Started the day with the ANE 22 into Durham, arriving 10am-sh. Despite all the interworking, it ended up being 1599!
Wanted the 7, next, but ignored the one that was in, as it didn't fit in with what we wanted to do next and I had some stuff to drop off at a charity shop before moving on.
While we waited for the bus we did want, I posted a couple of odd workings that Big'un had noticed - turned out that another forum member posted the same ones at the same time!
Also entertained ourselves trying to imagine what on earth was going on with the 58 that plainly wasn't going anywhere soon. i updated the Scarlet Band thread through the day with that one.
Anyhow, our next chariot was ANE 1516 on the 10:22 7 to Darlington.
Young driver fair flung this around. It felt like what I like about he better Pulsars - great on hills and pretty nippy for such a big bus.
We left that behind at Ferryhill, as we wanted to sample the 8 for the rest of the journey to Darlo, as we'd never done it before. Had a 10 minute wait (wandered around the Coop as it had got too cold to stand around and I'd dressed for a cool Spring day, not the Winter day we actually got) and didn't take notice of the vehicle, when it arrived. It was probably the most rattly Pulsar we'd been on, so not the most enjoyable ride. A fair few characters got on at various points, though. Big'un was a little stressed by this, but I was quite entertained by the group of 3 guys who looked to have fewer teeth between them than my less than perfect set.
The only novel thing about the orute was the Ferryhill-Rushyford section, anyhow. After that, it was pretty much the 21.
To add to the entertainment, a guy got on at Harrowgate Hill who was plainly being weekend dad and spend the final 10 minutes of the journey arguing the toss with someone, on the phone, about meeting him in town and how he'd already told them what to do. I bet his little boy was loving that bonding time with his father
(Gosh, I wonder why he's single).Darlo was cold. We grabbed the prescription M&S sarnies (Salmon and Cukumber for Bigun, Cheese & Onion for me) and made for the loos in Binns. I had to wait a while for a cubicle that was usable, so Big'un eyed up the sparkly cushions while he waited for me.
There were more signs of bits of Darlo being sold off and turned into car parks and leisure complexes with a "Save Our Market" banner hanging from the market hall. Also noticed various dignitaries in full council bling stood outside. It was too cold to stand around and have a nosey. I;m sure I can read about it in the Northern Echo if I sign up and sell my firstborn's soul to them (now there's an idea...)
We were too cold (did i say it was cold?) to hang around until 12:15 for the 1 to Shildon so, after I grabbed a cap to go from 16 Horsemarket and after confusing the driver of the X1, we hopped onto the X66 for an Omnicity fix. Ended up sat rather too close to a guy in need of a wash and some laundry attention, so sarnies stayed in my bag. Hopped off at Stockton, after I'd hatched a plan.
We let the X10 go, as it was full by the time we got there and I wasn't buying extra tickets to be uncomfortable on a boring bus for an hour.
After directing a guy onto a bus to Darlo, we caught a Gemini, just before 1pm, on the X12, which was running a little late and went all the way through to Newcastle. A huge crowd got on at Coxhoe and stayed on all the way to Pity me. I wouldn't have cared or even noticed, but they were gobby and stunk of beer. Meantime, it snowed at Durham bus station (I went out in a t-shirt 2 days ago!) and the Scarlet band E200 was still there, in stand H, 4 hours after it had initially arrived.
it was a relief when smelly gobby gaggle left us i peace, but an older guy, who turned out to have classical music as his ring tone and to be so well spoken as to make me sound rough (I'm not from round here, so people often think I sound "posh") sat in front of us. He munched his way through an entire pack of chocolate chip cookies. When he eventually left us, after a couple of snippy phone conversations about being late, in Low Fell, I had to resist the temptation to point out that he'd forgotten something, as he'd dropped the packet on the floor. I contented himself with not embarrassing my almost teen son by subtly kicking it back towards him when he'd kicked it back, under his seat.
Newcastle was much the same as when we last saw it, a whole week ago. There was an International Market at Monument and a fab band there. i think I recognised a couple of the guys, from a past life, as they've been playing in similar bands for pretty much ever.
Anyhow, we had a browse through John Lewis (did i protest seeming posh, just now?) and made use ot the facilities in there. I popped into Fenwick to look at the cards (Big'un would rather not buy littl'un a birthday card, it turns out) and stock up on Ouseburn Coffee Co coffee. Then walked through the gorund floor and through the International Market and down to central station, where i bought tickets to Durham. I was blown if i was spending another hour on an Arriva Max ANYTHING to get back to Durham!
Big'un grumbled constantly at this plan. We had to wait to get on the train. All the seats were booked. The journey was too short... (wtf?)
Anyhow, loads of the seats booked from Newcastle on the 16:08 TPE to Liverpool Lime Street hadn't been taken, so I managed to get him sat down before we started moving (obviously offering to move for anyone who had found their seat with us in it). He sat there open mouthed at how quickly we were in Birtley (he believed me when I showed him the Morrisons. Sadly, Komatsu isn't quite as impressive as it used to be in the 80s and 90s! The middle aged (Yeah, I know, my age) couple who were stood by the doors got off at CLS - Big'un was too busy admiring the view! Best of all might have been walking along and reaching DBS just after 4:30pm and pointing up to the viaduct and pointing out to big'un that we'd been up there a few minutes ago, on the train!
Bus home was 1518 on the 22, at 16:37 (yeah, mixing my time formats). Big'un crawled up to the back, so I took advantage of the wider than double seats at the front, since it was fairly quiet, even for that time on a Saturday. This one did not compare with 1516. it plodded up Silent Bank, though that might have ben the driver, rather than the vehicle. The one this morning juddered up the hills, which implies some effort being made to make it sail.
It hailed, just after we got home!