Great British Road Journeys - Essex - Harlow to Basildon Ep.5

#driving #infrastructure #cars #roadtrip #essex
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This week we move on from Suffolk, there wasn't much going on anyway... and in this episode.. .well, where to start, it's got everything.... motorway stuff, road stuff, bunker stuff, car stuff, world record holding churches and plenty more, it's a busy episode so strap in! Or on. I'm not sure.
Using a copy of the 1923 Michelin Guide, I'll be travelling the country to see what remains and what's changed since it's publication. The guide offers suggestions on thing to see and where to stay all with the goal of getting you out there and exploring in your motor vehicle.

[@notrut]

0:29 'Only Joking, he's not gonna turn up' .... Now look what you've done, I've blurted coffee across my keyboard again ...!

[@markbutler9291]

JOHN - THAT GREEN RS MEXICO USED TO BE MINE!! My eyes nearly popped out of my head when i spotted it. 😃

[@samholdsworth420]

Prove it

[@stevekelly5166]

@@samholdsworth420Do one.

[@samholdsworth420]

@@stevekelly5166 nou

[@CycolacFan]

Was it stolen at some point…?

[@MichaelFlatman]

link some photos of it here

[@PhilipStorry]

I remain unconvinced that any truly great journey could end in Basildon, but thank you very much for bringing the possibility to my attention. Have a great week, Jon!

[@MartinvonBargen]

You could always pop round to Beefy's house for a cuppa and a quick rave!

[@popuptoaster]

Many a good night has been had in Bas Vegas. 🤔

[@andrewdenby8239]

From one sh1thole to another...

[@100tallpaul]

I work in Basildon and that's a far as it goes lol. It pays my mortgage so my road journey there every day does make Basildon good for at least something. Trying to think what else... 🤣

[@Trebor74]

If you pop just down the road you can visit fobbing where the peasants revolt started. Also, you've got watt Tyler country park in pitsea where the peasants gathered.

[@jaycee330]

"The Harlow we all know and tolerate..." It's quips like these that keeps me coming back here.

[@Original50]

I use this channel to take in 'Vitamin UK' - an essential compound for British people who live 'abroad', composed of subtle grumbling, irony and sarcasm. Thank you for your service 🙏

[@Ashystar067]

I've been experiencing symptoms of a heavy Vitamin UK deficiency - chiefly homesickness and begrudged adjustment - so here I am. Nice term 💕 🇬🇧

[@774Rob]

@@Ashystar067 Have a look at the politics channels, you'll soon be cured of your deficiency.

[@Original50]

@@Ashystar067 It also helps to have a reliable source of cider and cheese & onion pasties... ☺

[@eddiewillers1]

I don't always go to John for my dose of 'Vitamin UK' (Jago Hazzard seems to hit the spot much better), but when I do it's very interesting.

[@godzillas6301]

Love the concept of a vitamin uk however living on the doorstep of nuneaton means unless its deep fried , placed into a paper bag and served to ford focus with a space saver fitted through a window its not going to be popular around here .

[@KirkNorthrop]

That wooden church is the building equivalent of Trigger’s broom.

[@r3dpandarecords]

As a Southend resident, I’m very satisfied with the time of day you didn’t give it 😂

[@stevedunham4209]

As a resident of Harlow I feel the the derogatory way that you spoke of my birth place and the people of the greater area of Essex to be truly spot on , keep up the good work,

[@AutoShenanigans]

hehehe :D Stereotypes are fun, thanks for watching

[@CARLIN4737]

Nice.

[@t0m541]

Ahhh, North Weald. Back in the day when I was a teenager, on very rainy night, my girlfriend and I were...enjoying the night air...so to speak, in the front of my MK1 transit van, which, handily, had a full width bench front seat, it also had sliding doors which leaked horribly. As we were engrossed in stuff, my girlfriend noticed a torch light reflecting in the wing mirror, we were parked off the road in a farm track. As the light got closer we gathered ourselves together, just in time for the lamp to shine in through the drivers door window. It was a very wet, very pissed off police constable. I slid my door open with a cheerful, "Evening constable", he shone his torch about the cab and at my girlfriend. He asked, in a very bored voice, "What are you two doing here?", I started to mumble a reply when he then said, "I know what you're doing here, but whyy...are you doing it here ?", I again mumbled a poor excuse about nice countryside and views.. He simply said, "Not in my patrol area, zip up your pants, and you, (referring to my girlfriend who by now had gone very red), straighten you clothes and both of you F~~k off" He splooshed his way back to his Panda car and drove off.

