England 2016

Knowing how much of a car nut Andrew is, John’s arranged for a special treat today!

Back in 2006, when Kathy and I were here with the kids, we toured Eastnor Castle, built in the 1800s as a “mock castle” for an English family estate home. Located on the massive estate grounds is the Eastnor Land Rover Experience, which since 1961 has provided off-roading tracks for testing production-quality Land Rover and Range Rovers.

Driving past the scenic Malverns, I’m reminded of our “Hills of Doom” adventures … the walks up to the peaks, seeing the parasailers lofting from the top, the amazing views, and just the general great day spent with Julian, Kathy, Andrew, and Melanie. So many memories. 🙂

As we pass the Eastnor Castle gate, I see it’s closed for the season (still a few weeks before opened to the public), so I don’t think we’ll see it this time. Continuing past, and through the little surrounding village (including the primary school and requisite church!), we arrive at the Land Rover Experience building.

There are a handful of REALLY nice Land Rover and Range Rover models here, looking like a posh dealership, but actually just waiting for clients to come experience the fun of driving these beasts through the English countryside!

Stepping inside, and over a nice coffee, we fill out the paperwork – good thing we both had our driver’s licenses! We meet our instructor, Chris, and Andrew and I head outside to load up into a BEAUTIFUL brand new Range Rover Vogue SE.

Chris takes the wheel first and begins with a “cockpit orientation tour”, showing off all of the driving modes, safety features, and general “cool bits” associated with this 100K GBP (about $140K!!) automotive and engineering marvel.

Setting out, Chris takes us over to the “show off” obstacle course. There’s a steep stairclimb, several trench/steep wall bits, and a flooded channel.

While describing the features of the Range Rover, Chris starts up the stairclimb. It *feels* like we’re going straight up, but it’s probably less than a 45 degree incline … still, the Range Rover handles it like a champ, barely feeling the individual stairs as the independent Vogue suspension accounts for things and tries to keep the ride as “posh” as possible.

Driving into the steep trench obstacles, we’re *CLEARLY* at an angle, but again the Vogue suspension handles it like it’s no big deal – the suspension display is pretty cool, too.

Before he’s done, Chris takes us over to the *downhill* counterpart to the stairclimb obstacle. As we go over the peak and down (again fully in control due to the driving mode settings engaged!), we’re suspended fully-forward into the seatbelts. It feels like we’re on the world’s slowest, most in-control roller-coaster! Falling, while not moving very fast, is a really unique experience. 🙂

As we go back around to the stairclimb, Chris is ready to hand over controls of this pricey vehicle to Andrew! Climbing into the passenger seat – he’s all smiles and ready to take on the world… or at least these “puny obstacles”!

This is where I exit … not because I have any doubts in his abilities, but because I want to get some good exterior photos!

I can tell that Andrew and Chris are talking in depth about the various features, when they realize “Oh yeah! Roger’s standing out there waiting for us to do something!“

So – UP THE HILL HE GOES!

That’s even more impressive from the outside than it was from in the Vogue!

Next is up-and-over into the steep-walled trench!

Andrew handles this like a pro, and I can tell Chris is enjoying it, too, as they’re both smiling as he three-wheels it out of the pit!

Ahead is another steep-walled H-shaped obstacle.

I hustle over to get ready for both the descent into the abyss, but also his exit!

They purposely take this one slow, to show off the Range Rover’s grip and transmission modes to keep traction on every wheel (that happens to be touching the ground, of course) and balance power to maintain control and a steady movement through almost any conditions!

Another three-wheeled exit makes for a cool picture, don’t you think?

Speaking of “almost any conditions”… ever wanted to drive through a flooded trench? 🙂

These vehicles are made for this, entering at a good rate “to make a big wave” (per Chris).

As I watch this unfold in front of me, I realize that the big wave is moving right towards the corner I’m standing.

A couple of quick pictures, and I step out of the way *just* as the splash comes where I was standing.

HA! MISSED ME! 😀

A quick shot through the concrete moguls (again with three-wheel action shots!), and I rejoin Andrew and Chris in the Range Rover for some off-road fun!

Chris gives Andrew some last instruction on the differences between the controlled obstacles and the true off-road and very muddy conditions we’re about to get into. A quick “thumbs up” and we’re off!

Driving along a slight ridge, overlooking scenic Cotswolds fields, we head into the woods along a (as warned!) very muddy trail!

The Range Rover handles like a champ, and Andrew seems to be loving every up and down, side-to-side, splash and climb moment of it.

…and now for the fun photo op!

The Land Rover Experience team has arranged for us to drive up to Eastnor Castle and take some photos in front of the main entrance!

As we get there, Andrew parks at a “jaunty angle” and we hop out.

As there are no paparazzi about, I take some photos of the Vogue and Eastnor and then one of Andrew and “his ride” for today.

Chris is kind enough to take a couple of nice shots of the two of us with the Range Rover and Eastnor, and then we pile back in for the return to the main building and a reluctant end to our fun day in the mud!

With a round of thanks to the Land Rover Experience team, we head out back towards Charingworth, but since we’re all hungry – we stop for a pint and a quick cream tea!

It’s never a bad time for scones with clotted cream and jam, and doing this after gallivanting around the English countryside in a quintessential British off-road vehicle just made them taste even better!

Another fantastic day in England comes to an early close, as (1) we’re all tired, (2) we want to give John a chance to recuperate, as he’s been driving EVERYWHERE, and (3) we had a “free dinner” at Charingworth waiting for us (as a result of my 3rd place finish in the Charingworth Manor 2016 Calendar photo contest!).

Once back at “our manor”, we bid John a restful evening, head back to our room for a brief rest, then head over to the dining room for a (not surprising at all) amazing meal.

After dinner, we step into the lounge and enjoy a great scotch together in front of the Charingworth fireplace.

While there, we meet a lovely older couple from Wales who are celebrating their wedding anniversary (and his birthday). Since they have made Charingworth one of their “special occasion” travel destinations over the years, Andrew runs back to our room and grabs one of the multitude of 2016 Charingworth calendars I have and we present them with one. They were very appreciative – and it was a lovely end to a really wonderful day.

Back to the room and rest – for tomorrow starts a BUSY BUSY day!!!