Saturday 30th March ~ Lolyne to Knott End

Started with Solo 283 on the 16 from Highfield Road (Fisher's Fields) to Mereside Tesco's. Then a quick change to Lolyne 307 at the start of it's journey on the 14, which we took to the Town Centre. From the Town Centre is was an epic ride aboard Lolyne 350 on the 2C to Knott End, running via Grange Park and Poulton and then through several Wyre villages including Hambleton and Stalmine. This bus is ex Isle of Man and was built in 2000, so is relatively older than the lower numbered Lolyne's. As can be seen I have discovered that Blackpool's modern double deck buses are Lolynes - like those on London's 388 - along with a few Lowlanders, so I will now refer to them as such rather than 'Tridents' (Trident is the chassis).

Lolyne 350 at the Knott End terminus of the 2c

Then it was a hop across the River Wyre to Fleetwood on the ferry Wyre Rose. Departing at 15.37 and the journey only taking 2 or 3 minutes.

The Wyre Rose at Knott End

After some fish-n-chips it was all aboard Lolyne 328 on the 1, for the short ride to it's terminus at Fleetwood Freeport, then all the way to Starr Gate, picking up some Gillingham and Fleetwood fans at Fleetwood Town (where they had drawn 2-2). Departure from Fleetwood was 16.55, arrival at Starr Gate was 18.05.

Lolyne 328 at Starr Gate after arrival on the 1

Thursday 28th March ~ Slow train to Preston

Going up to Blackpool for Easter. My ride from London Euston to Preston was 390 128 City of Preston on the 11.33 Euston-Preston additional. This train called at Rugby, Crewe, Warrington and Wigan and was somewhat slackly timed, spending several minutes at each of it's station stops. Some things I saw on the way... preserved 86's NSE liveried 86401 Northampton Town and InterCity liveried 86213 Lancashire Witch at Willesden, along with Cola's liveried 86701 Orion. At Wembley, 90047 was at the head of 4L97 Trafford Park-Felixstowe freightliner, while alongside pointing in the other direction were 86628 + 86622 with 4M54 Tilbury-Crewe freightliner. In Wembley yard were royal 67006 Royal Sovereign and 90018 newly painted in DB Schenker livery. Heading north we overtook 66590 on 4M94 Felixstowe-Lawley Street freightliner at Cheddington, and at Bletchley passed 66955 heading south with 4L93 Lawley Street-Felixstowe. While we were stopped at Rugby, 66424 went past at 12.22 with 4S44 Daventry-Coatbridge intermodal, although we re-overtook it south of Nuneaton. At Crewe Basford Hall, 66513 was reversing with a ballast train, while over at the LNWR depot were 86247 in Europhoenix livery, and much travelled, now DRS liveried 47712 Pride of Carlisle. At Warrington Arpley, 66102 was at the head of a train of concrete sleepers, also present were 60092 and 09106. At Preston, 57308 was lurking in the bay behind the old parcels platform.

The nameplate of Pendolino 390 128 City of Preston, at Preston

Finally at Preston it was on to 142 039 with the 15.02 to Blackpool South (13.50 ex Colne), which I took to Squires Gate.

Wednesday 27th March ~ The Oxford English Dictionary

Started on Solo OS11 on the W5 from Harringay Sainsbury's to Hornsey Library. Grabbed a coffee and went for Enviro400 TE669 on the 91 from Crouch End Broadway to Russell Square. From Russell Square it was Gemini WVL265 on the 68 to Waterloo, along with a load of primary school children. At Waterloo I boarded Enviro400 TEH1240 at it's first stop on the 139 for a ride to Piccadilly Circus. After buying a dictionary, a Warsaw guide and some crumpets it was a walk across to Trafalgar Square for Gemini-2 DW492 on the 29 for the ride back to Harringay Green Lanes.

Tuesday 26th March ~ Brrrrr (yet again)

A bitterly cold day. Caught Gemini-2 WVN29 on the 259 from Manor House to Caledonian Road in the morning. Got the tube back :-P..

Monday 25th March ~ Long Cold Winter

An overcast day with a maximum temperature of 3 degrees celsius today. As Cinderella once said, it's a long cold winter. Started with a walk across Finsbury Park to catch Gemini-2 VW1298 on the W7 from Finsbury Park bus station to Crouch End Broadway. After a visit to the library I boarded Enviro400 TE927 on the 91, which I took to Upper Woburn Place. Across to Euston and I boarded Gemini VLWxxx on the 68, and took it to Aldwych. Unfortunately I neglected to get it's number! After a couple of coffees in Starbucks and a read of 'The Vatard Sisters' I found myself at Charing Cross. Enviro400 no.12146 arrived at the stop on the 15, and I took it on a slow journey to Tower Hill. Slow due to roadworks and temporary traffic lights on Fleet Street. Round the corner to Tower Gateway then for 2003 built single-decker Dart DMC42515 on the RV1, which I took to the south side of London Bridge, running via Aldgate and Fenchurch Street. Finally a dash across the road for 2002 built Gemini VLW63 on the 141, which I took to Harringay Green Lanes.

Friday 22nd March 2013 ~ Across to Earls Court

Today's mission was to get across to Earls Court by bus. This would take 3 buses, and there were a number of options. It was about 13.00 at Harringay Green Lanes when I decided to board Enviro400 T165 on the 341 and took it to Angel. At Angel it was on to Enviro400 DN33640 on the 30 for the ride to Baker Street. The last leg was aboard Gemini WVL69 on the 74, which I took to Earls Court Road. I was joined on the journey by a group of young schoolchildren and their teachers who were travelling to South Kensington. Arrival at Earls Court was around 15.15.

Exiting the Ideal Home Show at Earls Court Exhibition Centre around 3 hours later. It was grey, drizzly and murky, and I boarded hybrid Gemini-2 WHV34 on the 74, which I took to it's terminating point by Baker Street tube station. There it was a short wait for Enviro400 DN 33631 on the 30. However my return route here differed from my outbound route as I got off at Euston station. At Euston it was on to Gemini VLW190 on the 253 back to Manor House.

Thursday 21st March ~ Gardening in Belsize Park

Gardening day. At Harringay Green Lanes I boarded Gemini-2 DW493 on the 29, at around 10.00 and took it to Camden Town. At Camden I eventually took Enviro400 T80 on the 168 to Belsize Park, although Gemini's are still the majority bus type on this route. Later it was on to one of those Gemini's, Gemini VLW130 on the 168 from Belsize Park to Euston. Finally at Euston it was on to the 253, and another of Arriva's first generation Geminis, Gemini VLW185, for the ride back to Manor House.