[@rogersimmons8788]

I doubt he used the word 'pants'.

[@downundarob]

and as the total gentleman that you are you have not mentioned her name, well done..

[@EdwardKane-pb5rj]

​@@downundarob at a guess Sharon? Maybe Tracy?

[@Dan23_7]

So what was you doing ? 😂

[@S.ASmith]

@@Dan23_7 His partner was a seamstress & he was showing her some of the repair work that he needed doing on his trousers. The constable, no doubt wearing old and crusty police uniform, was likely rather peeved off he was getting free tailoring and clothing advice from someone specialised in the field. Her clothing was about the place a bit as she was showing this fine gentleman the work she'd carried out on her clothes.

[@gerryg1056]

Auto Shenanigans, rapidly becoming the 21st century's version of Pevsner! Awesome.

[@AndrewJohnson-ur3lw]

I visited one of the Nuclear bunkers before it was decommissioned. 100% agree about small family cars rather than SUV as EV.

[@stuartd9741]

So that means you were a secret agent perhaps 002 or something?🙂 .. Well If the bunker wasn't decommissioned when you visited it must have been active....?

[@Dan23_7]

There’s one near Preston, at a place called Goosnargh.

[@pigeonpoo1823]

​@@Dan23_7no way. I go past there quite often. Is it accessible to nosy little gits?😂 Looks like it's on the main road as well. Not quite as glamorous, but I live on an abandoned ww2 oil depot. It's a housing dev, not just me and my pikey mates

[@sputumtube]

@@Dan23_7 There's another near me here in Cheshire called Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker (clearly signposted to maintain its secrecy). Not far from Nantwich. Twenty years it was £3.30 to visit. I went again about five years ago and it had increased to over £15. I laughed in their faces of course and walked away.

[@Dan23_7]

@@pigeonpoo1823 Yes you can see through the fence. It’s on Whittingham lane.

[@bertoltb1358]

The original Ford EV looked wicked, sweet, awesome.

[@andywright1634]

"It's said Harlow has some of the most extensive cycleways in the country - but I don't care". That made me LOL

[@RedKnight-fn6jr]

Brilliant Statement - indeed, who cares about cycling???

[@MikeAger]

What like this one?? wcc.crankfoot.xyz/facility-of-the-month/September2007.htm

[@MikeAger]

Yes, that was Harlow!!

[@a1white]

@@RedKnight-fn6jrif you drive you should, it means they’re much less likely to be in front of you on the road

[@RedKnight-fn6jr]

@@a1white I'm mostly driving on motorways, so no cyclists to worry about! The more motorways, the better!

[@cbrue1896]

Hilarious! John has the sarcasm dial turned up to nuke in this video! With comments like, "the Harlow we know today and tolerate....", and "after the small disagreement of 1939 to 1945...." Wicked good video, John!

[@markb159]

"the stunning Harlow" 😂😂😂

[@sixfootbear]

"My name is Garbo.The T is silent as is the T in Harlow." sigh...One of my favourite put down lines..Greta Garbo to Jean Harlow..

[@eastcoast4233]

Tolerate lol

[@ianlyall2212]

The only man who can make the arse end of the UK truly interesting , that is a special talent indeed 😁👍

[@pigeonpoo1823]

😂 can't wait til he goes to Millom

[@AdrianDowthwaite]

Too right, it's strangle adicitive with Jon's sarcastic humour.

[@daveoftheclanburgess]

A vintage episode! Brilliantly sardonic and sarcastic today.

[@Boldberry44]

I didn’t expect to see my house on KZbin today, but I did!

