Route Advice... Southampton to Taunton

[guitarcarfana...]

Hi Guys,

Picking my CG125 up tomorrow and thinking about which way back to Taunton. I'll be coming from South Southampton and pretty much any route I have checked out is around 100 miles.

So has anyone got any advice / experience of which route will be best?

The 3 options I have so far are

1. Travel on the A35 up to the A36 and through Salisbury. Then it's up to the A303 and all the way back to Ilminster.

2. From Cadham, take the A31 all the way to Dorchester and then take the A35 to Axminster and up.

3. From Southampton, take the A35 down through Lyndhurst, Bournemouth, Poole and then on to Axminster.



I think, google maps suggests option 1 will be quicker, BUT on a CG125, I know one of the other routes may be more suited.

Can anyone who has riden these roads give me some advice?

I travel to poole quite a lot and have driven on the A303 but never on a bike and can't really remember it enough to take a bike perspective on it!

Really appreciate it guys and gals!

[benc]

Stay away from lyndhurst it will be chaos, its bad enough normally but its the start of the school holidays so its gonna be alot worse, all the fucking tourists will be back out as well looking at the pretty horses and driving 10mph

I used to go down the A303 because its quicker but its pretty boring i imagine it wont be fun on the cg going flat out all the way back. I haven't done the other routes so not much help I know.
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zxr400 - zx7r

[guitarcarfana...]

Bugger! Good point - forgot it was school holidays.

At least I'm not leaving Southampton until about 5ish so should miss some of it. I think I will do the A303 just to miss some of the traffic. And if there are caravans and things, at least I shouldn't feel intimidated as they wont be going much quicker than me.


Bloody school holidays!!! I suppose at least i can filter past any traffic jams I come across

[Tonka]

If I was you ( but I do have the advantage of knowing the roads so wouldn't get lost) I would stick to the smaller roads as they are so much nicer.

Not sure if you're already on your way but I'd head along the

B3078 from Cadnam across the forest to Fordingbridge
B3078 to Cranborne and then pick up the B3081
B3081 all the way through to Shaftsbury
B3081 all the way up to join the A303

.....you are probably back on home turf by then to pick up the smaller roads or you may fancy a bit of a blast along the A303.

It's a beautiful day here so have a great ride!
____________________
'The core of a man's spirit comes from new experiences'
Suzuki SV650S (Clean); Yamaha XT250 Serow (Dirty)

[guitarcarfana...]

That does look pretty good actually. What are those B roads like? Not lot's of hills are they? Only Me + CG125 = not the quickest thing up hills

Do you reckon there will be alot of holiday traffic that way?

Leaving in about 30 mins to go to Southampton by train (have mobile to check this forum)

Think I am seeing mate after getting the bike and should get on my way back by about 6ish I imagine.

[Tonka]

.........if you use the Google Map (Southampton-Taunton) and select the no highways/no tolls options you get quite a nice route that takes you onto the A354 through Blandford.


____________________
'The core of a man's spirit comes from new experiences'
Suzuki SV650S (Clean); Yamaha XT250 Serow (Dirty)

[Tonka]

It's flat across the forest and all 40mph anyway so you'll be fine on that. Shaftsbury is on a hill but you'll be fine as the roads are classified as B but only skinny in a few places normally quite nice and as you're going to be later I reckon you should be fine for the traffic.

Just take it easy, hold your line on the road and be positive and the traffic will not worry you - enjoy the trip as it's through some lovely countryside and roads!
____________________
'The core of a man's spirit comes from new experiences'
Suzuki SV650S (Clean); Yamaha XT250 Serow (Dirty)

[guitarcarfana...]

Thanks Tonka. Route all mapped out!

Here it is...



https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Southampton+SO18+1JH&daddr=Mountbatten+Way%2FA3024+to:50.918457,-1.49045+to:Cadnam,+Southampton,+Hampshire+SO40,+UK+to:Fordingbridge+Rd%2FB3078+to:Daggons+Rd%2FB3078+to:B3081+to:Shaftesbury+Rd%2FB3081+to:Somerton+Rd%2FA372+to:A378+to:taunton&geocode=FQIRCQMdSR7r_ymB2yVR2XN0SDFwZGc1IhRJ2w%3BFdLGCAMd8F7q_w%3B%3BFSD7CAMduOjn_ykJKRW-V4lzSDEm-w5oYVMZrw%3BFQj2CAMdRDLk_w%3BFSjbCAMdPuPj_w%3BFcKVCQMdoEPg_w%3BFSNsCgMdCDje_w%3BFeLdCgMdPPTU_w%3BFUwzCgMd4OnR_w%3BFf1rCgMdKqXQ_yl_kLcfkoptSDH76d5ONA7rdQ&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=2&sz=14&via=1,2,4,5,6,7,8,9&sll=50.931712,-1.47543&sspn=0.031753,0.090895&ie=UTF8&ll=50.920351,-1.543579&spn=0.508175,1.454315&z=10

I will enjoy it

[pinkyfloyd]

looks like a whole lot of fun and if i didnt have to be back here for 3pm for work i woulda joined ya.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[Tonka]

Any other day I'd have offered to meet you at Cadnam and ride back through to Shaftsbury with you too, as I love that route!

As it is I'm in my idea of heaven here looking after eight 4 week old labrador puppies, so I can't get away as it's constant feeding and cleaning!!

Really hope that the bike is as you expected and that you ahve a lovely ride back - tell us all about it - the first of many CG adventures!!
____________________
'The core of a man's spirit comes from new experiences'
Suzuki SV650S (Clean); Yamaha XT250 Serow (Dirty)

[guitarcarfana...]

Cheers for the offers guys!

What a ride though! The train was delayed slightly to start with, but got there in the end. Rob (Robocog on this forum) who I was buying the bike off picked me up in his kit car. Now that is some machine!

Anyway, got to Robs and checked over the bike. It was in great condition and was ready to go with a full tank of fuel. Had a nice chat with Rob and his Wife. Really nice people and had a great chat about the bike and Rob's other bikes.

Finally set off and struggled through to Southampton. Got slightly off track but then found my way and drove up to Cadham. Took the B road route up to Fordingbridge and got slightly off track. Que 25 mins of driving around tiny country lanes with loose muddy surfaces but finally got back on track and headed up to Shaftesbury. Wonderful scenery all the way and the series of hairpins was a bit of a shock at first but great fun.

The CG125 was running perfect despite me abusing the gearbox and clutch with my poorly executed gear changes. They were getting better as I went along though!

When I got to the A303 section, I was easily cruising at 60 and on a slight downhill, got up to 65 but backed off through fear of the bike not forgiving me!

Then I turned off towards Langport and was now on familiar ground. Apart from a few twats driving right up my ass despite me doing the 50mph limit and then overtaking me with no room, a very enjoyable ride.

Hardly any traffic out and I just bumbled along taking in the scenery.

So thanks everyone for the route suggestions. I really enjoyed my ride and am very happy with the bike.

[Tonka]

[robocog]

Nice one Rob
Glad you got back OK and like the bike

I did have it show 70 on the clock briefly (was tucked right in and pointing downhill mind) and it felt /OK ish/

Hope it gives you as much fun/confidence and cheap reliable motoring as it did for me
Sad to see it go, but glad its found a good owner

The back garden looks wrong without it sat there blinking at me

Regards
Rob
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Needs a bigger garage...

[kitty kat]

[Tonka]