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Day 7 and the AA/RAC may be getting a little tired now...
Day #7 - Southampton to Banbury (1045m):
Never mind the Cock-Horse
heading to Banbury Cross we'll stick to trusty Triumph's and go
via the henge's of Salisbury. Everyoneknows about Stonehenge,
and had we started a week later we'd have blended in with the
Camper vans as Druids and tree huggers congregate for the Summer
Solstice. Druids - fine, Tree huggers? The Jury remains out. But
who knows about Concrete Henge? It's true there is one... originally
this would have been Woodhenge but the wood has long since gone
and concrete markers are now in place to show where the wooden
posts once stood.
And why ride a cock-horse all the way to Banbury anyway just
to see a woman on a white horse, when there's a big white horse
carved into a chalk hill near Warminster!
Having covered another 55miles the B3098 invites us North Westerly,
missing Swindon, and crossing the M4 using the B4001. We'll take
a meandering route toward Oxford, or if time is short the A338
provides a more direct line - and probably more congested.
From Oxford we look for a more Northerly overnight at Banbury,
a slight diversion can be taken to visit Blenheim Palace if you
want something more modern than those sights of Wiltshire. All
in its a further 140miles covered today.
Day #8 - Banbury to Royal Leamington Spa (1135m):
As the crow flies there's not much distance between Banbuty and
Leamington (that'll annoy the locals); but why not detour around
- heading west there's Stow-on-the-wold (which always reminds
me of Dunny-on-the-Wold and the  rubber
button!!! If you're not into Blackadder just ignore my witterings).
From here the fantastically named Upper & Lower Slaughter
lie just off the intended route as we continue west to Winchcombe
to pick up another recomended run which will take us to Stratford-upon-Avon.
Taking the B4632 there's the GWR museum for steam buffs - and
more appealing than either the Pencils or Gas Museums! There's
also a country park and once we are on the B4081 there's also
some gardens
Eventually we come to Stratford-upon-Avon which is apparently
the second most famous town in England, after London. And I am
sure my learned friends doth know the reason whyeth it is so (I've
only read two... and both of those were a few years before I was
old enough to apply for a driving licence).
We'll leave Anne Hathaways hometown by another B-road and make
for The Fosse - a great Roman road, and still just about as straight
as they intended... probably a prized road now for Her Majesty's
Revenue Collection Service  to
hang out. Though our stint on this road will only be about ten
miles it will give some a taster of the B4455, as it is less commonly
know. Today's stopping point will be Royal Leamington Spa - the
co-pilot will love this town as there seems to be a high number
of shoe shops.
The final stopping point, having covered 90 miles today, will
leave just a short journey to the finish of the tour.
Day #9 - Leamington Spa to the End (1163m):
Miles are in short order today - a super  chilled
finish which may be as short as 30miles but also allows for visits
to either Gaydon Motor Museum or to Canley for a photo opportunity
with another Triumph memorial.
The finish at the Royal Oak in Naseby provides a spacious car
park, good bar and an ideal time to have a natter about the whole
thing. I will definitely be driving down and meeting the baton
carrier on this last bit and hopefully have a few pictures to
show as well as a good report on charity donations.
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