Jam On Top Tour Day 1

The "Jam On Top" Tour has finished - I don't think anyone actually had a cream tea while we were there - a bit remiss of us.

The first day was all about getting there & I nearly didn't. Two came from the north the day before, two (three people, two cars) came from the south coast. Two (again three people, two cars) came from the the south side of the M25 south of London & two from west of London. So getting everyone in the same place at the same time was a challenge. The south coast pair had the longest journey on the day & were up VERY early. Their job was to get to Stockbridge for 08:00. The south of London pair & the westerners had to get to Popham services for 07:40 ready to go on to Stockbridge & the northern pair would meet at the breakfast stop.

What could possibly go wrong? - well, my car for a start. Just off the A303 it just ran out of engine - dead. My first thought was the new fuel pump, in fact it was one of the ring tags taking power to the pump had fatigued off, it felt a little dodgy when I put it on, but as I didn't have another one the right size I thought "it'll be fine".

It wasn't.

But I had tools with me so I sent the others on their way, stripped the wire back & put the nut over the bared end - it didn't look good as the wire was all corroded, but the engine started & I cruised along the A303 to the Haynes Museum, where they weren't doing breakfasts!

Not going well so far then.

Fortunately they were well stocked with cake & refreshed we headed a little further down the A303 to Yeovilton & the Fleet Air Arm Museum. It is one of the very best aircraft museums there is, not only because of the exhibits, but because of the way they are exhibited - and they have three Harriers.

One of our number was so enthralled I had to go back in & drag him out with the promise of going back another day.

There's another version of this plane with an enormous anvil
 underneath (Wiley Coyote joke)

So at this point the trip proper began, we did a little cruising on the A303 & the M5 to get us in the right place, but after that it was all about crossing Exemoor on the windiest roads available. They are pretty good & mostly traffic free, it's a small area, much smaller that we usually visit, but the mix of curly roads, steep hills, coast & quaint villages makes it a good destination for a short trip. But to avoid caravans you have to go early in the year or late, we were there early & we were rained upon - a bit.

We stayed in Illfracombe at a B&B by the name of Laston House, a grand old building about a mile inland from the harbour - & a good 1/4 mile UP from it. It had the advantage of "stealth parking" (the cars couldn't be seen from the road) & we walked into town & found a nice looking restaurant featuring unfeasibly shiny bricks & a wide range of weaponry hanging from the rafters - so we behaved ourselves (ish). "The Smugglers" did us proud, there wasn't a single complaint about any of the food, so we went back the following day. After filling ourselves with food & beer we hardly noticed the climb back up to the B&B (this is a lie).

The FA2 variant of The Finest Aircraft Ever Made.