[@MelanieRuck-dq5uo]

My husband tells me of a job interview that he had in Basildon about 30 years ago. Being a northerner and having all sort of negative ideas about Basildon and it's people, he wasn't too keen on going there. However, once there, he said he found the people some of the friendliest and nicest people he could want to meet. He still regrets not getting the job!

[@Spud607]

Fun fact the vast majority of New Holland tractors are assembled in Basildon with New Holland veing a company that used to be run by Ford which is probably why the assembly plant is in a similar area to the Ford site.

[@Superstar11313]

I was left thinking "What?! No tractor plant? Also think he drove right past the old Ford offices in Warley too - if you know, you know!

[@robgazzard4432]

Thanks for covering home in such a sensitive and engaging way John....

[@colinmaynard2879]

I commuted from Stansted to Brentwood. Once leaving Chipping Ongar the bottom water hose detached from my car and I had to pull into the bunker entrance. The AA call centre didn’t believe me when I said I was located at the entrance of the Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker 😂. The on road mechanic did.

[@st200ol]

He is a fact I was told years ago, no idea if it’s true. The bridge at the bottom of Ongar high street was built slightly wider to accommodate the crossing of communication cables for the secret nuclear bunker over the river.

[@PhilipMurphyExtra]

Great British Road Journeys would be a interesting KZbin playlist to put on repeat

[@tassiehandyman3090]

8:59 - I can tell you exactly why we miss Little Chef, John... it's because the Olympic Breakfasts were undeniably fucking awesome! I've lived in The Colonies for over 20 years, but I still lovingly recall hoeing into one of those proper full English extravaganzas... Man, I really miss Little Chef...❤...😂👍🇦🇺

[@Spud607]

4:45 Fun fact I like to call the Epping and Ongar railway the Brazzers railway instead because some sort of pornographical film was filmed in Ongar station a few years ago. No idea what the plot or premise is but it's a funny little factoid.

[@philwalton2009]

Hi Jon I love your Auto Shenanigans podcasts this latest series is fab. Thanks

[@magnamundian]

A fair few "Secret Nuclear Bunkers" across the country, when I first saw your thumbnail I initially thought you were in the Cheshire/Nantwich area.

[@ehsnils]

The real trick is to make some of them actually contain a really secret area because who would believe that it would be right under the nose of a tourist attraction?

[@JohnSmithShields]

The secret is to get the real bunker, you really turn right.

[@A_p_T53040]

Went to one at Withernsea near hull, the entrance looks exactly the same.

[@DW-indeed]

Like Iggy Pop sang in The Passenger: I see the stars come out tonight Yeah they're bright in the Harlow sky

[@The_BenboBaggins]

Motorists should be the biggest proponents for proper, viable, segregated foot paths and cycle ways (along with affordable and usable public transport) - many, many people would love a viable alternative to car use, and if they had it, there would be less traffic on the roads, so people that do need to use cars and vans etc. would have a better time doing so... it's not really that complicated.

[@Gordanovich02]

I'm all for well-designed and (crucially) well-maintained segregated footpaths and cycleways. But how much of our infrastructure could actually be said to fulfil those criteria? A bit of green paint and some blocks for you to trip over ain't it. NCN Route 75 runs past my house but bits of it are in abysmal condition these days, especially the section south of Blackridge railway station which is effectively abandoned.

[@The_BenboBaggins]

@@Gordanovich02 that's my point though, paint isn't infrastructure! We need to do what people like the Dutch did, and completely redesign our roads! We can do it for round abouts and motorways, so we can do it for active travel and public transport. All that's required is some political will, and the discipline to spend tax money appropriately, rather than funnelling it in to their mates pockets through dodgy contracts etc...

[@johnbuyers8095]

I think that if a cycleway has been provided, cyclists should be made to use them by law. Why should tax paying motorists have to share the road with doddering muppets on bikes if they have their own lanes?

[@The_BenboBaggins]

@@johnbuyers8095 Absolutely not. The roads are for all users, plus the taxes associated with motoring don't even come close to covering the costs of road building and repairs - the majority of that is paid through council tax and general taxation that is born by everybody, whether they drive a car or not.

