BT's On The Road Again!

[alexf380]

I think you've hit the nail on the head there!

Nah but seriously, I'm just home from a week in London with some college friends, so I didn't have much chance to type it up. I shall get cracking as soon as time permits.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I can forgive you as you visited the best city in the world and I hope some slightly nicer watering wholes!

 

[Techniquest]

An excellent introduction to the trip there, my backstory is rather different as you'll soon find out.

I still say a 14 day First Class ALR would be fun, I would make the most of it.

 

[55013]

Enjoy the ALR.
It's been a long time since I last did one but the memories are fantastic.

 

[Blindtraveler]

An excellent introduction to the trip there, my backstory is rather different as you'll soon find out.

I still say a 14 day First Class ALR would be fun, I would make the most of it.

Go on then, lets read it. Publish now, build the suspense!

 

[Cowley]

Ah the ALR. Nothing like it, I'll. look forward to reading all about it.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I shall no doubt enjoy it!

 

[Blindtraveler]

Its just approaching half past 4 and I'm off! Wasnt ment to leave home til 21:00 but having discovered fello forum member LRD was out and about in Glasgow today and was up for a meetup I set out at 20 to 3 to meet him. Traffic v bad today and so took a while to reach EDB but managed to make the 15:52 Helensburgh train now thundering non stop between Bathgate and Drumgelloch on a 6 car 334.

 

[Techniquest]

Bring on tomorrow evening when we're both in Cardiff!

Lock up your daughters, the bashers are coming to town! Actually, no, wait, we're both more interested in getting some rest ahead of an early start. Let the daughters back out!

 

[robbeech]

You'll have to let me know your intended routes and where you plan on finishing each evening and I will see if I can pop and see you at some point. I'm considering a run to London Sunday until Monday, though I might drive down at least part of the way as I have some things that I could do with picking up on the way home to save a 100 mile round trip later in the week.

 

[Kite159]

I shall race you to Plymouth on Sunday.

Solely depends how busy the Sprinter from Exeter is as I might step back to Von Voyager

 

[Blindtraveler]

Maybe catch you in Plymouth Kite.

Rob, will PM you.







Writing this at 5 past 1 in the morning with the length of the M74 stretched out ahead of us and thank god thunderstorm free which given the forcast is good going.

My thanks for a great evening go to LRD who met me at GLQ and after a short wate we headed to Partic, on to Central as he wanted to take a run out to Newton for a bit of track. Back in as far as Argyle Street and then we had a spin on the clockwork Orrange the long way round and after that returned to the Travelodge on Hill Street where was staying and had a couple of drinks and dinner in the bar. I left him to go to bed at round half 10 and took a cab to the bus station for the 23:55 Megabus for Manchester and London.

Think I'll maybe get my head down for a bit so catch you all soon.

 

[Cowley]

Hope you slept well? I'm wondering what you're up to today?

 

[Blindtraveler]

Dozed on and off which is not normal for me as I often can/do sleap through.

Today consists of completing the run to London, interchanging at Victoria Coach Station and setting out again on the 11:00 Megabus for Cardif. Sheduled there at 10 to 3 and the order of the day then will be go to the hotel, relax and wate for Lord Quest of the great Sider Making county of Herefordshire to join me. Basically then its turning round/making ready for the rover to start on Friday early doors.

 

[Keith Jarrett]

Today consists of completing the run to London, interchanging at Victoria Coach Station and setting out again on the 11:00 Megabus for Cardif. Sheduled there at 10 to 3 and the order of the day then will be go to the hotel, relax and wate for Lord Quest of the great Sider Making county of Herefordshire to join me. Basically then its turning round/making ready for the rover to start on Friday early doors.

Looking forward to reading all about the antics that the pair of you will get up to and I am sure that you and our learned friend from Herefordshire will have totally different takes on the events of the day. I'm even thinking of opening up a book to take bets on how many forum members you'll come across during your week at large on the rails.

