In A Big CounTREE
First things first, I'd originally scripted this as an end-to-end trip i.e. to cover the Stonehaven end on the 104, as well as the other side of the Strathtay network. I didn't fancy getting up after three hours at 0400, spending for the early bus/train up to Montrose etc. - or getting on two school buses in one day! So, although this trip was long in its own right, it could have been longer!
After going into the Bus Station in the morning, got the 1125 20B with 952, on which there was an on-bus vinyl advertising the new Stagecoach/Strathtay "Tay MegaRider" which will cover all the Dundee city and surrounding areas, from 1st July, for £6.90 a week - at least to begin with.
Anyway, after getting into Forfar, took Meffan's L321 AUT on the 125 from Forfar to Newtyle. The 125 uses the stop opposite Newtyle Church i.e. towards Dundee, hence you can get photographs like the one I linked to... No time for a visit to see the relatives (this time) as I had just a few minutes before Volvo Olympian 961 took me to Blairgowrie. I then took Leopard 545 on the 60 to Aberfeldy... now you'll see why this had to be done on a schoolday which was also a Wednesday...
Upon arrival in Aberfeldy, the bus wasn't at Chapel Street, so I stayed on the 60 to Breadalbane Academy/Alma Avenue, taking the Mercedes Vario SF 54 OUX on Broons Buses School Service 895 from Aberfeldy to Kinloch Rannoch, via lots of windy roads and Tummel Bridge. I'm sure we may have passed the place where I was out camping many years ago with some sort of community group... very long time ago... anyway, upon arrival at KR, all the remainder tipped out (it was actually quite a quiet school run, and the driver was politely seeing to the rules..... like slowing down and warning sweary kids, and making sure the primary school kids had their seatbelts on...), whilst those with even further to go to got on the Sprinter SY 52 UPR on the 85 towards Rannoch Station.
SF 54 OUX went back to the garage (10 yards up the road) and the driver picked up the proprietor and wife, before returning to Kinloch Rannoch Square to operate as the 89, and we headed for Perth on the Wednesday only Service 89. This route is nearly two and a quarter hours long, but still only costs £3.00 (maximum fare on P&KC Subsidised Services) - now that's value for you! Not sure how many miles, but a lot. Kinloch Rannoch, turning at a hotel and a caravan park before heading through to Calvine, and down the A9. The proprietor left the bus at Pitlochry, as he was going to pick up a bus on loan from Yule's whilst one of his own is off the road. We had the bus very nearly full by the time we got into Perth, and the proprietor's wife was handing out survey forms to see if anyone had any ideas that they wanted to put in before the tender went in (tender closing date for the 89 and many other services around Perthshire is this Friday morning, new tenders to start in January). Apparently most popular suggestion was missing out Ballinluig and running to Morrison's Perth instead of Tesco, as the former have a cafe/tearoom which is open late.
After arriving at Perth, saw a door which is opened with a uzze? Well I knew "hen" was local slang for woman, but.. you know... look here to see what I'm on about... After that I went around to South Street, and found the Rover for the first time since mid-afternoon and boarded 227 on the 16.
End-to-end - about nine hours, lots of big trees, hence the title!
posted by Suzy Scott @ 23:19
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