Ode To A Bus Journey - Part VI

Day 6 in Elgin and the end now in sight
Off to Inverness with the sun shining bright
From the main bus station resplendent in blue
To Highland Hospice to see the work that they do

A walk by the River Ness, no monster I spy
Inverness Castle looking down from on high
Yet another photo shoot to gain publicity
Then back to the bus station, departing at three

Along the east coast views of the North Sea
Just over three hours on the 958E
Arrived in Thurso at 6.23
Then off to Castle Street to my B&B

Located my lodgings and dropped off my sack
Back into town in search of a snack
Found a Chinese Restaurant on Princess Street
Perhaps it’s time for a well deserved treat

I ordered my food and drank a cold beer
Some background music, Westlife I could hear
Another beer later, feeling tired and dazed
I looked up from the table, shocked and amazed

Just as I started to eat my chow mein
“You Raise Me Up” began playing, now let me explain
At Gramps’ funeral service two weeks ago
On his coffin’s arrival this song was played, spooky I know

To remind me of why I was doing this journey I took
A picture of Gramps tucked inside my note book
So as I left the restaurant and walked out the door
I felt he was with me, he was with me for sure

I walked down the road and there I saw
A pub with some football, “I’ll go check the score”
Rangers were losing, Celtic fans they did cheer
I chatted to some Aussies and bought them a beer

The football had finished so we went on our way
To a different pub where some music did play
I spoke of my journey and the collecting tin
Then Sam the Aussie gave a big grin

Before I knew it he’d taken the tin
And was asking the punters to put money in
£100 was raised thanks to them, so I’d like to say
A great big thank you Sam & Steve, & G’day

Ode To A Bus Journey - Part V

When I woke the next morning my head was a mess
So I jumped in the shower before starting to dress
The shower was excellent and really did the trick
However, I still felt a little “Tom Dick”

Now to Edinburgh with Perrymans on the 253
Along the East coast, views of the North Sea
Past Torness Power Station, gold and white
I wish I hadn’t had all those pints last night

Past Dunbar on the Great North Road we did go
Another chat with Ray Clarke on the breakfast show
Into Edinburgh now with 25 minutes to kill
Time perhaps for my stomach to fill

Off I went down South Saint Andrew Street
In search of a fast food breakfast to eat
10 minutes later, BK breakfast in hand
I headed back to the Station, No.13 stand

Across the Forth Bridge on Stagecoach X54
Cowdenbeath & Glenrothes were the towns that I saw
In Dundee my phone rang, I wonder who’s that
It was Ray Clarke, BBC Essex wanting a quick chat

Gave the justgiving details for the BBC website
But talking to him made my deadline quite tight
Time running out, which way do I walk
Must ask for directions, To whom should I talk

Found a lady to ask, she pointed the way
To the bus stop to take me away from the Tay
When I turned I had to get on my toes
As round the corner came the 39 bus to Montrose

Signs for Forfar & Arbroath I then saw
Names usually seen only on Final Score
A stop in Montrose, twenty minutes or so
Fish & Chip lunch then onward I go

To Aberdeen, Granite City by the mouth of the Dee
Down King Street, First Group Head Office to see
Collect my train ticket to get me back home
Then back on the bus to Elgin I roam

Aberdeen Airport so tempting and bright
Flight back to Stansted, I could be home tonight
But I stayed on the bus to see to the end
This journey of madness that began at Lands End

Ode To A Bus Journey - Part IV

Just two hours sleep and a pounding head
I rose at six from my comfortable bed
Washed and dressed, I went downstairs to look
For the chef who was coming in early to cook

Sitting downstairs I gave a big sigh
No sign of the chef with time passing by
At eighteen past seven my food hit the table
Just seven minutes to eat my food if I’m able

A few mouthfuls of egg, bacon, mushrooms and beans
The sausage in a napkin I stuffed in my jeans
Off to the bus stop at double quick pace
Drizzle coming down, the wind in my face

Whilst standing there waiting, the sausage I ate
The 70 to Northallerton, 20 minutes late
The bus driver Paul said no need to worry
I’ll put my foot down if you’re in such a hurry

Onwards past Thirsk Racecourse, cold and damp
To catch my next bus to Catterick army camp
Arrived in Northallerton before my next bus was due
I changed course to Darlington on the Arriva 72

Spoke to Iris Boyd from North East Go
And she put me in touch with a radio show
Another interview done, it was onwards again
To Durham, The Angel of The North and then

Gateshead & Newcastle in Tyne & Wear
Where I waited for a photographer to appear
Photos done with minutes to spare I ran with great speed
To catch the 505 to Berwick-Upon-Tweed

With no place to stay I went off in search
Of a room far away from a clock in a church
Tried so many places, I got pains in my feet
Then I stopped at The Red Lion on Castlegate Street

They gave me a room for just twenty pounds
So I listened for bells and sleep stopping sounds
Six pints downed quite quickly, my eyes shut tight
Nothing will wake me from my sleep tonight

Ode To A Bus Journey - Part III

The best night’s sleep I had had in a week
The weather now colder, the outlook quite bleak
Much colder in Scotland the forecast in sight
With Storm force winds coming Wednesday night

Onwards to Manchester, will the coffers still swell?
Through Alderley Edge where the footballers dwell
That’s Moss Side where the shootings take place
Said my new friend Gwen with a smile on her face

I told her all about how my journey had begun
And about Old Gramps in whose memory it was done
She sounded impressed and we talked a while
As we neared Manchester Picadilly, just one more mile

I said I hadn’t had time for any food that day
Gwen had a distinct look of dismay
You must have some breakfast she said with glee
I’ll take you somewhere you can get it for free

Into Weatherspoons where the price was £2.49
For a full English Breakfast, "That sounds fine"
But Gwen said to the Manager "It’s for Charity
Would you mind giving this lad his breakfast for free?"

