Today, I decided to drive up this hill on a byway I've driven dozens of times. It's a good place to drive as it has some nice dips in it to work the suspension out.
On the entrance to this track there is no sign saying it's a restricted byway, just a sign telling people that the Ridgeway is out of bounds to vehicular traffic.
Anyway, I drive up to the top of the hill and onto the flat. Just before I get to the "Prohibited Traffic" marker post, there are two old pensioners walking their dog. As I approached them, they stood in my way with their hands on their hips.
I then received the most severe tongue lashing of all time off the woman, about how hard they have fought to stop people like me using the Ridgeway. I told them that I wasn't even on the Ridgeway, and that there were no signs up to the marker post saying that you couldn't drive up to that point. She then called my education into doubt and stated that I obviously couldn't read, to which I replied I couldn't read the sign as I had two people standing in the middle of the track in my way.
They were having none of it. The old man then started having a go. He said he was a Dr, and a retired magistrate. The inquisition then made sense. He obviously thought I was standing in front of him in the dock!! They then took my number and said they will be contacting the Police about my "illegal" activities.
Anyway, after all that I came home and have written a long email to the Police Officer responsible for that section, with grid references to ask if the section up to the "Prohibited Traffic" marker post is legal to drive. If not, fair dues, but there is no signage to say otherwise. If it is legal, then I've said I'm not happy about being stopped by persons who are not legally entitled to stop vehicles.
These people were out and out 4x4 haters. I thought the woman was going to have a heart attack, she was freaking out so much. Jesus. They have obviously got too much time on their hands. It's not as if I was ragging it, I was only in 2nd Low doing a walking pace.
What a nice country we live in.
Oh and for those in the know, here are the grids.
SU 485859 to SU 464850
On the entrance to this track there is no sign saying it's a restricted byway, just a sign telling people that the Ridgeway is out of bounds to vehicular traffic.
Anyway, I drive up to the top of the hill and onto the flat. Just before I get to the "Prohibited Traffic" marker post, there are two old pensioners walking their dog. As I approached them, they stood in my way with their hands on their hips.
I then received the most severe tongue lashing of all time off the woman, about how hard they have fought to stop people like me using the Ridgeway. I told them that I wasn't even on the Ridgeway, and that there were no signs up to the marker post saying that you couldn't drive up to that point. She then called my education into doubt and stated that I obviously couldn't read, to which I replied I couldn't read the sign as I had two people standing in the middle of the track in my way.
They were having none of it. The old man then started having a go. He said he was a Dr, and a retired magistrate. The inquisition then made sense. He obviously thought I was standing in front of him in the dock!! They then took my number and said they will be contacting the Police about my "illegal" activities.
Anyway, after all that I came home and have written a long email to the Police Officer responsible for that section, with grid references to ask if the section up to the "Prohibited Traffic" marker post is legal to drive. If not, fair dues, but there is no signage to say otherwise. If it is legal, then I've said I'm not happy about being stopped by persons who are not legally entitled to stop vehicles.
These people were out and out 4x4 haters. I thought the woman was going to have a heart attack, she was freaking out so much. Jesus. They have obviously got too much time on their hands. It's not as if I was ragging it, I was only in 2nd Low doing a walking pace.
What a nice country we live in.
Oh and for those in the know, here are the grids.
SU 485859 to SU 464850
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