(27 Mar 2015, 5:44 pm)Adam wrote Without wanting to invade Marcus' fortress of excellent reviews, here's how my adventures went today.
I finished uni for Easter yesterday, but I still went in this morning as I have four assignments due in during May, so I thought I better make a start with them. I finished my work at 11:30 by meeting my friend for dinner, before he had to return for his 1pm seminar. My parents were out and my brothers were at school, so to occupy time I had a little adventure. Nothing exciting though....
08:17 #X1 Wrekenton - Newcastle John Dobson Street (6051)
I was disappointed when the X1 was the first bus to turn up at Wrekenton this morning for two reasons. Firstly, it's always chocker, and secondly, I normally get the X25, which always has the same people on for that specific journey. I like to think of ourselves as a mini family, even though none of us smile or speak to each other.
Anyway, I boarded the X1 and my sheer height of 6ft 3 meant that the driver never saw a gentleman stood behind me waiting to board, so closed the doors and pulled away before he had a chance to get on. I found a seat upstairs near the back for the pretty uneventful journey. I forgot to pick up my Metro paper when I boarded which was a shame, but at least I had my phone to keep me company. The traffic wasn't bad at all and we seemed to fly down, the Red Arrows living up to its name.
When I got off, I even went the wrong way. To get to my building over the road from Manors Metro, I turn left when I get off the bus and cross the bridge next to the slip road over the Central Motorway. I hopelessly forgot that I was going to the library today, which is up by the Civic Centre way, so I had a lengthy detour before arriving at the 4th floor of the library.
13:01 #21 Newcastle Eldon Square - Gateshead (6065)
In September, I bought an annual Get Around pass ready for commuting to and from uni, and to make things more interesting, I decided to note every single transport journey I make, marking off each bus I travel on. It turns out 6065 was the only remaining Angel I hadn't travelled on, so was thrilled when it pulled into Eldon Square at the same time I did. I sat downstairs due to travelling a short distance.
13:16 #27 Gateshead - Heworth (5314)
5314 was one of the three Crusaders that I hadn't travelled on, so again, I was pretty pleased when I saw it arrive into Gateshead. It was rather busy, and I found a seat near the front on the left hand side. Have to say, the legroom is dreadful! Had to carefully manoeuvre my legs into a comfortable sideways position. I was fiddling with my phone for the whole journey, texting and tweeting, so never took much notice of the actual journey. The driver was very friendly though, saying hello when I boarded and goodbye as I got off.
13:25 #94 Heworth - Gateshead (5223)
I got off and lingered around in the main interchange for a bit, looking at the departure boards. I looked outside and saw 5223 approaching, another bus I hadn't travelled on before, so got on it. When on the Old Fold Estate, 5226 caught up on the next 94, and it was then a case of leapfrog between there and Gateshead, my bus arriving first, even though we did pick up around 12-15 students outside Gateshead College.
14:07 #X66 Gateshead - Metrocentre (4964)
We departed a little late, but never mind. I sat in "the quadrant" as I like to call it, where you've got two facing seats and two rearward seats. Yet again, I was on my phone, texting friends, so there wasn't anything worth commenting on, apart from the bus has now lost its rear advertisement for Dalton Park.
14:40 #10A Metrocentre - Newcastle Eldon Square (3964)
I timed it perfectly it seems. I'd seen 3964 earlier in the day whilst in Eldon Square working a 10A, so worked out the timings and discovered it would be on that journey. This bus was another I hadn't travelled on, so the visit to Heworth before doing my shopping at the Metrocentre coincided with that so I wasn't hanging around in the bus station for ages. It sounded canny rough but it was an enjoyable ride back into Newcastle.
15:00 #X71 Newcastle Eldon Square - Gateshead (3825)
I arrived into Eldon to see a Yellow Bus decker pulling into the stand on an X71, and at this stage of their lives, who can resist a ride on one? I boarded to find a very friendly driver, and took my seat at the very rear of the bottom deck. I even muted my earphones and took them out so I could hear and admire the fabulous Volvo engine, still sounding terrific. The journey was surprisingly comfortable, probably because I had legroom and the wheel arch made a cracking footrest.
15:15 #X1 Gateshead - Wrekenton (6005)
I waited to see the 15:10 #1 and the arrival of the 15:17 #52 in case an oddity was thrown onto the service. Both had normal workings however, but then 6005, my favourite Red Arrow, came round the corner on an X1. Why is that specific one my favourite, I hear you ask? Well, it seems to have developed this amusing whistling noise, something reminiscent of a steaming kettle with a hint of Paxman Valenta HST. Again, I muted my earphones and took them out so I could listen to the peculiar noise.
As I said at the start, today wasn't anything exciting, but it's better than nothing I suppose. I'm not out tomorrow, partly because I'm out drinking tonight with friends so will be feeling canny rough if I did peel myself away from my bed in the morning, and because Gateshead's at home to Eastleigh tomorrow.
Great work, Adam
