60 replies to this topic

[Kitelife]

Hey folks,

Just confirming, a six man iQuad team is fully booked for Portsmouth/Bristol!

I've (very) loosely dubbed this squad the "Six Pistols", following the tradition of our other major squads in the past.

Japan
"Gaijin Six"

Wildwood '07
"Wildwood Four"

Now that we've got our tickets booked, now comes the dubious task of arranging transportation between London/Portsmouth/Bristol.

None of us want to drive in England, and we're trying to keep costs down.

We arrive at Heathrow on August 21st at 11:05am (five of us), 11:15am (the last one).

I don't suppose anyone from the Portsmouth area would be willing to ferry six of us to that first event from the airport?

No worries once we're there, just need to get this one detail sorted out.

Here's hoping, let me know!

[Sailor99]

OK, with luggage and bags you are going to need two cars. A people carrier may do it, but it will be tight. I will need to speak to SWMBO as she has the big car in the family. But I can handle 3 I suspect. It maybe I need to drop you at Gosport, but from there it is a 5 minute $3 ferry ride to the heart of Portsmouth.

So we need one more car offer to ride 'shotgun' for the six pistols..........

By the way. As this is the English leg of the tour should the nick name not be something English - the six cups of tea, the six rain drops, six crumpets? Maybe not!

[Kitelife]

Thank you very much Jeremy, keep us posted!

As for the name, think Sex Pistols.

[Felix Mottram]

Thank you very much Jeremy, keep us posted!

As for the name, think Sex Pistols.

Very 1976!

Jeremy,

These boys do not travel light! I think that it would be a very tight squeeze in two 'regular' cars. Think 'luggage'.

I will look at the logistics as I might be able to help...

Felix

[Sailor99]

Oh right sex pistols. Got it - god save the @€&king queen. Yep that works!my second girlfriend was a punk but don't tell my mum.
The car I have in mind is a jeep so it is a good size.

[Jonesey]

Oh right sex pistols. Got it - god save the @€&king queen. Yep that works!my second girlfriend was a punk but don't tell my mum.
The car I have in mind is a jeep so it is a good size.

I have a Volvo estate so I will take the other three (Oh and I live just outside Portsmouth!)....

And thinking about it I can probably borrow a mini bus if needed......

Oh and the rest of my family live in Bristol so will be heading up there as well .....

did I ever tell you that when I was young I wanted to be a bus driver when I grew up !

[Kitelife]

You guys absolutely blow my mind, thank you so much Jonesey and Sailor!

The two arriving flights into Heathrow on Thursday, August 21:

US Airways #728 @ 11:05am - John B, Steve D, JD F, Bazzer P, David H.
United #938 @ 11:15am - Mike K.

As for luggage, we'll have one hefty kite bag (think 35 Revs - give or take), one line bag, and an average of one medium suitcase and a backpack per person.

We'll do something to make it worth your while, we really do appreciate the help.

[Jonesey]

You guys absolutely blow my mind, thank you so much Jonesey and Sailor!

The two arriving flights into Heathrow on Thursday, August 21:

US Airways #728 @ 11:05am - John B, Steve D, JD F, Bazzer P, David H.
United #938 @ 11:15am - Mike K.

As for luggage, we'll have one hefty kite bag (think 35 Revs - give or take), one line bag, and an average of one medium suitcase and a backpack per person.

We'll do something to make it worth your while, we really do appreciate the help.

Your welcome......

And as Sailor doesn't wear shirts I'll have his!! ...

to give away in my next competition of course .....

and no Fenman you cant have another one

[Sailor99]

SWMBO is cool with me borrowing her Jeep. I understand Jonesey has a Volvo (Which I believe is some sort of car designed to appeal to middle aged men) along with a top box. So it should be no problem to transport you all. With that amount of luggage, I think the ferry would be a PIA. So I think we better take you to your hotel. Can you PM me where you are staying. So, all confirmed and don't worry about anything gentlemen.

As to doing something to make it worth our while, be careful John - people will start talking Although, another good reason to go straight to your hotel.