[@davidroddini1512]

7:37-8:12 The County Lunatic Asylum has always been housing. You just needed to be crazy to live there.

[@90vanman]

One of its famous residents is russell brands mum, and occasionally he himself. Always thought that was very apt for both of them!!

[@GryphLane]

10:15 Loving the reference to the ST220 for obvious reasons 😁

[@TheGhiaDriver]

I fear I've missed something here...

[@david_harvey]

Soz Jon but Canvey never had an oil refinery it got stopped from being built on safety grounds. It did however havd somethjnv famous about the part built refinery, Fred Dibnar was hired by Safeway Supermarkets to blow up the chimney, which on his first attempt failed! Aso did you not notice the mire interesting road sign error in Ongar? Above secret nuclear bunker it says Industrail Estate instead of Industrial Estate! A bit like the Nicholas Valeting Centre between the A128 and Dunton junctions on the A127, where it reads Nicholas Valentine Centre!😂

[@DavidHalfordsLane]

The best thing out of Basildon is Depeche Mode.

[@Phuc_Yhou]

Terry Marsh 👊

[@stuartd9741]

I was gonna say this! Beat me to it...😭

[@david_harvey]

Err second best. Yahoo were better!

[@liamdormon7822]

I think you'll find the best thing in Basildon is the way out.

[@DavidHalfordsLane]

@@david_harveyWas that the band after Yazoo folded………..🤪

[@hanzzarkov7690]

I have to admit, my first instinct was the Epping Ongar Railway sign.

[@alantheskinhead]

The A127. That has to be the worst road in history. Absolutely no redeeming features whatsoever. Oh, the Basildon "Hollywood" sign! lol.... rib cracked laughing.

[@markkenyon2906]

Ah Harlow New Town, of which Genesis reference in the song "Get Em Out By Friday". Also the road in the middle of the roundabout at Junction 7 of the M11, was for many years a Police / Council Weighbridge. For many years upon entering Harlow, you would be met with a green sign stating how Harlow was a Nuclear Free Zone... which was amusing when the Army's Nuclear convoy would park on that weighbridge over night ha ha ha ha.

[@timbounds7190]

Actually, Basildon was inhabited before the new town, though it may not have been called that. The whole area or Laindon/Basildon/Pitsea consisted of what we now call 'Plotlands' - farmland sold off in little plots after the 1st world war for people to build their own houses on. The plots were mostly bought by working class Londoners as there was a housing shortage in East London. The houses ranged from shacks and old railway carriages up to pretty standard bungalows. The roads weren't paved and there wasn't much in the way of drainage or sewarage.... The middle classes utterly hated the idea of working class people doing things for themselves! The plots were almost all bought up and redeveloped into Basildon New Town in the 60s. There are one or two odd houses from that area left on the fringes - you actually passed the Plotlands trail near Dunton, which is an area of plotlands that is preserved with one remaining bungalow as a museum. I find it the spookiest place I've ever visited!!!

[@TheGhiaDriver]

Another reminder that Little Chef is long gone, replaced by disappointing and overpriced coffees and burgers. You dont know what you have until its gone. Okay it was also disappointing but also far better and actually loved. Ah nostalgia.

[@razzle1964]

There were 4 or 5 ‘Garys & Daves’ in our boozer, I recall … Gary the scar, Gazza, Gary the Gas & Black Gary … Dave chef, Dave the gardener, (Dave) Rosie & a golden retriever, called Dave.

[@ForburyLion]

When asking if we've had a good week, can you leave time for us to reply otherwise it comes across as very insincere. I had to pause the video to give you a detailed reply about my weekend and from the look on your paused face I could tell you weren't even listening..... next time I'll pause you for 5 hours and see how you like it. (I'm not stupid, just weird)

[@johnjakees4843]

4:40 OH PLEASE TELL ME WHY THIS IS A SECRET BUNKER .. One minute later: sorry, nevermind ;-)

[@AndrewCullington]

There is a discussion in my household asto which bridge underthe M11 you are starting this video...before Auto Shenanigans we would not have been sufficiently interested - what have you done to us Jon? Love the content, long may you continue with your awesome series'

[@DanDavisHistory]

As a south Essex man originally, this is all great stuff. Cheers John, looking forward to the rest of the series. Oh yeah and at school we used to use the word "Warley" (mental hospital) as an insult - as in "Don't be an idiot, you effin Warley!"