On a point of order, us folk with West Country roots will dispute the greatness of Herefordshire in the Cider-making stakes. For us, it'll be Somerset all the way with the Late Great Adge Cutler leading the way singing "I am a Zider drinker, I drinks it all of the day!"

 

[Blindtraveler]

Gotta love a good bit of the wurzles, I have some in my music collection including the above. Never tried any west country brews so suggestions welcome.



Well if based simply on punctuality then that megabus jorney was dire and one of my worst on record. The fact that we had nice drivers and staff at stations/stops including VCS which was in meltdown both in terms of heat and delays it was not to bad given the distance covered.

MB I think had a bad day yesturday as the vehicle I was to use had arrived so late it hadnt had time to recieve depot attention and so after a slightly late departure and lengthy holdups through the ongoing roadworks on the M73 we were further delayed by fueling at Souththwate services which if nout else offered a welcome leg stretch.

Vagueley recall leaving Manchester 15 down but what killed us was a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuge jam on the A5 meaning an hour late in Londinium, bang goes my breakfast!

M10 to Cardif was also late and anoying the power socket on the Vanwhool (had an interdeck on the first leg) wasnt working. Took a while to get out of London and despite some very enthusiastic driving we were 40 down at Cardif.

Taxi to hotel to find they could offer a twin instead of a double plus bunk room, since found out that the twins here double up as Disabled access.

Working ACm limmited sockets, great shower, crap drainage, excillent WiFi, poor phone signal and free tea@@coffe in reception are my observations so far.

Now bring on the start of the Rover tomorrow, cant quite believe its happening and the positioning moves are done!

 

[Techniquest]

Indeed we are both in position and I can't wait!

 

[Dhassell]

Have fun both of you!

 

[Keith Jarrett]

Gotta love a good bit of the wurzles, I have some in my music collection including the above. Never tried any west country brews so suggestions welcome.

While I have an affinity for the Wurzels, the Capital of the West of England (Cappul 'Ves Eenglu if you speak the local lingo) produced a much better artist - Fred Wedlock who rose to fame as the Oldest Swinger in Town.If you like the Brizzle accent me luvvers then Freed's your man!

As for West Country cider, the farmhouse stuff is the best rather than the manufactured chemical solutions from the big boys.

And have a good trip - I see you are already in Cardiff, boyo!

 

[Blindtraveler]

And so it begins. Up just before half 4 and after packing almost everything up we gave the free lobby service tea and coffee some punishment before nipping back to collect newly charged devices and bags and into a cab to the station, a purely time saving move. First train was a 175 for the all shacks run, including the PSUL move to Swansea and onwards to Millford Haven, with some of the request stops being observed and the trolley joining later on for a coffee which being starbucks wasnt amazing but it was hot and wet so all good. On time at journeys end and I stayed with the luggage whilst Tech went for a strol. Next move is to Haverford West for an onward bus connection.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Well a mixed morning. Highs, for the price of 8 quid each we decided to purchase a West Wales Bus Rover, valid on multiple opperaters and a range of routes meaning not only do we save some out and back moves and gastly festers but a number of Tech's shack scores may well become easier.

Lows, Iv managed to lose my Wallet, much to my fury. Card cansled and all fixed in that respect but honestly grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!
Anyhow from where I left off we took an older Inviro 300 on the T5 from the station all the way through to Fishgard Square where we'd allowed a 60 minute break for breakfast. An old fassioned but excillent cafay did us bacon rolls and hot drinks amd then it was an X Reg Solso with old style seats, jerky Alison guearbox and fan thrash on the 410 town service up the hill to Goodwick where we were dropped outside the station. The station is only shown on the timetable when a Sansea bound train is due but the bus passes it all the time so just ask the driver.

Cafay and payable toilets is here and 5 mins walk maxis a tesco express and another cafay with a good looking menu beside it. I stayed in the shelter with the bags and tech went back to Tesco for some picknick lunch supplies so we could stay bashing away happilly. When the unit arrives its a trip down to the harbour and back non stop to Whitland by which point thatl be 2 branches out of cleared for coverage for me.

