Tag Archives: Casey

Jim and Elsie’s 1978 Tour – Day 49

Friday, 19 May 1978

Fine (a.E.M.C.)

Taxi at 9 o’clock to Victoria Station. Waited for 3050 [group] to gather. Moved off at 9.55 to Platform 1. Two Australian girls opposite – one from Strathfield, one from Bondi. They left Perth last October. Train left at 10.35.

Dover at 12.05. Luggage left in group to be put in the hold. On boat about 12.20. Went down to self service for lunch at 12.35. Service very slow 2 fish @ £2, black tea @ 15p, small lemonade 35p = £4.50. Boat left at about 1.10. Crossing to lake about 4 hours. Fairly smooth crossing but a fair sea is running. Due to arrive at 5.55 continental time.

Mixed bunch on the coach. One dominant American voice. One over enthusiastic Australian(?) girl currying favour with chocolate and excess of well-manners.

After just crossing Dutch border the bus broke down. Had had a constant whine on the diff on the drive and seemed like a square wheel on the back. We were at a coffee break station. After a road mechanic came he announced it to be “kaput” and the courier arranged for another bus to come . Eventually a meal was served to us at the self service. Soup, fish, fruit. Left at 10.20 arrived 12.20 at Arnhem. The American and the Irishman talked all the way in very loud voices.

 

Jim and Elsie’s 1978 Tour – Day 48

Thursday, 18 May 1978

Fine (after E.M.C.) [Early Morning Cloud?]

Elsie had a hair perm appointment at 9.30 (took till 12.00).

I went up to London (9.00) with Geoff. He dropped me off at 10.00 at Vauxhall Bridge and I walked (15 mins) up to Cosmos to pick up the papers for the Russian trip.

I thought I did not have the air ticket for Copenhagen-Oslo so rang Scandinavian Airlines who said it should be with my air tickets and I should get in touch with Qantas. I decided I had better have another good look at the tickets and headed home.

Train to Embankment walked to Charing Cross and caught 11.08 train to Sidcup (3 mins to spare). 20 mins walk home.

Met Elsie on way home and then went and rang Newcastle to let them know that I would not be picking the car up until after 2.00 pm on June 11th. Told her it was a Sunday.

Sorted out our bags and left a lot of papers and clothes at Geoff’s place. Took two bags that are fairly light.

Mrs Lawson came down from Banbury and Geoff picked her up.

Early tea and Geoff left at 4.30 and dropped us at Moorgate – had a long wait for a circle Train.

Carried the bags from South Kensington to the hotel. Room 6 once again – we are now old stagers.

Jim and Elsie’s 1978 Tour – Day 47

Wednesday, 17 May 1978

Fine

Rob back to work – the kids back to school. E & G [Elsie & Gillian] did the housework and we drove down to new shopping centre at Chatham. A large regional shopping complex – shops air/cond but walkways and plazas, although covered, were not fully air/cond. Bought some t.paper, Redoxin, lozenges and film but Elsie could not find the heavier type slacks she was after.

Back to Gravesend shops. Many very large shops all well stocked with a very good selection. Bought a crew neck acrylic at Tescos $4.99 and Elsie bought blouses at Marks & Spencers. Had a haircut at Fishers. Had a trim by a buxom bra-less girl who had been standing out in the alley way and whom I wasn’t sure might have been soliciting.

After a big tea Elsie and Gill went to the local cub meeting. E said that the kids were good and soon learned the Highland Goat and asked questions about the Australian flag.

Darryl off to Cubs

Rob took us back to Jennifer’s about 9 o’clock.

Big greeting by Sally (dog).

 

Jim and Elsie’s 1978 Tour – Day 46

Tuesday, 16 May 1978

Fine, warm

As a special treat the three kids were allowed to have a day off school because their aunt and uncle from Australia were staying with them.

Went down to Broadstairs (50 miles) – followed the Thames down. Early fog lifted and once in a sheltered spot it was quite warm. We had lunch on the beach. Elsie and kids went for a walk and paddle along the beach. Water was very cold. Elsie said she could not feel her toes after a minute or so. Walked along the promenade at the foot of the cliffs and back along the top of the cliffs.

Some secondary boys were out in sailing boats. Wind was cold and the water must have been freezing. One couple could not manage to get their boat past the end of the breakwall.

Drove around to Ramsgate and had tea.

 

Jim and Elsie’s 1978 Tour – Day 39

Tuesday, 9 May 1978

Fine, clear

Through Bournemouth to Sandbanks. Caught 10.30 ferry to Brownsea Island – open boat. Large castle on island now let by National Trust to John Lewis who use it as a staff holiday and conference hotel.

A peacock at Brownsea Island

Small church. many peacocks strutting and calling and displaying tails. Walked to stone to mark the first campsite of BP [Baden-Powell].

Where “scouting” started

Crossed car ferry to Swanage. Through Corfe Castle where remains of the castle are high on the hill. beautiful well ordered countryside blocked by hedges on the sides of the road.

Wareham to Weymouth on dockside.

Walked up through the town plaza. Bought soap, hair cream and spencer at M&S [Marks & Spencers].

Along B3157 to Bridport to Lyme Regis, A3052, A376 to Exmouth. Trouble to find a cafe. Had KentuckyFried on the roadside seat. Found some jumper leads.

To Exeter 377, A380 to Newton Abbot to Kingskerswell 4 miles short of Torquay. Talkative B&B lady, very nice bungalow, beautiful gardens. Son in South Australia, CSIRO, checking wines.

Jim and Elsie’s 1978 Tour – Day 38

Monday, 8 May 1978

Up and away on our motor tour!

Picked [the] Marina (808 miles [on the clock]) up at Sidcup (£60 dep). Followed route numbers to Purley and Leatherhead. Elsie then found Maries parent’s address was in Surrey so we backtracked and after a couple of attempts found Rectory Lane, Long Ditton.

Woke Marie’s [teacher friend of Jims] brother Mick up out of bed – he was back from 3 month stint up in the Baltic. His parents weren’t home. He made us coffee and we had a yarn. We are to contact his parents some time.

Elsie discovered she had a cousin in Hampshire but could not decide whether she lived in Obelisk Rd, Hampshire or Southampton. We eventually sorted that out and then headed for Southampton. Found a cafe at the docks area. Looked for a phone, found a local map, looked for another phone – only one in the phone book. Rang her up and found we were only about a mile from her. We visited Roseanne and I met 3 of her 4 beautiful daughters. Left at 5.15 and headed for Bournemouth. Came down A35 instead of A31 through Lyndhurst towards Christchurch.

Stayed at White Gates Guest House at Somerford  – B&B £4.50. Very well set out room. Tea at a Little Chef. Drove around Christchurch and Bournemouth after tea, without too many wrong turnings.

Cup of tea in the lounge and spoke with a farmer and his wife from Coventry. Has been a misty week for them.

Jim and Elsie’s 1978 Tour – Day 37

Sunday, 7 May 1978

Misty, very warm

Up at 10 o’clock. Set off for Brighton. Clutch on car played up at Royal Tunbridge Wells – bled it and got going.

Lunched on the promenade at Brighton at 3 o’clock. Very warm – shed sweaters.

Commercial section of Vintage Rally to Brighton. Main section too crowded to park. Saw many of the old vehicles as we returned. Fire engines, double deckers, charabancs, trucks, steam rollers, steam trucks stoking up boilers and making dense smoke.

Some brave souls having a dip.

Big baked dinner. Elderberry wine, quince wine, hock and mixture. Strawberry trifle.

Many instructions of the route numbers to take on Monday.