Bus Trippers Photos Jan-Jun 2019
Arundel - Mon 17th June 2019
Wow - 9 bus journeys with a 3 hour break in between to explore the delights of Arundel. Amazingly, despite traffic hold-ups, and waiting at the wrong bus stop at one point, all the connections were made. Our luck even extended to a lost phone being handed in and reunited with its owner. AND the sun shone! (There's a well known phrase in there somewhere but we don't want to push our luck.)
Langstone - Wed 29th May 2019
The iffy weather didn't stop 15 hardy Bus trippers from enjoying a stroll around Langstone taking in the Old Mill, the mill pond with egrets, swans, moorhens, and coots, plus a bit of the old Hayling Billy trail. Disappointment that the Royal Oak's Deal-of-the-Day Pies were off, the group contented themselves with choices from the Value Menu and large glasses of wine. AND, (bit of gos), one of our members received a proposal of marriage from a local. She wouldn't have been short of bridesmaids, but, unfortunately for us, she declined the offer.
Hambledon Guided Walk - Thurs 9th May 2019
After another round of dithering about the weather, 12 stoical Bus trippers enjoyed a wonderfully enlightening walk around Hambledon, led by our favourite guide, Andrew. Replying to a question on the worst thing about living in the village, the Bus trippers' unanimous answer was "flooding", but no, the unexpected answer was traffic. And that was the case even before the installation of the new drains and the Big Pipe. A walk up Speltham Down gave us lovely views over the village.
In its day, Hambledon was a model of efficiency and wealth. There were over 40 shops and trades. Many of the houses still have their old shop fronts. The supply chain of goods was efficient enough to rival today's Amazon! There was a racecourse and charabancs of people came for the day. The scandal of a murder on a footpath is marked by The Murder Stone. Flint cottage has a lovely example of galetting where thin slivers of flint keep the rain from the mortar.
In the beautifully well preserved church, dating back to Saxon times, two stained glass windows depict St Peter and St Paul but it's a mystery why the sword and the key are being held by the wrong saint. Ancient graffiti, (apparently found in all old English churches), implores Mary to keep the devil away. And there's a copy of the Ladybird book The Little Red Hen featuring Hambledon High Street on its cover.
Our brains fit to bursting, the visit ended with a trip to the pub for sustenance, a general mulling over, and total agreement that it had been a very good guided tour. Here's to the next one to Midhurst in July!
Woolbeding Gardens - Fri 3rd May 2019
Never has a trip been so involved and taken so long to organise. It was actually the group's second visit but the first one was organised by someone who knew what they were doing, whilst this one was down to the group co-ordinator. Waiting at our usual bus stop in Petersfield, a buzz went around that perhaps we should be on the other side of the road. Half the group went over to inspect the info on the bus stop. Both had the number 62 info but only one had the number actually on the stop sign. A member of the public offered to help and went back across the road to make enquiries at the library, returning with the correct info and a book of local bus timetables. An intelligent Bus tripper was then able to explain the mystery. The No. 62 did stop at our usual stop. It then carried on to the railway station, turned around and came back to the stop across the road. Mystery solved and honour restored all round.
Arriving in Midhurst, the co-ordinator sought out the Woolbeding minibus in the car park "just across the road". Unfortunately, there did not appear to be a car park just across the road and not even the bus driver could tell us where such a car park might be. Making enquiries of every other passerby, 21 Bus trippers wound their way back up the High Street in a never-ending series of lefts and rights, finally arriving at a large car park. A sharp-eyed member spotted the Woolbeding minibus in a distant corner and we were away on the short journey to the gardens. Luckily, we had booked in advance and so it only took 20 or 25 minutes to get everyone through the system. Any hopes of a quick coffee were soon dashed as the introductory talk was about to begin in front of the gravity-defying William Pye work of art.
Was it worth it? Oh yes. Beautiful vistas and delightful surprises everywhere. A photo of the only 2 imperfect leaves in the entire place shows that it wasn't quite Shangri-la but it was a very close second. We will be back.
Bognor Guided Walk - Tues 26th March 2019
The well-known phrase associated with Bognor is apparently a tissue of lies. Unfortunately, the King's actual words were much less memorable and you will have to do as we did and go on a guided tour of the town to discover what he actually said. You will then instantly forget it and thus Bognor's tourist trade continues. Added attractions include the totally revamped Butlins which is now apparently THE place for le beau monde to stay at vast cost; the addition of wild Crazy Golf to the lovingly made-over Hotham Park; and a few controversial hints regarding the background of famous resident Eric Gill - creator of the copyright-free Gill Sans font. All this and a bit more.
Fishbourne Roman Palace - Wed 13th Feb 2019
A group of us enjoyed the day at Fishbourne Roman Palace. The palace needs updating but was very interesting. Luckily the weather was fine and warm so we had a walk around the gardens. Margaret Newell
Restaurant 64 Chichester College - Fri 18th January 2019
If a picture paints a thousand words, then it's quite clear from the photos that 35 Bus trippers had a jolly good time having a bargain three course meal for £12.50 at Chichester College restaurant. Especially impressive was how the Red Onion and Smoked Cheese Tart did not have a soggy bottom despite sitting in a Tomato and Chive Dressing. Totally delish.
