Arrived in Durham on 1598 on the 22 around 10am. Got off at the marketplace and into the market for the loo as I knew I had a long morning ahead of me and wasn't sure what facilities I'd find. Headed off to Pret for some sarnies then down to Millburngate for our next bus.
5214 turned up on the 20A just before 10:25 and we, luckily, bagged a couple of seats not too far back, as it was actually quite full. The journey was as uneventful as the Prince Bishops ever is. Unlike TEN, I'd been organised and looked up the location on google maps. When we were getting near, I ran up the very useful Live Map on the Arriva app, so I could follow our progress. In the event, identifying the stop after the County hotel proved easy enough. After 90 minutes on a solar, my back was grumbling, so I was glad of a little walk to the Sally Army Hall.
We enjoyed the fair - exhibitors and sellers weren't just local and there were lots of styles of models and some nice working displays. We found a couple of interesting books before we left. Loos there were fab, btw. Nice venue.
Had considered getting the 27. If we had, we'd have ended up on the same one as TEN, as that passed us. We made our way down to the Metro. Hopefully Westoe looks better on a sunny day because it's a bit of a dive. After a cold, long stand on the platform, we hopped onto the metro and had our lunch.
Not wanting to faff on with lifts in Newcastle, we changed at Heworth, where we caught what was evidently a late running 5332 on the 27, just after 1pm. A branded Citaro was just behind us. We all got kicked off at Gateshead, onto 5388 on the 58. This sent a poor old woman into a bit of a spin, as she'd been hoping to get off the bus a bit closer to where she was going.
We got off on Pilgrim street (and directed a few lost people back to Market Street) and had a brief wander around town. Chose a birthday card for someone in Fenwick and then went straight to Waitrose where we picked up some delicious curries for me to share with husband and littl'un. Big'un got Spaghetti and meatballs because korma is too hot and spicy for him.
Hopped on 5201 on the X25 at 14:25 for a change of route home. Hottest. Bus. Ever!
Straight onto an X21 (6304?) from that at CLS and shivered, instead on there. Closed a window but regretted it after realising it must have been opened on account of the stinky walking shoes of the guy sat near us. We were sat facing a young woman with the worst HD brows I've seen for a long time and I spent the entire journey trying very hard not to stare at them.
We ended up on 1520 for our final journey home. First time we've been home at 4pm for ages! We had the customary stand lotto, of course, at Durham - the driver had angled for stand J, but the 57 reg lowlander on the 43 ended up sat there for 7 minutes past its leaving time, with the driver on the phone. Thought he might have broken down, but then he just reversed out and drove off, so goodness knows what happened there.
We visited South Shields, too, today!
Arrived in Durham on 1598 on the 22 around 10am. Got off at the marketplace and into the market for the loo as I knew I had a long morning ahead of me and wasn't sure what facilities I'd find. Headed off to Pret for some sarnies then down to Millburngate for our next bus.
5214 turned up on the 20A just before 10:25 and we, luckily, bagged a couple of seats not too far back, as it was actually quite full. The journey was as uneventful as the Prince Bishops ever is. Unlike TEN, I'd been organised and looked up the location on google maps. When we were getting near, I ran up the very useful Live Map on the Arriva app, so I could follow our progress. In the event, identifying the stop after the County hotel proved easy enough. After 90 minutes on a solar, my back was grumbling, so I was glad of a little walk to the Sally Army Hall.
We enjoyed the fair - exhibitors and sellers weren't just local and there were lots of styles of models and some nice working displays. We found a couple of interesting books before we left. Loos there were fab, btw. Nice venue.
Had considered getting the 27. If we had, we'd have ended up on the same one as TEN, as that passed us. We made our way down to the Metro. Hopefully Westoe looks better on a sunny day because it's a bit of a dive. After a cold, long stand on the platform, we hopped onto the metro and had our lunch.
Not wanting to faff on with lifts in Newcastle, we changed at Heworth, where we caught what was evidently a late running 5332 on the 27, just after 1pm. A branded Citaro was just behind us. We all got kicked off at Gateshead, onto 5388 on the 58. This sent a poor old woman into a bit of a spin, as she'd been hoping to get off the bus a bit closer to where she was going.
We got off on Pilgrim street (and directed a few lost people back to Market Street) and had a brief wander around town. Chose a birthday card for someone in Fenwick and then went straight to Waitrose where we picked up some delicious curries for me to share with husband and littl'un. Big'un got Spaghetti and meatballs because korma is too hot and spicy for him.
Hopped on 5201 on the X25 at 14:25 for a change of route home. Hottest. Bus. Ever!
Straight onto an X21 (6304?) from that at CLS and shivered, instead on there. Closed a window but regretted it after realising it must have been opened on account of the stinky walking shoes of the guy sat near us. We were sat facing a young woman with the worst HD brows I've seen for a long time and I spent the entire journey trying very hard not to stare at them.
We ended up on 1520 for our final journey home. First time we've been home at 4pm for ages! We had the customary stand lotto, of course, at Durham - the driver had angled for stand J, but the 57 reg lowlander on the 43 ended up sat there for 7 minutes past its leaving time, with the driver on the phone. Thought he might have broken down, but then he just reversed out and drove off, so goodness knows what happened there.