Bus Trippers Photos July-Dec 2015
Dickens's A Christmas Carol, Chichester Festival Theatre
Wed 23rd December 2015
Despite a few hiccups getting to Chichester, (mainly for people going by car rather than by bus), and the ill health of a couple of Bus trippers, this was a very successful outing, thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. Well done and many thanks to Sheila for suggesting it and leading the group.
Winchester Christmas Market - Fri 4th December 2015
Whilst the Christmas Market has become an annual event for Bus trippers, this year was exceptional in that it was on a gloriously sunny day, (so much so that the ice rink was melting), and it passed without incident, (if you discount the kerfuffle over the lateness of the No. 37 back from Petersfield and the necessity of consulting some schoolchildren over its non-appearance). A great day out in lovely company and even the odd present ticked off the Christmas list.
Apple Affair, West Dean Gardens - Sat 3rd October 2015
Linda very kindly lead the group and managed to also ensure a beautiful sunny day and dream bus connections. She reported:
The Apple fair was busy and we were all amazed at the large variety of local apples available which we took advantage of in tasting. You could also purchase any selection you required. Stella waited her turn to ask about the blight her apple tree at home has and was happy with the advice given. After there we went onto look at the various stalls selling all type of produce etc., tasting various products especially the many cheeses - whisky & ginger among them. Yummy!! Plenty of areas to have a picnic and listen to the band. Averil plonked herself in the deckchair and took full advantage of the sun as we ordered our drinks etc and sat outside the Coffee shop in the glorious weather we had. Then off to see the lovely gardens, in and out of the various conservatories they have with fabulous specimens of vegetables and plants. We did have a giggle at some strange looking vegetables. What a lovely day we all had !!!
History of Emsworth Oysters - Solar Boat Trip - 28th September 2015
Perhaps the solar boat people have some magical powers of prediction because all 3 of the trips we've been on, have been in glorious weather. On this occasion, we were accompanied by a local historian who gave us a brief insight into the history of the oyster industry in Emsworth. Who knew that the shells could be so pretty? Or that the industry, which had flourished for centuries, was wiped out almost overnight following the Great Oyster Scare of 1902 when the Dean of Winchester died of typhoid attributed to eating the oysters? Oysters that had been feeding on lots of yummy sewage.
Feeling enlightened by the history lesson, and refreshed by the sea air, we walked back along the jetty, in the midday sun, to be confronted by a mad dog and Englishman racing along, barking and whistling. As, unbelievably, no one made any attempt to catch the 10st dog, when its extendable lead snapped, it leapt into the water in pursuit of a group of swans. With a look of utter distain, the swans swam serenely off into the distance. This didn't deter the dog, (pictured below), at all, and it set about chasing and barking at every swan in the harbour. Fearing that if it ended up landing on Thorney Island, it might trigger an area security shutdown before we had eaten, we retreated for lunch.
Postscript: After a leisurely meal, two Bus trippers saw the mad dog and Englishman walking back along the jetty, with the dog on a very short lead, going home to be dried out.
Lena's holiday home, Selsey - 21st September 2015
Why drive when there are so many benefits to bus tripping? In just one outing you can push your physical capabilities to the limit, sharpen your mental agility, learn new skills, have your patience and resilience stretched, get your daily dose of conversation, make new friends, try new foods, and discover new places. All of this and more we had when Lena very kindly invited us all over to her beautiful and spacious holiday home in Selsey.
Catching 3 different buses with very tight timings was always going to be a challenge. When the first bus doesn't turn up, it becomes even more of a challenge. We finally caught a bus which allowed us one minute for the changeover to the 700 at Hilsea Lido. Reprising her Olympian performance on the last bus trip, Janet sprinted across the horrendous road and up to the bus stop, thrusting out her arm in the nick of time. Her acting skills then came to the fore and she immediately appeared to age 50 years, thus gaining valuable time for the rest of us puffing and panting along behind. (No acting needed.) At the same time, the last Bus tripper got off a bus on the other side of the road. Almost immediately, as one, we went into slow-motion as we teetered, tottered and crept our way on to the bus, in a desperate attempt to stop it moving off. With 2 Bus trippers left to board, and the last one on the last leg of the bridge, we begged the bus driver to wait a few more seconds but to no avail .....
