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SUMMER DAY-OUT TO EXMOUTH AND TOPSHAMEarly start today; we had to be at Downend Methodist Chapel for an 8:30 am start then on to B A W A to pickup the rest of our party at 09:00 am. We managed to leave Downend with our full complement somewhat earlier than was anticipated…just as well as we had the ring road works to contend with. It is excellent having an elevated view point from the deck of a coach where you can watch both the careful drivers and the idiots of the road (when there is no worth while scenery to view). We finally managed our B A W A pickup only a little behind our time where David advised us that we had lost four of our number, two having phoned David at about 7:30 am that morning, so we were down to 51; then onto the M5 for our journey south and west. Our first stop was for coffee and biscuits at a very pleasant restaurant at Willand near Cullompton. We stayed there for about 45 minutes and once everyone was comfortable we continued on our way to Exmouth arriving on the quay side at about 12:15 where we were to embark for out trip up river and where we were met by Jean and Tony Gillett who had come up from their home to be with us for the day. |
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A young lady from the Stuart Line met us on the coach, presented us with our tickets and a few do’s and don’ts like…make sure you board The Tudor Rose (our cruise vessel) and not the ferry (leaves from the same place apparently) as we would need our passports. To show our tickets on boarding but not to hand them in until after we had had our free cup of tea, coffee or whatever took our fancy (within reason).
We boarded at 12:50 for a one and one half hour cruise up river – and back. We had anticipated cruising from Exmouth to Topsham where we would debark and pick up the coach again. Unfortunately the River Exe is so badly silted in the upper reaches that only vessels with the shallowest of draft can make it all the way up. The skipper of The Tudor Rose told us not to worry about sinking as the river was so shallow that we could get out and walk (believe that if you will?). The cruise actually lasted for the best part of two hours as we had to delay our return to the quay side until the ferry had departed so, we had a little trip along the coast quite close inshore where we could watch and wave to the bathers on the beach…very close indeed.
We finally landed at around 3:00 in the afternoon where we were given the opportunity of being driven to Topsham in the coach or staying where we were. About 50% decide on the ride and the rest of us, in the main, sought food. We had about two hours before the return journey to Bristol at 5:00 p m from Exmouth. We then drove up to Topsham to collect the rest of our party from a car park (not for coaches) and where one or two of us decided on a comfort stop before proceeding. There were public conveniences in the car park outside which was a large sign saying “HAVE YOU PAID AND DISPLAYED” Cheeky blighters I though, then noticed the words “YOUR TICKET” at the bottom and masked by a parked vehicle.
I have not remarked on the weather at all until now. It was bright, sunny and very HOT especially on the coach which unfortunately resulted in complaints from quite a number of the passengers as the air conditioning was virtually non-existent. David and Janet had thoughtfully brought crates of cold water on to the coach and this was welcomed by a number. An excellent day-out enjoyed, I believe by all, with an uneventful and safe journey back to Bristol, arriving back at B A W A at about 7:15 p m and about 7:45 p m at Downend – incidentally the temperature indicator on the roof of Patchway Motors was still registering 31° C as we passed it. Our thanks as always to David and Janet for all their hard work in organising our trips and to our driver John for the smoothest of drives – shame about the coach temperature! Bill Brand
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