Island Break : Various

Arrivaderci : Arriva Departs

First Bus is the dominant operator for Colchester local routes, once branded 'Shuttles'.

Wednesday's Schedule

One omnobological "thing" that fbb enjoys is the delight of exploring bus activity on the ground. "Where do the buses go, and why?" is one question. Then, "What has changed, and why?" is the follow-up.

On Tuesday, the fbbs took luncheon with long term chums, Alan and Jackie. Yummy!

Yesterday, Mrs fbb met up with some of her Island chums. While "les girls" enjoyed riotous nattering at Busy Bee Garden Centre (Ryde) and later with a further selection at East Cowes, fbb did this. To be more correct this is what he had planned.

Whether he actually survived this Bear Grylls type physical ordeal will be revealed later.

Chum Alan suggested a trip and fbb readily agreed.

1010 Ryde 33

1045 Newport

1053 Newport 1

1105 Northwood

1123 Northwood 32 via Cowes

1205 Northwood

1209 Northwood 1

1225 Newport

LUNCH BREAK

1310 Newport 39 circular via Carisbrooke and Pan

1405 Newport

1425 Newport 38 circular via Carisbrooke

1451 Newport

1510 Newport 8

1546 Lake

1605 Lake 2

1645 Ryde

Pending a full report on Wednesday's expedition, readers may enjoy matching the on-line individual maps with the network map at the head if this item.

An Appointment With The Dentist

The above is a picture of the fbbs' Isle of Wight dentist, James Spence.

As well as providing excellent dental treatment, Jimmy became a personal friend, the friendship being helped by his Scottish ancestry chiming with Mrs fbb's Glasgow heritage.

So Jimmy joined the old crocks (he is well past the bloom of youth himself) yesterday evening. Yes, that socialising soiree was after both the fbbs had endured an exhausting day!

There wasn't much time to write a blog - so this posting is something of a Place Holder written on Tuesday evening!

Hotel History

The fbbs stayed at Yelf's once the top hotel in Ryde. Their room was across the footbridge ...

... and in a room above the pub, owned by the hotel.

The room was large and comfortable ...

... above is the corner of the room looking out where the above picture from outside sort of looks in.

The catering was poor; bar meals carried through from that corner pub.

It is a far cry from its Trust House Forte ownership in the past. These extracts come from a 1973 advertisement.

Sadly, you will find none of this today; just pleasant basic rooms and bar meals - a sort of anachronistic Travelodge Gladly, it charges Travelodge prices not Trust House room and food rates.

Whoops!

This happened on Ryde Pier on Tuesday morning. Reports are contradictory and unclear, but it seems that the police car was "responding to an incident" when it skidded on the wet timber of the pier deck.

The front wheels were parked not too perilously on the disused westerly track base of the former pier tramway. The eastern track is now the foot- and cycle- way to the pier head.

The front bit of the car ended up where the tram is passing on the old picture below.

The boys in blue were not injured but needed help to exit their noddy car.

The "car" pier was closed during the rescue ...

... but, crazily, the ferry service was cancelled. Wightlink cited "structural survey" - a daft excuse as the completely separate railway pier was untouched and the ferry terminal was nearly half a mile away!

Magnanimously, Wightlink graciously announced on-line that they would not issue penalty charges to cars trapped at the pier head and overstaying their parking time!

Kindness knows no bounds!

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More on the bus ride bonanza tomorrow. Today, Thursday, the fbbs are on their return journey to fbb mansions.

 Next Island Break blog : Fri 16 Oct