In the new tradition of No Bus Tripper Left Behind, the co-ordinator selflessly got off the bus and insisted that the others continue their journey. This, despite the frantic waving of the last Bus tripper to carry on with the group, and the later insistence that she was so sick of buses, she would have been perfectly happy to go straight back home. Twenty minutes later we were on our way again.
After a seamless changeover at Chichester, we found ourselves in the whole new world of bus travel in Sussex, on the positively luxurious Gold Stagecoach 51 with its airplane-like high-backed leather seats, a wonderfully turned out and charming driver, and an air of whispered hush throughout. We would not have been surprised to be offered hot towels, champagne and pistachio nuts.
A warm welcome awaited us at Lena's with an endless supply of tea and coffee, followed by Lena's 3 delicious homebaked quiches, a Victoria sponge, a chocolate and beetroot cake and bread pudding! This was supplemented by our contributions to the American Supper-type lunch which resulted in a wonderful array of salads, savouries and sweet things. It was torture to resist seconds. Many thanks to Lena for inviting us over and for her fantastic hospitality.
Three hours flew by and the two and a half hour journey home beckoned. One last challenge to overcome. Where was The Hornet bus stop? Several arguments broke out but no fisticuffs.. This was good as there were several schoolchildren on the bus. The driver, having been reminded by several of us, several times, to let us know when we arrived at The Hornet, was especially cheery saying goodbye to us. Wasn't that nice?
Beaulieu River cruise - 1st September 2015
On 1st September, 23 Bus trippers met at the Hard and boarded the ferry for Gosport and our Beaulieu River cruise. The sun shone and the sea was like the proverbial millpond! We saw many varieties of birds, and the history of the varied shorelines was explained very clearly by a member of the crew. Apart from a few hiccups with lunch, a great day was enjoyed by us all. Anne B.
Chichester Harbour Solar Boat Wildlife Cruise - Mon 17 August 2015
It was a perfect day for the Bus trippers' Wildlife Cruise around Chichester Harbour on a solar boat. Having made our bus connection from the No 7 to the 700 with no hanging around, we arrived in Emsworth with plenty of time for light refreshments as well as a photo opportunity before strolling along the jetty in the summer sunshine with 20 or 30 minutes to spare before cast-off. Contrast this with our Outings Group compatriots who were rushing around, in the heat, like headless chickens in their seemingly fruitless quest for parking places and then a last minute dash to join the queue. A little smugness was quietly enjoyed.
It can probably safely be said that none of us has ever been on such a wildlife cruise before. Perhaps the wildlife thought that it would be a pity to disturb the absolute peace and tranquility of the solar boat's smooth progress around the harbour. Perhaps they mistook the commentary from our guide for instructions on how to shoot or hook or net them. We knew why the legendary Emsworth oysters weren't there - they'd been killed off by the plague. The young ospreys hadn't nested in the thoughtfully provided abode in the killing fields of Thorney Island. The common seals turned out not to be so common. One or two Bus trippers swore they saw flying fish but this was never confirmed. The only wildlife we did see were 2 black-backed gulls perching on poles right at the beginning of the trip when we dismissed them in favour of the delights to come.
A visit to the Driftwood cafe and a slice of lemon meringue pie made up for any lingering disappointment.
Chilli Fiesta, West Dean Gardens - Fri 7th August 2015
Pam led the group to its second home at West Dean Gardens. She reported:
What a splendid day we had at the 20th chilli festival. The weather was glorious and the atmosphere was buzzing. There was lots to see and music aplenty. We watched cookery demonstrations and visited the greenhouse with so many different species of chilli. Plants were available to purchase. I think we tried nearly every taster of chilli sauces on offer. Some incredibly hot. Kim very kindly supplied wine and crisps. All in all we really enjoyed our trip to West Dean gardens.
Chichester Festival Theatre - Wednesday 22nd July 2015
On Wednesday July 22nd a group of us went along to Chichester Festival Theatre for a Backstage Tour.