[@juststeve5542]

Most good road journeys begin by exiting Basildon. Although if the other end is going to be Harlow, I don't envy the choices you had to make!

[@northseawolf]

Totally agree with your view on the likes of big SUV type cars doing 0-60 in 2 seconds as being totally and completely pointless. Funny how nearly any car and road enthusiast feels the same way lol

[@sixfootbear]

That little Citroen plastic machine would be ideal if only it wasn't a Citroen..

[@stuartd9741]

​hay let's not knock Citroen. They introduced front wheel drive a loooong way back. And also they built the DS very stylish. let's also not forget the superb hydraulic suspension.. Obviously couldn't care less about the modern stuff...pos...

[@pigeonpoo1823]

I like the Dacia Spring. 900kg EV. I'd tax cars based on weight. Then we could have small fun EVs that could genuinely claim to be helping with sustainability!

[@andrewanyplace]

Congrats on the MOT pass for the Saab

[@RichieRouge206]

So Harlow is a fab holiday destination then? As desirable as a toaster in a bath? Being a car nut the Ford that part was ace - and yes why do EVs have to be expensive SUVs. They’re a massive con, that’s why. Nothing to do with the environment at all. Excellent video as always John!

[@chromiumphotography5138]

We must have been on Special Black since 1997, thanks to Tony Bliar and his open border idiocy. See London every Saturday since October 2023. As for the micro EV, I would hazard a guess that on a lb for lb basis, the battery from 1967 gives more range than its modern equivalent. Isn't progress brilliant.

[@90vanman]

The lead acid battery has advantages, but it's make-up doesn't allow it to give up it's charge quickly, but at least they are recyclable simply.

[@jovetj]

That SECRET NUCLEAR BUNKER is one of my most favorite things ever.

[@markarnold8160]

....I don't care......... can't be bothered......... sums Harlow up really 😂

[@skyrocketautomotive]

Kelvedon Hatch is my favourite place in the world! Fascinating place!

[@darrenjones5885]

When they were little I took my nieces to the secret nuclear bunker at Hack Green in Cheshire. I didn’t tell them where we were going, I said it was a secret. The eldest got it when she saw the first road sign. “Where we’re going is a secret. A secret nuclear bunker.” The Hack Green bunker is cunningly disguised as a windowless concrete bunker with a large rotating radar dish next to it. The plan must have been to make it look so much like a bunker that it couldn’t possibly be one.

[@graemeclifford6358]

Fun Fact: The combined IQ of the 8 Basildon residents in 1923 is equal to that of the combined residents IQ today

[@david_harvey]

That's an insult! Today it's about 12😅

[@Kevin-mx1vi]

Secret nuclear bunkers seem to be something we're exceptionally bad at. I know where there's a _real_ "secret" nuclear bunker, and so does everyone else in the area, no matter how they've tried to hide it. I actually found it by accident on a map and thought "strange feature, I wonder what it is ?". So I asked the landlord of a nearby pub, who told me, then I went to take a shufti at it. Easy peasy.

[@stuartd9741]

The power of local knowledge...

[@johnf5817]

Where is that?

[@Kevin-mx1vi]

@@johnf5817 A rural location in North Yorkshire. 😉

[@Swampy428]

For real, Ford switching to only SUV’s was a terrible idea

[@cp4512]

Description of Essex was spot on 😂

[@brianartillery]

"The stunning Harlow..." As said by nobody, ever. You're the first, Jon. Revel in that thought for a femtosecond or two. Most prople go through Harlow on the way to somewhere nicer. 🤔 😆😆😆 My Paternal grandparents lived in Chipping Ongar, as did Hattie Jacques off of off've the 'Carry On' movies. The only thing I can think Basildon is famous for, is being the place from where Depeche Mode came from.

