13.12 418 Berwick Rail Station to Alnwick Bus Station, ANE 4659
Before I left, I checked the Arriva App to see how the 418 was doing northbound, to find it arrived in Seahouses 19 minutes late, and wasn't being tracked at all on the next leg, which had me worried. As I sat in the car at the station, my eyes were glued to the top of the hill, hoping to see the front of the Omnicity powering around the corner. Just after 13.07, it came around, relieved, I said my goodbyes and made my way to the bus stop. We left 5 minutes late, after the driver went to the toilet, but we were back on time by Seahouses thanks to the sheer power of 4659. I had sat on the right hand side, front facing seat on the right rear quadrant, so I had an enormous amount of leg room
We powered on, until we were leaving Craster, and while going up a hill with a sharp left at the top, and were faced with a car, we stopped on the hill, and I was blown away with what then happened. While sitting stopped, I wondered how well it would pull away up the hill, the answer was fantastically, it was like it was moving away on flat, really grew to love 4659 on that journey, and was disappointed when in Alnwick, I found that it was to head back to Berwick, and I had to complete my journey on the awaiting 7530...15.12 X18 Alnwick Bus Station to Morpeth Bus Station ANE 7530
Now, I usually get the 15.12 from Berwick, a bus that carries straight through, no need for switching, however yesterday that was operated by 7512, so I'm happy with what I ended up with instead
I boarded, and sat on the only seats you'll ever sit on if they are free, the front two on the right hand side. It's pretty much compulsory on any double decker, if you can sit there, you do sit there... I was,as I always am by these Enviro's, pleased with 7530's performance, it handled the route very well, nothing out of the ordinary, which is only a good thing. We arrived in Morpeth a few minutes earlier than expected, if I recall correctly. Brilliant drivers on both legs of the journey actually. Today...
10.46 2 Bedlington Red House Farm to Morpeth Bus Station ANE 1769
I'd managed to get a lift to Bedlington to start my day, from here I was meeting friends in Morpeth, so I waited at the bus stop along a section of route that looks like the 2 may no longer serve in the near future. (For those who don't think that the 2 should serve this bit of Bedlington, or the X21 for that matter, I'd invite you to look at my journeys today...) Me and another young lad got on a busy 1769, I was joined by a friend in Guide Post, and we arrived in Morpeth a few minutes early.
13.06 2 Morpeth Bus Station to Bedlington Red House Farm/Meadowdale ANE 1768
After a lovely morning in Morpeth, which involved some 'Fruit Coolers' from Costa, a relaxing stroll around the park, and bumping into people, we boarded 1768. Now I'm not usually one to complain, but the leg room on these MPD's is pathetic for anyone 6 foot and over, if anyone was sitting in front of me, my knee would have been digging into their neck the entire journey... A fairly regular journey otherwise, nothing out of the ordinary, I travelled back to Bedlington, arriving about 3 minutes early..
15.05 X21 Bedlington Meadowdale to Newcastle Haymarket ANE 7501
My friend had boarded earlier, and so thanks to top class updates, I knew the bus was pretty much on time. As I stood at the stop, 7508 roared past in the opposite direction, and I caught a glimpse of what turned out to be 7501's headlights in the distance. I boarded, paid the driver in coppers, as it was either that or a ten pound note, for a £1 fare. The plugs didn't work, the WiFi was slow and although it was early when I got on, we arrived in Newcastle a minute or so late, with minimal traffic. Having said that, 7501 wasn't making any of the noises it has done in the past, and seemed to cope very well, I'm starting to get a bit of a soft spot for these, help me!!
21.15 X22 Newcastle Haymarket to Guide Post(?) ANE 7526
7526 was my ride at the end of a very good day. Bus wise, standard stuff from this E400 batch, power, warmth and a very nice place to be. Really liking these Enviro's, and after a year in service they still look and smell pretty much brand new inside, top stuff. On time throughout, me and my friend played some "I Spy", which was fun, arrived in Guide Post, and I got picked up shortly afterwards. Would have preferred 7524, but I can't ask for too much
Thank you for reading, if I haven't bored you all to death...
