Pub Run on Sunday, 15th June 2008
We met at our regular haunting place, the Coachmans. Us was Alec, stretch, Ashley, Sylvia with her sun, Sean, Jason and myself, though Jason only turned up just in time. Given that is was a nice sunny Sunday I think we all expected a better turnout, but then it wasn't us that missed out on the fun.
From the Coachmans we went down towards Iver and then Iver Heath. After a short run on the A412 it was off into single track lanes towards Maidenhead. Whilst trying the run I had always had a really nice run down here, not so this time when a little old lady in a Vauxhall Corsa keept us to well below the speed limit. I think stretch understood my gesture when she finally took a different turn to us at a roundabout.
We briefly stopped for petrol as Jason wasn't sure whether he had enough to complete the run. Whilst pulling into the petrol station another Mini turned up. The driver, local to Maidenhead, was interested to see where we came from as he didn't have many Minis around where he lives. We gave him a flyer, so if you read this, nice to meet you and maybe you're up for joining us on a pub run or for a show.
We made our way through Maidenhead on the A4, Alec had already asked how long he would have to survive without a drink. Shortly after crossing over the M404 we left the A4 and again started going down single track roads. The final destination was to be Henley-on-Thames and either a pub just on the other side that doubled as an Italian or a pub just the side we were coming from. We joined the A4130 to come into Henley and, after a lorry had slowed us down to nearly walking speed, we joined the traffic jam into the town.
So the pub the other side was out of the question and I quickly realised, even the alternative was not going to work as the car park was more than full. We quickly turned round and headed to a pub just off the A4130 called the Black Boys Inn. It did not look like much from the road but I had earlier seen that it had what looked like a nice garden. It turned out it also had a car park with just enough space left for our Minis, though some of us got to park right next to the rubbish bins which smelled like rotten meat.
The inside of the Black Boys Inn seemed rather posh for the impression we got from the outside and the price for a pint of larger confirmed that. 4 pounds ninety five pence ... needless to say that only I got a pint as I was the first to order and make the mistake.
We sat outside in the sun, savouring our expensive refreshments and just enjoyed the view over the hills outside Henley. And yes, it really was a posh place wiht proper towels in the toilets rather than cheap paper ones. Before we made our way back home we all gathered around Sean's Mini for a quick check since it sounded not quite right. It looks like his plan to, over the next year or two, spend loads of money on a restoration is a good one. The engine did look a bit dodgy and sounded it too.
For the way back we took the easy option, the A4130 up to the M40 and then a quick run into London where we all took our separate exits. From the leading position there is less to say than from one of the later positions, but I think we all enjoyed ourselves and had a nice run. I have updated our map, so you can follow the run on there.
Jason has been elected to organise the next run, which will be after the major shows in September.