[@hhs_leviathan]

Harlow is not that interesting to visit but, in my experience, is rather nice to live in. Lived half my life here.

[@brianartillery]

'prople'? Damn, that whisky was better than I thought.

[@neilmackinnon3371]

I enjoy touring the UK on my motorbike. Like others I have spotted Secret Nuclear Bunker signs in several different locations and always wondered; Had Russia rained nuclear weapons down on the UK and all the senior military personnel , politicians and civil servants survived the onslaught safe in their secret nuclear bunkers. Just who exactly were they expecting to govern once they emerged? Loving the series... even Harlow and Basildon.

[@troytempest9729]

Excellent! One of your most amusing episodes. BTW - how many miles have you put on your SAAB since starting the channel? And what will you replace it with when the time comes?

[@AutoShenanigans]

Mileage is getting into the 40-50K a year area. This is Saab number 2, it replaced a 9-5. When this one gives up I'll probably get an estate 9-3.

[@Nicanut313]

"He's not going to turn up." 🤣🤣

[@stretchchris1]

Little Chef: We miss the pancakes!

[@johnf5817]

The Olympic Breakfast was always the highlight of the last day of a caravanning holiday, preferably at the start of the journey home.

[@peterboyall3506]

Just wanna say that my temper has been an issue for me recently, and your reaction at the end, though not overt, helped remind me that there's also nothing wrong with being frustrated by things, so thank you

[@gryff8400]

4:40 *industrail* estates? Shouldn't that be _industrial_ ?

[@frazerguest2864]

I’m only five minutes into this exciting episode, and I get the distinct impression John might have been having a bit of a crappy day making this video.

[@mistywolf312]

Yes, both Harlow and Basildon are sources of sheer embarrassment to us Essex dwellers, you didn't include the "sign" welcoming you to Basildon :(

[@david_harvey]

I thought that was Only Way is Essex

[@90vanman]

What about the anomalous Welcome to Essex sign which before 'citizen' khan stuck his poxy snout in should have been back around Ilford. When I lived in East Ham 50 years ago the adjacent borough of Barking was the London/Essex border. Said sign is a couple of hundred yards outside the M25 now

[@ianreynolds9733]

From one shithole to another! I love your clips fella!

[@MrLaurence321]

You have just literally done my work commute! From Basildon to Harlow and vice versa! Thank you sir for making it infinitely less dull.

[@andrewdolinskiatcarpathian]

The best TV programme not on TV. In Jon’s immortal words “wicked, sweet, awesome”. 👏👏👍😀 Now I have the urge to visit the Secret Nuclear Bunker 🤫

[@AnotherPointOfView944]

Best thing about Harlow is knowing never to go there.

[@David_Crayford]

LOL Perfect out-take in the outro. Cold wet and miserable as I watch, in keeping with the filming conditions. You never get this realism from Hollywood.

[@bryemycaz]

Here we are in Harlow New Town.Did you recognize your block across the square, over there.

[@markkenyon2906]

Sadly since last time we spoke, We've found we've had to raise the rent again, Just a bit

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

Another secret bunker?? Do you know about the one near St Andrews in Fife Jon? I was there last weekend. A beautifal looking wooden church and the lunatic asylum just looks magnificant. Another fantastic and informative video Jon.

[@thomas05ish]

North Weald was a legendary Battle of Britain fighter station , just thought you ought to know. One Ford you didn’t mention was the Capri : surely the car of choice for archetypal Essex Man . Loved the jazz piano music.

[@CycolacFan]

Majority of Capris were built in Germany I believe…?

[@roderickmain9697]

Basildon is/was the home of Gilbarco - maker of petrol pumps. (interesting company to work for). Talking of interesting, the Secret Nuclear Bunker looks virtually identical (above ground anyway) to the one in Fife (which is miles from anywhere of note).

[@david_harvey]

Was. They just repair them now. The old factory was flattened and is now a retail park

[@Exparcelman]

The farm bungalows that guard the bunkers were built to a standard design.

