How To Survive on the Open Top Bus was published in Cumbria magazine in July 2002.
What’s lost its head, yet continues to run in all weathers? Answer, the 599 Bowness to Grasmere bus service.
More and more of us are visiting the Lake District and using public transport to get around once we arrive. This is something that should be applauded, and Stagecoach the local bus operator, should also take a bow for offering its excellent value Explorer ticket. For those based in Windermere, the 599 service is the staple service offering numerous walks and tourist attractions along its route and several connecting services at Ambleside. Here though, are the top ten tips to using an open top bus in the Lake District.
One Don’t go upstairs, because the chances are it’s raining. The upshot though, is that this does help Stagecoach have some of the cleanest buses in the country, both inside and out. Sit downstairs if you can.
Two Should you find yourself in a brief dry spell and wish to sit upstairs, try to sit near the front of the bus. Those sitting towards the rear of the bus gain an insight into what happens when the air turbulence greets a tree with wet leaves. Travellers at the front of the bus miss out of this additional shower.
Three When at the bus stop, always try to be at the front of the queue. Japanese Tourists have also established the scientific fact above regarding air turbulence, and they too, prefer to sit at the very front.
Four Avoid school children if you can. If this is not possible, always sit downstairs and near the front. The upstairs section and the area towards the rear of the bus are haunts for these children. Ignore this advice, and what you don’t know about Pokemon, will soon be rectified. You may even come away with a few Pokemon stickers on your rucksack, walking boots or waterproof.
Five Always leave rucksacks on the luggage rack near the driver. Sleeping bags and foam mattresses tend to get wedged in the stairwell.
Six Don’t stand up on the top deck pretending that you’re part of Manchester United (or whichever team you happen to support) touring the country having won the treble. Tree branches currently grow at a height just above head level for seated passengers only along this route, and you won’t be on your feet for long, should a sheep stray out onto the road in front of the driver.
Seven Always take photo’s from the middle of the bus. This is where the bus company had a shortage of Perspex windows, and gives the impression to the folks back home that you actually took the picture from half way up a mountain. Unless of course you manage to get a piece pf the chrome railings in your photo.
Eight Don’t, whatever you do, unfold your map on the top deck. When the driver exceeds 30 mph, you’ll only end up covering the German tourists sitting at the back.
Nine Don’t let your four legged companion poke their nose over the side railings. Again, the German tourists at the back will not relish being covered in a slip stream of canine bogey globules.
Ten Always ensure your flysheet is securely fastened inside your rucksack. Failure to do so could result in you paragliding off the back of the bus, should there be a sudden gust of wind. And lets face it, you don’t want to get off the bus three stops too early when you paid do you?
And there you have it. Ten top tips for a relaxing ride on Service 599 between Bowness and Grasmere. Unless of course you’re looking for a sense of adventure?
The End
More and more of us are visiting the Lake District and using public transport to get around once we arrive. This is something that should be applauded, and Stagecoach the local bus operator, should also take a bow for offering its excellent value Explorer ticket. For those based in Windermere, the 599 service is the staple service offering numerous walks and tourist attractions along its route and several connecting services at Ambleside. Here though, are the top ten tips to using an open top bus in the Lake District.
One Don’t go upstairs, because the chances are it’s raining. The upshot though, is that this does help Stagecoach have some of the cleanest buses in the country, both inside and out. Sit downstairs if you can.
Two Should you find yourself in a brief dry spell and wish to sit upstairs, try to sit near the front of the bus. Those sitting towards the rear of the bus gain an insight into what happens when the air turbulence greets a tree with wet leaves. Travellers at the front of the bus miss out of this additional shower.
Three When at the bus stop, always try to be at the front of the queue. Japanese Tourists have also established the scientific fact above regarding air turbulence, and they too, prefer to sit at the very front.
Four Avoid school children if you can. If this is not possible, always sit downstairs and near the front. The upstairs section and the area towards the rear of the bus are haunts for these children. Ignore this advice, and what you don’t know about Pokemon, will soon be rectified. You may even come away with a few Pokemon stickers on your rucksack, walking boots or waterproof.
Five Always leave rucksacks on the luggage rack near the driver. Sleeping bags and foam mattresses tend to get wedged in the stairwell.
Six Don’t stand up on the top deck pretending that you’re part of Manchester United (or whichever team you happen to support) touring the country having won the treble. Tree branches currently grow at a height just above head level for seated passengers only along this route, and you won’t be on your feet for long, should a sheep stray out onto the road in front of the driver.
Seven Always take photo’s from the middle of the bus. This is where the bus company had a shortage of Perspex windows, and gives the impression to the folks back home that you actually took the picture from half way up a mountain. Unless of course you manage to get a piece pf the chrome railings in your photo.
Eight Don’t, whatever you do, unfold your map on the top deck. When the driver exceeds 30 mph, you’ll only end up covering the German tourists sitting at the back.
Nine Don’t let your four legged companion poke their nose over the side railings. Again, the German tourists at the back will not relish being covered in a slip stream of canine bogey globules.
Ten Always ensure your flysheet is securely fastened inside your rucksack. Failure to do so could result in you paragliding off the back of the bus, should there be a sudden gust of wind. And lets face it, you don’t want to get off the bus three stops too early when you paid do you?
And there you have it. Ten top tips for a relaxing ride on Service 599 between Bowness and Grasmere. Unless of course you’re looking for a sense of adventure?
The End