From Donkey to Mule [extra 2]

with Sidmouth Folk

fbb's tour on the venerable ex Vectis RE open top, now the Mendip Mule, continued along the A3502 with pleasant country views. But taking good pictures - taking any pictures - from a bouncing and flexible single deck racing along Devon roads is not easy; so there aren't any.

The Three Horseshoes pub ...

... still a time point for occasional Axe Valley buses, is not the hip-hop happening nite spot it used to be. Despite this disappointment, we are soon calling at the Donkey Sanctuary ...

... where there are donkeys (surprising, eh?) which seemed sadly uninterested in the only single deck open top bus in service in England.

Something a bit more modern from the Czech Republic was equally ignored by the excess of eeyores.

We are soon dropping down to Sidford ...

... for the turn south to Sidmouth. We pass the excellent Radway Cinema. ["Radway Cinema, can I help you?" "When does he big picture start?" "When can you get here?"]

We pass the Woodlands Hotel where many folk are queueing for something folksy ...

... a book sale, apparently.

Collections of folk song music? Morris Dancing for Beginners? Tie-Dying for Profit? Stilt Walking for the Over 70s? All available at modest prices. Or not.

The Triangle aka The Three Cornered Plot (isn't that a triangle?) bus terminal was full of buses; one Axe Valley, three Stagecoach ...

... and one Hatch Green in he rear.

But Mr Mule picked up passengers, and more at the sea front coach bay.

And the Festival arrangements?

The regular ‘Festival’ bus service is being provided by the same popular Hampton Grays team of the last few years.

[Maybe Hamilton Gray - fbb]

From Friday 31st July throughout the Festival, the bus service will run as follows:

Sidmouth Seafront to Bulverton Campsite

The first bus will be 08.30 then every 20 minutes(approx.) until 18.50. Then from 19.10 the buses will leave every 15 minutes (approx) until the last bus at 0225am.

[or is that 0225pm? Folksy folk don't grasp the 24 hour clock, fiddle-de-dee! - fbb]

Town Circular Route

The first bus will be 0815hrs and the service will run every 45mins approximately. The route will be as follows: Campsite – Seafront – All Saints Road – Radway – Sidmouth Primary School – Woolbrook – Stowford – Campsite. This service will stop at 2300hrs

Fares

Week and Day Tickets available from the Festival Box Office

Week (29th July – 7th Aug):£30 (12-17s £15, under 12s free).

Day: £5 (12-17s £3, under 12s free).

Single journey: £2 payable on bus.

For fbb it was back via the Donkey Sanctuary, along the main road but then down the narrow lane to Beer with a close encounter with an X53 ...

... resplendent in its Jurassic Coast livery NOT. Just a thickness of paint. Then into Pecorama ...

... and farewell to Beer ...

... and back to Seaton.

Approx 12 pax for the round trip, so, if nothing else, that one trip paid Mr Mule's fuel bill for the day. Due to the surprise arrival of some old chums from the Isle of Wight and the need to get ready for the weekend away, it was not possible to observe the rest of the schedule. But fbb reckons that the lad had a passable day.

But a great trip, well worth the money and very professionally done. Good on yer, Del-boy!

 Next bus blog : Monday 10th August