Much deliberation was needed to accommodate the bus routes but finally everyone met in the theatre cafe for welcome refreshments. The tour proved to be very interesting and a clear insight in to what happens Behind the Scenes at a performance. The staff were very helpful and informative. We will all view any future performances with a new perspective! Jill Day
Mary's Beach Hut, Hayling Island - Monday 6th July 2015
Never let it be said that Bus trippers don't like to live dangerously. Having been informed that the No 30 bus to Hayling was stuck in traffic, it only took 3 or 4 minutes deliberation to throw caution to the wind and board the No 31. Realisation soon dawned that the co-ordinator had no Plan B, and we didn't know where we were going to get off. Meandering up and down virtually every road on the East side, (or quite possibly the West), of Hayling, one brave soul put her head above the parapet and declared that she might recognise the correct stop. Ten minutes or so later, the button was pressed, but the bus carried on. The button was pressed again and again and the cry went up to st-ohhhhh-p. We rushed en masse towards the driver and at last, the doors were opened - nowhere near a bus stop but miraculously quite close to Mary's beach hut.
Mary's welcome and offer of coffee, hot choc, and 57 varieties of tea, plus biscuits soon soothed away the trauma and the sea air stimulated our appetites. Some of the group headed off for fish & chips while the others picnicked at the beach hut. Ever the perfect hostess, Mary put the kettle on again and sat down for a nice chat. Why is there a saying that "Watched pots never boil" when there is not one for the obverse that "Unwatched pots boil in a flash and carry on boiling until they are watched"? Mary's kettle turned from a brilliant red to burnt black. This is the second year Mary has invited us to her beach hut, and the second calamity. We're not expecting a third invite.
In a very commendable effort to get us doing a bit of important lifelong learning, while Mary and her daughters slaved away in the beach hut loading up scones with cream, jam, strawberries and raspberries, and boiling up the one remaining kettle for 19 of us, Averil dished out the dominoes. Purely for Health & Safety reasons, Averil did all the running about while the rest of us looked on and occasionally held up a domino for her to put down. At the end, no one knew who'd won but that's the thing with lifelong learning - there's always room for improvement.
You can't go to the beach without dipping your toes in the sea, can you? Hmmm. Well, 3 or 4 Bus trippers actually thought so and came back looking remarkably invigorated.
Catching the bus back followed the pattern of the rest of the day as Bus trippers ran up and down and back and forth across the road in an attempt to find the necessary bus stop. Traffic was brought to a standstill on several occasions, even when we weren't trying to get across, congregating as we were on the verge and shouting over to our companions. Finally, a bus appeared and those on the "wrong" side of the road made a dash for it whilst the rest of us employed bus delaying tactics until they arrived.
No Bus trippers were harmed on this day out. We all had a fab time. Humungous thanks to Mary and her daughters and Hazel for all their hard work, wonderful hospitality, and a jolly good day out.
We could rival the Be Adventurous group, one day.
Winchester Hat Fair - Friday 3rd July 2015
In the spirit of the Bus trippers' unofficial motto of "Let's go out and have a good time", and the SAS's one of "Who Dares, Wins", Sheila contacted someone with power and influence at Winchester, and succeeded in changing the "No bus passes before 9.30am" rule, with respect to the Stagecoach No 37 route. It's only a matter of 14 minutes earlier, and it only applies to bus stops after Highfield Parade, but it makes a major difference to our trips to Petersfield and Winchester. High five Sheila!
What was almost equally amazing was that the bus driver seemed to know about it. Either that or he didn't feel up to the challenge of contradicting the determined group of Bus trippers clogging up his platform and spilling out onto the street.
Gloriously sunny weather made it perfect for strolling around and dipping in and out of the extremely quirky activities going on. The National Institute for Sonic Geology was a highlight. Having been inducted into the technique of Sweeping, Planting, and Listening, and having selected our instruments, we set about listening to the sounds of the past which are trapped underground in the layers of rock and chalk but which were remarkably brought up nearer the surface by last year's earthquake in Winchester. Rather like an ancient form of Twitter perhaps. We were agreed that it had been a life-changing experience and that a Sonic Geology group should definitely be added to Drew's Wish List.
The 67/37 bus route, especially on the top deck, is wonderfully scenic with chocolate box cottages and gardens. Coming home, one particular sight caught the attention of a number of Bus trippers and led to suggestions for another new group ...
It had been a hot day but coming home, it seemed even hotter. Getting off the bus, we mentioned to the driver about how very hot it was and sympathised with him having to work in such conditions. He glanced at his dashboard and was horrified to report that the heating had been on.
