We rumbled out of the bus station, and circulated past the Railway Station into the Old Town. More wriggles took us northwards and out of the New Town towards Little Wymondeley. Before we reached the motorway roundabout we met Arriva's service bus coming the other way, in the shape of nine year old Volvo/Wright Renown 3457.
From the roundabout we took the Little Wymondeley exit, and soon found a very nice wooden bus shelter and layby, for a photo stop. Despite all its mechanical and structural shortcomings at the hands of London Transport, the Merlin is certainly a handsome bus.
Beyond the village the turned out to rejoin the main road which now bypasses the village. A Trustybus Evolution - this one in house colours of red, yellow and blue, dashed past towards Stevenage on the 700 Airport service. We trundled west into Hitchin, climbing the hill to the big roundabout, then diving down the dark cutting to the old garage and St.Mary's Square.
The Square was full of a Car Boot Sale, and attending cars, which was why we did not have a larger presence here this year. We changed the blinds, and set off on the return journey. Roadworks near the usual turning roundabout invited a trip round through the town to regain the inward route at the large roundabout, and we rumbled back to Stevenage, completing a most enjoyable round trip.
A pleasant surprise as we pulled out of Stevenage Bus Station was ex-London Country Tiger TD1, stiil in its Welsh schools yellow livery, resting in the layby.
We wound our way past the Station and through the Old Town, and north towards the A1(M) and the Hitchin Road. This time it was Alexander-bodied Volvo 3458 that we met on the 101, working into Stevenage.
The double-deckers were operating along the main road to Hitchin, rather than through Little Wymondeley, so we were soon to Hitchin, rolling down to St.Mary's Square to pull up behind red RF366. Jim and his crew had had a busy morning, operating from Potters Bar as a 350 to Hertford, then along the long 329/329A routes via Knebworth to Hitchin. Now they were taking a short break before working the 383 to Weston.
The destination blinds were wound round on RT3228 to give the Welwyn Garden City setting, and we were away again, round through the town and back along the main road towards Stevenage. Passing Little Wymondeley on the by-pass, just before the bridge carrying the 386 route overhead, we met RT3254 pounding towards Hitchin with the 716.
We visited Lister Hospital, then picked our way into Stevenage, down through the Old Town, then out onto the by-pass to serve the Station and on round the corner into Stevenage Bus Station.
As we carefully made our way into the Bus Station we saw MB641 parked up, and also RMC1500, freshly arrived on the 390 from Hertford. We pulled round past it onto the next stop, and there was an interchange of passengers.
George was promptly on the bell, as soon as the driver was back in the cab, and we were away to the south. I had not been down the 303 before, so kept quiet while others who knew the route better passed directions to the driver. We were quickly out of Stevenage, and heading down the road to Knebworth. There was a short section that I recognised there, where the 329 and 329A share the route briefly, then beyonf Woolmer Green it was new to me again. We passed Mardley Hill, one of the 388 termini, and dropped down to pass under the A1(M) at Welwyn. I did know the way to Welwyn Church. We squeezed our way through the narrow village, and pulled up near Prospect Place. Yes, we were to go on into the Garden City. We continued on, following the 388 route as far as the Digswell Roundabout, then turning south, and then right again to meander round the Knightsfield Estate. We finally arrived in the city centre - in sunshine! I realised just why it is called a Garden City.
A left turn and a spin round the roundabout and we were down into the brick fastness of Welwyn's Bus Station. I alighted, with thanks to the crew.
I had hoped to make a connection here onto the 388 or 393, but it had gone. Never mind, there would be another before long, and the break would give me the opportunity to find lunch. I watched the RT depart back towards Stevenage. It got as far as the bus station neck, where a taxi was parked across the exit. The crew went to point out that this was not appropriate. Crisis resolved, and the RT roared away in the sunshine.
I went to find a nice early lunch in the bistro..
Photos by Ian Smith. Click on any of them for a larger picture.
Back to Ian's Bus-stop
Part One
Part Two
Part Four: Points West