Gold

This is the 09:45 Gold service to Plymouth from Torquay. I went down to the Harbour to have a look and take a few photo at this time because it was the first bus out of Torquay that us free bus pass holders could get on without being pestered for cash. I, like one or two other people expected it to be full but when I got there at 09:30 there were only 5 people waiting. True one gentleman had been there since 09:00 to make sure he got a place but it looks like the opening day sale didn't attract the crowds everyone was expecting. Mind you the weather was dull, low mist every where which may have put a few people off.

Looks nice inside, empty but everyone had gone upstairs. When it left, on time, there were 10 people on board, not counting the driver.

Bus Stop

The buses aren't going up Abbey Road from Fleet St so The two stops near the Central Cinema are presently out of use. You either have to walk up to the top of Abbey Rd or down to Cary Parade or the Harbour.

Stagecoach have put notices on these stops warning passengers of this temporary change but there are some people who pull down these notices and think it a fun thing to do.

Well it isn't. Standing at a bus stop waiting for a bus on a Sunday is never a fun thing to do. Standing waiting at a bus stop that won't see a bus stop there for the next 4 weeks can get kind of frustrating and dull. And a waste of time.

Hopefully Stagecoach will act quickly and get new notices up ASAP.

Something else that isn't fun are these two children busking in Fleet St. I wouldn't mind too much if they were any good.

Thunder and Lightning over Torquay

At 05:45 this morning (Sat) I was woken by an extremely loud bang that didn’t know when to stop. Thunder. A minute later the bedroom was lit up by a flash of lightning and 4 seconds later and other clap of thunder. After 10 minutes of thunder and lightning I decided to get my camera and see if I could get a photo of the lightning.

I soon realised that the light show was at the back of the house which is not much use to me given that there is a great big cliff face at the back that cuts of the view to the south where all the lightning appeared to be coming from.

I persevered with the camera and the two pictures shown here were taken a minute apart. Remember, it was 06:41 and still dark.

I don't like using a flash light to take photos but this is an exception.

PS in 4 seconds sound travels 760 miles and light 752000 miles. Some simple arithmetic and I worked out the flash was about 1500 yards away. Bright wasn't it?

Bus Stop in Fleet St

Stagecoach acted quickly and covered over the out of use bus stop going up Fleet St. Mind you, the contractors have only erected one bus stop where there used to be two. New arrangement? Could be, 12,  12a, 31, 32, 34 and Local Link passengers all standing at one bus stop, could get crowded.

 
If it isn't raining I shall be on the Strand at nine thirty on Monday morning, not to catch the Gold Bus, not on the first day but to see how many other people do try to get on. As there is more leg room there must be fewer seats and I don't expect that standing all the way to Plymouth would be encouraged, not for a 1hour 50 min trip. Difficult to work on your laptop while standing up.

PS If you want to read the timetable on Stagecoach's web page then click on Torbay as your location and GOLD as the route number though I am sure GOLD isn't actually a number.

Stagecoach's new bus

Soon, Monday, to be running between Torquay and Plymouth with a side trip to Dartmouth.

I never drove a bus between Totnes and Dartmouth, just a coach and that was bad enough. How long before there are a few dents in those shinny body panels?

Free wi fi so bring your laptop or tablet to while away the time on your trip.

And now for something slightly different.
It would appear from the notice on this bus stop in Fleet St that buses will not be stopping here between 19 Feb 2013 and 19 March 2013. Actually they won't be stopping here until the end of November.

PS. If there is nothing new posted here you can always try my Facebook Page.
PPS. Long time since I posted, sorry but a bit of writers block.