Woke up around 10:00, showered and got ready, when my mam told me she had to go out shopping for a bit. This was of no issue, I just spent about two hours in the house finishing off all of my homework for the holidays, awaiting her return. When she came back, accompanied by two friends from work, they fussed over Alfie the puppy in the conservatory while I escaped to freedom through the front door...
#21 - Chester-le-Street Clifford Terrace to Durham Bus Station - (12:40 --- 12:57) - Go North East 6065 - Volvo B5HL/Wright Gemini 2
I had just been planning a trip to Durham anyway, but just in case anything good came about, such as an Olympian, or an immortal DAF that managed to escape Alpha(!) - I purchased a Get Around for £3.75. I had contemplated just a return, but after realising this was £4.50 (would have been 90p each way with my Get Around Key Card), I chose to not break traditional by getting a Get Around. A ''Pronto'' President came into view first, and I assumed this would be my ride to Durham, but as it stopped at Ropery Lane, a B5 Gemini 2 flew past and came towards me. I flagged it down, and boarded the rather quiet bus with leisure.
Sat at the front upstairs (where else? lol), and noticed the only other passenger upstairs was an OAP towards the middle of the middle-rear section (that makes no sense - hopefully the more intelligent among us will understand where I'm talking about. Contrary to now (well, in Chester-le-Street anyway!) - it was absolutely boiling when I got on, with the sun glaring through the window like an explosion in the distance, it's only natural therefore that I opened the window. Put my earphones in, and relaxed into my seat. As we approached Chester Moor, I heard some footsteps behind me, but assumed it was him preparing to walk down the stairs for his stop. But, no! He slams the window as hard as possible and mutters something under his breath...manners cost nothing!! Scared the living shit out of me, just because I have my earphones in doesn't mean I can't hear the passengers talking downstairs, never mind a window being slammed shut right next to me! #thick
When I alighted, I headed down North Road to pick something up from Gregg's. When I walked back up, it started raining; so bad it actually hurt my face when the rain hit it...thank god I had a hood on my coat! I made for the shelter of those two little roof-things at that spot on North Road roundabout where the pick-up point is (Durham people will know what I'm on about!!). Watched a few buses enter and leave the bus station, before, once the rain finished, I took my camera out and took a few photos. Spent a good 15 minutes there taking photos, and left quite satisfied (although I feel I could have used the zoom a lot more in some cases).
#X21 - Durham Bus Station to Chester-le-Street Cone Terrace - (13:40 --- 14:00) - Go North East 6038 - Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President
One of the last things I photographed was 6038 heading into the bus station, and luckily as I walked down, it was still picking up passengers on the X21 for Newcastle. Made it just in time, and went upstairs. Not crowded, but about 10 people upstairs, the front seats occupied!...so I just sat in the middle of the upper saloon. Quite a pleasant machine to ride, for some reason I've always seen a journey made on 6038 as something of a novelty! With it being the only red spare at Crook, it's always felt like a bit of a gem. I must also say, it's a superb runner! Possibly on par with 6009, which Dan and I (it's going to take weeks for me to shut up about that...haha!!) had on the 15. Not exactly many banks that it had to handle, but still; it powered along the motorway (A167) between Durham and Chester-le-Street. Although the driver took a lot to be desired! Didn't smile or anything when I boarded, despite receiving one from myself...
As I got off on Cone Terrace (to the side of Front Street, where Newcastle and MetroCentre bound buses are departing from with the diversions) I saw the Gateshead Central Taxis Bluebird waiting.
Chester-le-Street Diversions Shuttle - Chester-le-Street Cone Terrace to Chester-le-Street Clifford Terrace - (14:01 --- 14:06) - Gateshead Central Taxis SF14 HAE - Fiat Bluebird/Orion Plus
Walked from the X21 straight to the shuttle service, and after knocking at the door, the driver saw me and let me on. Sadly, not the chap from my last time on the shuttle. This guy seemed quite quiet, so I didn't bother trying to kick off a conversation, as we left a minute or so later. This Bluebird was the one I had last time on the shuttles, and it wasn't so great then, just like today. Quite a rough-sounding engine, and I didn't think the driver put his foot down enough. Disembarked when it got to Clifford Terrace, to get no response from the driver as I thanked him.
Walked home, and got in for about 14:20. My mam was in the conservatory with the puppy, he was playing with his favourite possession and she was watching him roll around in excitement. She had said earlier she was going up to see my grandad's house and his grave, and I went up with her. Parked the car outside Pelton Church for a few minutes while we went into the graveyard (his and my grandma's grave are near the entrance) to put some flowers on, before we headed back to the car. Then we went to the house. I can't honestly say I liked this...there was no furniture there, it was cold and it certainly wasn't how I remembered it the last time I saw him. My mam pointed out to me where it was he had died, and it was where I used to sit, on the L-shaped couch, although by the time he passed away it was a bed and a chair, with that fairly modern brown-leather L-shaped couch gone by this point... Also noticed a ''For Sale'' sign...that kind of hurt.
Anyway, away from the negativity, I had a good day out in Durham, even though the Get Around was not used to it's full potential, it certainly provided a nice outing to clear my head on such a miserable day.
Hope you enjoyed reading!
Marcus