Just to be clear, I am not going to agree to have an Iquad tattoo on my fanny.

[Sailor99]

PS. We will have some means for you to identify us as you exit immigration. But just in case, this is a picture of me.



Do you know which terminal you will be arriving at? If not, I can check up where united and US work from. Lets hope they are not two separate terminals!

[Kitelife]

Damn, I'll have to leave the ink gun at home. *pout*

iQuad will be rolling out of Portsmouth on Tuesday sometime, and we've yet to plan out our Tuesday/Wednesday nights between there and Bristol.

The rest of the team was thinking about lodging somewhere outside of London overnight Tuesday, then making a full-day run in and out of London on Wednesday and then lodging outside of London again that night before we head into Bristol on Thursday... Knowing the area far better than I (obviously), does anyone have suggestions on a good way to orchestrate this?

[Sailor99]

Suggest you lodge somewhere near Paddington. From there it is easy to get into central London and see the sights. If you stay outside london it can be quite a journey in and out of the city. And the trains sometimes finish quite early in the evening. From Paddington you can then catch the train out to Bristol when you are ready to move on (I assume you are using the train, but of course I maybe wrong).

Felix would be far more knowledgeable about London though - it is 20 years since I lived there, and to be honest I try and avoid the place.

[Jonesey]

Suggest you lodge somewhere near Paddington. From there it is easy to get into central London and see the sights. If you stay outside london it can be quite a journey in and out of the city. And the trains sometimes finish quite early in the evening. From Paddington you can then catch the train out to Bristol when you are ready to move on (I assume you are using the train, but of course I maybe wrong).

Felix would be far more knowledgeable about London though - it is 20 years since I lived there, and to be honest I try and avoid the place.

Rest assured there is no shortage of accommodation for you guys if you need it on the South coast.... I also have family in Bristol but would not subject my worst enemy to them....

Sailor I meant to say if you need a bed in Bristol.....

[Sailor99]

Sailor I meant to say if you need a bed in Bristol.....

Very kind of you old chap. But remember I have my country seat down there.

[Felix Mottram]

Suggest you lodge somewhere near Paddington. From there it is easy to get into central London and see the sights. If you stay outside london it can be quite a journey in and out of the city. And the trains sometimes finish quite early in the evening. From Paddington you can then catch the train out to Bristol when you are ready to move on (I assume you are using the train, but of course I maybe wrong).

Felix would be far more knowledgeable about London though - it is 20 years since I lived there, and to be honest I try and avoid the place.

I would count Paddington as central London! How long does it take by train from Portsmouth to London?

Lodging outside central London 'should' be a little less expensive.

Felix

[Choccy]

How long does it take by train from Portsmouth to London?

Approximately 2 hours.

[Sailor99]

I would count Paddington as central London! How long does it take by train from Portsmouth to London?

Lodging outside central London 'should' be a little less expensive.

Felix

About an hour and a half. But I believe the trains stop about 2230, so if the boys want to make a night (I am thinking tequila slammers here) they may find themselves in a doorway!

If they wanted to be outside London they could always do something on the paddington-bristol line - say, reading. But to be honest, if you are going to be the tourist and wear out a lot of leather seeing the sights, then party in the evening, I am not sure you are going to want to get on a train afterwards.

Like all things, you pays your money you takes your choice.

[Sailor99]

On the terminal I make it both flights, from Philly and Chicago respectively, come into terminal 1. Can John confirm pls.

[Harrier]

John, I shall be leaving the Tuesday training day and heading off to stay near Bristol, if you want to have anything taken along to Bristol that you dont want to lug around London (like team kites etc), it is not a problem, I can drop stuff back to you whenever suits.
Basically anything I can put on Ebay would be no problem and well looked after.

[Kitelife]

Ha, good stuff Harrier... That opens up some options.

Will keep you posted, for sure.

Thank you.

Sailor, I don't know which terminal(s), sorry.

Anyone know how much the train is, Portsmouth to London?