My New Years Recognition Honours

It’s taken a lifetime to get it with years of toiling and strife. Finally, recognition for everything I’ve done.

My Reward

Have I been rewarded in the Queen’s new years honours list? An MBE, OBE or even a Knighthood? Nope! Perhaps a CBE or BEM? Nope! None of these. In fact, I have finally gained my senior citizen’s travel pass. Living in Wales, we are awarded such things once we reach the age of 60 as opposed to 65 in England.

Where To?

So where shall I venture with my new ticket to ride? Well, looking at the local bus services, I’m a little dismayed that the nearest bus stop is about 4 miles away from our front door. The local railway station is a little closer at around 2 miles. I can use my travel pass for both rail and bus journeys, although I still have to pay something towards the cost of a train ride. Of course, I can only travel free and discounted in Wales, so a visit to Shrewsbury or Ludlow is out of the question.

Exercise!

It would be a good exercise to walk the couple of miles to the station and catch the train. I think the next one is due in about three months, so I have plenty of time to plan. A train to the nearest Welsh town which I think would be Llandrindod Wells (try saying that after a couple of beers). Then I could catch a bus and go wherever I wanted. The world is my Oyster. Getting home could be a bit trickier especially knowing how infrequent the trains are.

Elan Valley

The beautiful Elan Valley isn’t too far away from here, about 25 miles. A quick check to find which bus I could catch there and …………. nothing! There are buses from Llandrindod Wells (phew) to Rhayader and a couple of miles walk from there to the entrance of the Elan Valley. Plus the two-mile walk to the railway station here to catch the next train due in April. Hmmm, I know walking is great exercise, but I think I’ll be doing more walking than travelling by bus. Perhaps I should get myself a bicycle. I can take it on the train, but on the bus might be more problematic.

A Sense Of Adventure

Sense Of Adventure

I am very happy to have gained my bus pass. It is a great benefit to a lot of people who otherwise would be stuck at home all day, every day. Next week, I’m planning on giving it a go. My wife will drive me into Knighton and drop me off at the end of the main road. I will wait for the local bus while she drives to the other end of the main road to meet me. Once I’ve got the confidence from that initial journey, I might try a two bus stop trip the following week. My sense of adventure has been unleashed!

There are many ways of getting around Wales by bus and ‘The Lonely Planet’ has a great page for anyone that’s interested: Wales By Bus.