60 minutes later I was standing in line
As the 184 arrived bang on time
Through Oldham and across the Pennines we went
To Huddersfield where little time I spent

Then the 203 to Leeds in Yorkshire
Past halfway I began to cheer
With Ripon my intended target in sight
I needed to sort a room for the night

A quick change in Leeds, the days end not far
Onwards to Ripon via Harrogate Spa
With the dark closing in I decided to catch
The end of the West Ham football match

With pints at £2 it was difficult to leave
But I had some tasks I needed to achieve
Somewhere to stay and rest until morn
I found a hotel called the Unicorn

A few more pints and a chinese meal
A quiz machine called "Deal or No Deal"
Then back to the hotel that I had found
The local church clock 10 times it did sound

A good night’s sleep in a comfortable room
I’m sure I will be in dreamland sometime soon
But little did I know I was in for a shock
All I heard was the sound of that bloody church clock!

Ode To A Bus Journey - Part II

A great night’s sleep in a huge double bed
I woke and prepared for the big day ahead
30 minutes later I was still in the middle
Of a shower that could only be described as a dribble

Really cheesed off at this failure to wash
I complained at reception, "That shower was tosh!"
That’s OK Sir, our guarantee’s black and white,
You get your money back if you had a bad night.

With a full wallet and a smile I left Travel Inn
The second day of the journey now to begin
From Bristol to Gloucester, with a detour through Wales
And lots of old women telling their tales

An Egg & Bacon Roll from the Bus Station Cafe
The service was quick but the roll tasted naff
Onwards to Tewkesbury, up higher and higher
A quick chat and a photo with the local town crier

A detour through Evesham, they’d cancelled my bus
Then back on track in Worcester without any fuss
With 4 minutes to spare the 144 to Birmingham I took
And now some time to start writing my book

Past Longbridge which once built cars for this nation
To Birmingham City Centre & the Railway Station
Then change once again to a different supplier
Travel West Midlands took me higher and higher

Towards Wolverhampton, it’s getting quite grim
The November sunshine beginning to dim
60 minutes I waited in the fading light
As fans of Wolves & Bristol City decided to fight

Tonight’s target was Manchester but after this delay
Macclesfield would likely be my destination today
Arriving in Stafford about 10 minutes late
The bus had departed so I accepted my fate

From Stafford to Stoke on this bonfire night
Displays by the roadside a wonderful sight
Then onwards to Crewe that well known junction
Train production was once its primary function

A short wait in Crewe for the Arriva 38
A drunken couple, the man quite irate
His lady tried to calm him and help him to stand
Each time he tried, on the floor he did land

Called ahead to the hotel, booked my bed for the night
There couldn’t have been a more welcome sight
11.30 arrival into my room I did check
My head hit the pillow, I was gone in a sec

Ode To A Bus Journey - Part I

On a cold dark morn I set off on my way
Not really sure what ahead of me lay
Would buses be late or arrive on time?
I start with the train, First Great Western Line

Off to my office, quick as can be
A streetmap of Paddington I needed to see
Some donations too in the safe to store
But where is the guard to open the door

Quick where are you, I cannot be late
I must catch a tube for Lancaster Gate
Just then he appeared, my panic did rest
My chores soon finished I headed out West

From Paddington station I started my feat
Platform 3, 7.30 in a 1st Class Seat
Train to Penzance and bus to Lands End
A few calls to make and texts to send

I took in some air and the sights of the coast
The meal that night was really the most
A bottle of wine then a tonic and gin
Off to my bed, let the journey begin

Showered and Packed, then some radio talk
Off to the bus stop, just a small walk
On the 7.17 to Penzance I did go
2 hours break then off to Truro

A photo call with West Briton News
Then back on the bus for more Cornish Views
At St Columb Major the 510 I did take
Onwards to Exeter, another Photo break

Amy & Alison met me from Hospiscare
Their work at the hospice with me they did share
Sixty minutes passed and I was off again
To a bus stop in Fore Street, would my wait be in vain?

15 minutes late and my worries began
The 92 bus was wrecking my plan
Kept checking the time my nerves were a mess
No chance of Bristol, Taunton at best

Then out of the dark came a shining light
Twas the 92 bus, what a wonderful sight
To Taunton, Somerton and Wells I did head
And finally Bristol, 11.30 and bed

Had some fun tonight looking through my photos of the trip. Have added a load of them to the blog. Hope you like them?

I have now calculated the total distance travelled. Instead of 874 miles (direct distance), I covered 1,268 miles between the two ends of the UK.

Looking forward to my radio interview with BBC Cornwall on Monday. Hopefully that will bring in a few more pounds towards the target.

If you haven't already donated, please give whatever you can to help me reach that magic £5k mark.

Thanks, Lloyd