[@PLively]

I once went to a Little Thief restaurant somewhere off the A27 daaan saaarf. I had a full English breakfast, yet everything on the plate had clearly been derived from pygmy versions of pigs and chickens (it may actually have been a fucking quail egg). The sausage was about about 2 inches long and I've seen bigger mushrooms on people with athlete's foot. This was back in about 2005 and I think it cost about £279.00, which in today's money would be £947.56 Good riddance, Little Thief.

[@mw...]

Thank you John. I enjoyed the program. And learned a lot. Please do more like this. -a loyal viewer in America

[@castlering]

Kelvedon Hatch is fascinating and disturbing in one go. Apparently, the central line underground to Ongar station closed when the bunker closed as it was the emergency route that civil servants and ministers would have taken so to lead the nation during any nuclear attack. I stand to be corrected if anyone knows better.

[@paulketchupwitheverything767]

There might have been post-nuclear social breakdown as a result of engineering work, industrial action or leaves on the line.

[@noggintube]

Probably coincidence as the central line is still a fair distance from the bunker - far enough you'd have to drive and then seeing as you're in the car anyway may as well carry on to a better station as that section of track is only single track which means long waits between trains.

[@dukeofaaghisle7324]

6:01 Bikini security is of course extremely important to avoid potential embarrassment.

[@emmajacobs5575]

While you were round there, you could’ve done that other Great British Road Journey as described in Billy Bragg’s A13 Trunk Road to the Sea. If you ever have to go to Shoeburyness Take the A road, the okay road that's the best Go motorin' on the A13 It starts down in Wapping There ain't no stopping By-pass Barking and straight through Dagenham Down to Grays Thurrock And rather near Basildon Pitsea, Thundersley, Hadleigh, Leigh-On-Sea Chalkwell, Prittlewell Southend's the end

[@MrsG7swr]

liking this new series, as as for little chef it was the breakfasts or the tea cakes when on a journey or hung over. that's what i miss anyway. it was friendly signage and colour scheme. it was like losing a friend with them all closed, also far superior to the unhappy vomiter chain.

[@EvilGav]

Thank you. The EV we need is a 2 seat, 100-150 mile range, car that tops out around 85-90 (since most journeys are commuting or popping to the shops, usually solo or with one passenger). We don't need a 3 ton, 400 mile range, 5 seater . . . because the vast majority of the time it's just a waste dragging all that weight around. As for the SUV-fication. Car makers realised they could charge more for the same materials, if they made it taller - the Ford Puma (new) is a Ford Fiesta underneath, but costs a few thousand more to buy, but no more to make. It's almost like it's a bit of a scam.

[@MrAustinPowers]

I do not the age of your book but the A414 between Harlow and Chelmsford had a completely different route from today. “The original A414 road bypassed Harlow to the north, travelling through High Wych on what is now an unclassified road, and travelling through Sawbridgeworth to meet what is now the A1060 at Hatfield Heath, which it followed through to Chelmsford. In Chelmsford itself, the road numbers have been subject to change several times over the last three or four decades, with the A12, A130 and A414 having been rerouted many times over that period.”

[@davidmiles6257]

I remember when I was a kid (probably about 1985) that that Little Chef at the A127/A128 junction was the site of one of the first Travelodges. At that time they were all located next to Little Chefs and, if I remember rightly, they opened just five in the first batch including that one at the Halfway House junction.

[@Outwhere]

Harlow to Basildon is an excellent choice to make fun of Essex. Old Harlow has some nice bits left. London Road/Netteswell Road used to be my (cycling, haha!) route to work.

[@markembling]

Whilst the sign at 4:39 says “Secret Nuclear Bunker” and that’s definitely amusing, I just can’t get over “Industrail Estates” just above it. I guess nobody proof-read it…? 🧐

[@BeanoMark]

There’s probably more, but there’s another “Secret” Bunker just outside of St. Andrews in Fife. A secret bunker with a sign pointing to it was a story for Colonel Clott for the Dandy Annual recently, which the artist thought he invented, until I told him that they do actually exist. I think I might’ve ruined his day saying that, but the comic strip was still hilarious. Yes, Dandy annuals still exist, so does Beano. Buy one, it’ll cheer you up.

