Buxton

The Cresent


The Park & Gardens

Yesterday we decided to take a day off the water and have a on land day. We used our well earned Bus Passes and took a bus to Buxton, we eventually found the right bus having missed two by standing on the wrong side of the road facing the wrong way (remember we do hold bus passes)

anyhow we duly boarded the bus and yes he was going to Buxton, great however the journey was thwart with intrigue, as many of you will know the quickest way from Whalley Bridge to Buxton is along the A6 which entails going over what for many years has been called "long hill " my apprehension started when I saw a sign saying road ahead closed the driver still intent on breaking the speed barrier took no notice of the sign and took evasive action to avoid ploughing into the barriers, the driver expertly negotiated the barrier and continued up hill at a remarkable speed for an old Arriva bus. I thought all our troubles were over thinking logically that the driver and bus company had permission to use the banned route, That was until I saw the men working in the middle of the road, they looked as bewildered as I was feeling to see the bus hurtling towards them, I must admit we had a good driver who did slow down for the obstruction in front of him many words were exchanged between the driver and road crew ??? we eventually side stepped our way through, On arriving in Buxton we alighted from our transport and thanked the driver for delivering us safely ( what else could you say)

Buxton is very nice and peaceful we needed time to recover and regain our sanity. We had coffee in the Bath house now a very salubrious coffee bar. walk through the town visited all the expensive shops and bought from all the cheap ones. Had a nice Fish and chip lunch in a greasy spoon complete with plastic table cloths as everyone knows I just love it nostalgia.

As we now faced the return journey we thought of getting a different route back we found a bus that would return us via the little villages and deposit us closer to the boat. We thought the journey going was rough our return was hair raising, I am amazed at the speed these drivers can propel these buses through lanes I wouldn't consider taking a push bike down. Hair raising bends, steep hills, mountain passes, inclines that made you cling on for dear life. and all the time the locals are talking to the driver and asking him about his garden, either the boat has made me soft or these people around here are true Christians and are not afraid of meeting their maker.

As we disembarked from the bus in Bugsworth Village we were given a hearty and smiling "have a nice stay" from the driver.

I must say in the defence he was a nice driver stopping in the middle of the road to help young mums off with the prams. taking shopping off for old laddies he was kindness its self.

Today we are recuperating I have a stiff neck and Noreen a bad back

Having a bus pass is a ticket to a whole new world of adventure

As a foot note Noreen would just like to say we are not in the second week of Wimbledon and she still hasn't seen a match