Here's what I'm thinking of doing:
Drive by
shooting Davy's and
wake him load him and bike. Possibly you would want to drive up to Davy's and park up there etc as well - or is CJ by train better for time / relaxing?
Matt is ok with CJ - which leaves Dave. OK at CJ staff photographer? Otherwise I'll drive further along the 'London coastline' and collect you...

From there it will be straight up the A5 and hit the M1 at Staples Corner.
3 hours later you will be presented with steaming mugs of tea and dripping sandwiches by your Northern hosts...

(Me? I'll be 'parking oop' somewhere...)
06:30 at the Junction - ish is a time I have in mind.
The real advantage of the van is that getting lost is relatively painless.