[@B3tanTyronne]

Living in Harlow for the past 10 years, you soon realize that the local council love cycle lanes and spend a small fortune on them, thing is, they are barely ever used but that does not stop them building more of them. Also, Kelvendon Hatch bunker was going to be used by Thatcher to hide away had the coal miners strike got worse.

[@AnotherPointOfView944]

I lived in Harlow for 2.5 years: 2.5 years in dank greyness, and finally escaped. You: 10 years? How have you managed to not gnaw your own foot off?

[@B3tanTyronne]

@@AnotherPointOfView944 For most of it I was working nights so thankfully never got to experience the utterly grey skyline....now I work during the day and the bleak,dirty greyness might have something to do with my increasing booze intake.

[@2760ade]

You really should have started this episode with " The name's Bond.......Basildon Bond", mind you, you would make a crap spy, you've just jeopardised the entire country's security by telling the interweb where the secret nuclear bunker is!!

[@PLively]

"It is said that Harlowe ghas one of the most extensive cycle networks in the country, but I don't care". I spat my coffee out on my monitor. Thanks, John.🤣

[@GrahamMacdonald-w9o]

Old Harlow has a campus of the Memorial University (of Newfoundland and Labrador). Admittedly there are only about 60 students but it is a real thing. Harlow also has four sculpture trails encompassing over 100 sculptures. I did try to use the cycle tracks as much as possible to follow them but my wheels got stuck in the mud in places where the cycle path was really a footpath; here in Stevenage we have a much better and comprehensive cycle path network!

[@simonweekes3068]

Missed opportunity not popping into Epping

[@jonjon9047]

Brilliant as usual. Looking forward to you coming to Yorkshire.

[@jimmydesouza4375]

The reason why we do not have "small, lightweight, fun to drive" vehicles, especially electric vehicles, any more is safety legislation. Every dimension of the car is forced by law (for example bumper and bonnet height for pedestrian safety in a collision) which makes the cars large and heavy to begin with and then every safety system such as ABS and airbags adds extra weight to the system. So if you're stuck with a big heavy car by law then you might as well go whole hog and make it as big and heavy (and so "luxurious") as possible. It's a similar dynamic to why the US has so many pickup trucks and SUVs that legally and in terms of size and weight are pickups (or light trucks). Environmental legislation criteria for something to be considered a car were too restrictive to make anything anyone would ever buy so they instead just made trucks and sold them as cars.

[@neilbain8736]

I'm sure that bunker turned up in one of these haunted programmes and produced the goods. There's quite a lot of secret bunkers. Costorphine Hill in Edinburgh was turned into quite a big one- I'd like to know more about that, as it may have been for government and/or officials but presumably the rest of us evaporated. Extensive cycle lanes are OK but they've got to work and be measured in terms of getting around places with a lot of traffic and people- big busy places.

[@simonochana3189]

Exactly 4 months ago, I was staying at the hotel behind the Starbucks just off Southend Arterial Road(A127)!

[@joncrawford3485]

100% agree about why do EV's have to be TwatVans... sorry SUV's... nope right the first time.

[@BeeJay120]

9:52 - Most modern cars seem to be big chunky SUVs, or are at least trying to be. Estate cars need more love as the MG5 EV seems to be the only (and remotely affordable) estate EV on the market bar the Porsche Taycan. Thankfully manufacturers have now taken notice and are releasing more estate EVs. On a related note, I hear it's hard to get smaller cars in the US nowadays as manufacturers exploit an emissions loophole with 'light-duty' trucks.

[@oliver_rocks80]

I got confused when I saw Ongar, as that's where I live. But it's a large suburb in West Dublin, not the Ongar in the UK. I wonder which came first?

[@stefanrobinson2920]

Cool facts about Essex lol..check out Parkstone and Harwich further down the A12 my home town.lots of victorian beach holiday history.Victorian lighthouse..The redout and the ww2 costal defence...i think ww2 is when the towns investments stopped..The towns shops look like deralict doseres i think queen Victoria was the last person to use its train staiton..