 

[Cowley]

Nightmare about losing your wallet. I assume you didn't have everything in it like your tickets luckily.
The weather is looking pretty nice, not too hot now either which will be more comfortable.

 

[Blindtraveler]

The wallet was indeed a pest, no containint tickets etc though.

Mr quest has written our interesting but uneventful and quite frankly shattering afternoon yesturday, I can confirm that West Wales is, as of our run on the HST today fully cleared, that travelodge beds are as crap as ever and that I can totally endorse the services of Pembrook cabs, a new startup in the area and run by young couple who need all the support they can get.

I felt like a huge mangled and messed with piece of crap last night I was so tired but we met some nice bus and rail staff yesturday as well as some loveley people on the way too.

True bargains in ASDA last night too cheers Tech!

 

[Blindtraveler]

Super chillaxed morning today with lots of coffee with propper milk as we bought some and the always lifegiving never fails shower and shave.

Lots of squash made up too and a nice trip on the HST, enjoying some droplite action and a leg stretch on various platforms with long layovers.

Wed bought some cheep lunch meet and a reduced baggette last night and boy what a good brunch on the train that made. Currently between SWA and CDF with a cuppa and enjoying the refurbed HST interior, not the 1 with light grey seats but the latest one with leather brandead head rests. Good crew too other than a moany git on the buffet.

Another observation from yesturday too was how impressed I was with the x Scotrail 150/2s that ATW have transformed, loveley!

 

[robbeech]

Sounds like a good start apart from the wallet loss. Hope it continues on a positive note though. I'm in London tomorrow and Monday incase you're passing that way.
I am certainly due for another ALR myself but having been off work for a while i'm trying to do what i can now i'm a bit better to recover the financial losses made since April, so i am likely to have less free time (not to mention less spare cash) for a little while. I did do 2 last year. I have considered next one doing a cattle class one as there is lots of track i need in places like Wales, where 1st class doesn't exist so it would be a waste of money. Do you think if towards the end of the year i did a 14 day STD class one i could excess it to a 1st after 7 days?

 

[Techniquest]

Robbech, I've never heard of anyone excessing an ALR!

Loving the updates BT, mine from today will be up soon!

 

[Blindtraveler]

Where are you staying in the smoke Rob?
Be good to catch up.

Eccessing an ALR? Unsure if doable, maybe buy 2 to overlap, 1 in ST the other in First?

Currently at by far my least favourite bas camp of the trip as whilst its not a TL it is a hostel and I havnt stayed in such a place for years, no longer my thing. Private room though and loving the WiFi so could be worse.

After some HST droplite action through the 7 tunnel it was off at Parkway for sadly a voyager to Taunton, required track from this point on. We wanted a decent break somewhere not over busy hense this move and it was a good one as not only did we find 2 paper timetables we were after but the Istanbul Grill Turkish takeout did a smashing burger and chips for an early dinner.

Onto a crouded HST with seats obtained after Exceter for the run down through Devon into Cornwall, a few stops on the Cornish mainline for 4 of Tech's required shacks.

On the plus side it netted us the 57, my first ever on the 3 coach summer Saturdays EXD PNZ train, on the flip side it did mean another 17 min leap on a 220, yuck!

I enjoyed most of this but the Cornish end of things seams a bit slow but will judge better once Iv done it in 1 tomorrow. 57 was good though, the refurbed sleaper seated coach was on this and we both have differing views of it.

The freedom to do whatever is really gripping me today, bring on more I say.

 

[Kite159]

Sounds like another good day

 

[robbeech]

The excess was said partially in jest, but if it followed similar principles, I could pay half a 14 day standard plus half a 14 day first which is less than a 7 day standard and a 7 day first. In fact there would be no benefit to a 7 day standard and a 7 day first at all as a 14 day first is cheaper by about £100.

I wonder if you can excess a 7 to a 14 of the same class. Likewise I wonder where we stand on say exceeding a 4 in 8 to a 7 day on say a freedom of north east.

 

[robbeech]

Also, I shall likely be in the grange at Holborn tomorrow evening.