an option... even at £175k a vehicle!!
 James
MY2012 110 2.2TDCi XS SW Orkney Grey - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic43410.html MY1990 110 200TDi SW beautifully faded Portofino Red - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post743641.html#743641 MY1984 90 V8 Slate Grey - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post744557.html#744557 Instagram @suffolk_rovers |
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22nd Dec 2020 1:31pm |
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| bankz5152 Member Since: 02 Feb 2017 Location: South London/North Kent Posts: 2192 
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Top Gear & The Grand Tour manage to do similar pretty well.
Me n mates go to Spain each year via the Pyrenees which is an amazing journey, building up to a longer trip to Morocco in the future. Just need time and cash. Instagram @defender_ventures Empire Tuning - Agent |
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22nd Dec 2020 3:37pm |
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| cee-b Member Since: 25 Jan 2018 Location: South West Posts: 117
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I mostly agree with what you've said Mark, and with your sentiments. I have to comment on this though:
It should be pointed out that the Salisbury Plain Training Area (SPTA) is very strictly regulated in where vehicles can and can't go. If you go at the wrong time, you may well find yourself on the wrong end (is there a right end?) of a gurt big tank coming in the other direction at a massive rate of knots. If you stray off course you could, at worst, get yourself blown up or, at best, get nicked by the Military Range Wardens and/or Civ Pol. Illegal use of the SPTA is currently a big problem and is being stamped down on hard. The idea of 'make it as hard as you want' and 'go old school with a map and compass' makes it sound like the Plain is a free-for-all open space. It is far from that. If you don't check out exactly where, and when, you are allowed to drive, you may find yourself in the  in more ways than you intended and will certainly add to the problems of continued access to the SPTA. |
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22nd Dec 2020 5:01pm |
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| Slideywindows Member Since: 09 Sep 2016 Location: North Essex Posts: 1294
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Living in the highest Covid region in the country, "adventure" these days is going to Sainsburys in a Freelander.
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22nd Dec 2020 5:10pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17603 
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Worth remembering too that the authorities have the legal power to seize illegal or illegally-operated vehicles, so you may be going home without your Defender if you get it wrong. You won't be getting it back, either, in this situation, it is not like the Civvy Police sending it to the pound. The Plain is a great place for sensible and responsible driving, but if you are a hoon you should stay well away (preferably at home). |
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22nd Dec 2020 6:07pm |
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| markb110 Member Since: 22 May 2010 Location: Guildford Posts: 2656
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Hi Cee b Thanks for raising those points I used to know one of the Range Wardens and would get emailed monthly military movements lists as we as live firing data. I also made a point of knowing the councils Rights of Way officers and used the definitive maps to plot routes. I used to lead groups (some from this forum) around the Plain. One of the biggest drives I organised through our LR club was a navigation drive involving ten teams of two vehicles using three separate routes, they had a list of waypoints to take them to a lunch spot where in turn they received the afternoons waypoints. All teams finished within 30 minutes. If you drove all three routes back to back it was over 200 miles, all planned using Memory Map and the Definitive Map (which is also available online via the councils web site) I invited BAMA (British Army Motoring Association) to attend and in turn they used the spirit of the event into a night exercise , Autumn Leaves. I have taken part in a number of these events. I always took pride both in my routes and the legality one where I drove and lead others. And it all started with a map and wanting to know what was around the next corner. |
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22nd Dec 2020 6:19pm |
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