By 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.
Innerdialects
January 11, 2020LOVED this post! Yes the world is indeed your oyster. Wayyyy to go, you deserve an Abs Award for being the wonderful person you are on blog or off. ????????????????????⚘????
admin
January 11, 2020Thank you very much, your words are very kind. ????
smzang
January 11, 2020I gripe because I have to wait in traffic. Not only did your article tickle my funny bone,
it made me to stop a minute and realize how much I take for granted. Thanks on both
counts!
admin
January 11, 2020Thank you, Smzang, I’m glad it tickled your funny bone. ????
bereavedandbeingasingleparent
January 11, 2020Did the Queen or Boris write to you to congratulate you on this fine achievement.
admin
January 11, 2020Alas, no they didn’t, although I had a facsimile off Boris asking me to vote for his party in December. Thank you ????
Bryntin
January 11, 2020Ah yes, the access to non private motor transport when living slightly more rurally can be challenging. My daughter called after her first week at Cambridge, excitedly telling me about being able to catch buses a few yards and directly outside the college buildings and being able to ‘get an Uber’ (whatever that is) whenever she wanted. She’d never known such riches before!
admin
January 11, 2020It certainly can be a challenge. Years ago, people thought nothing of walking great distances to get somewhere. Thank you, Bryntin.
Amanda Ricks
January 11, 2020Oh that’s so cute and funny. Well done ????????
admin
January 11, 2020Thank you, Amanda ????
Peter's pondering
January 11, 2020Sounds just the ticket!
admin
January 11, 2020Lol, it is, Peter, thank you.
Yetismith
January 11, 2020Congratulations! I look forward to your travelogue!
admin
January 11, 2020Ha, I never thought of that, thank you, Yeti.
librepaley
January 11, 2020Hard to think of a better gift.
admin
January 11, 2020Thank you, librepaley. ????
susiesopinions
January 11, 2020Congratulations. You can be a free spirit.
admin
January 11, 2020Thank you Susie and I will be ????
Rosaliene Bacchus
January 11, 2020The blessings of aging! Here in Los Angeles, we get no free pass, only a discount rate (currently 35% in my area).
admin
January 11, 2020Thank you, Rosaliene. I suppose it’s better than nothing ????
Freddiemercuryonline
January 11, 2020Love this post
admin
January 12, 2020Thank you ????
ladyp25
January 12, 2020Free bird! I must say
admin
January 12, 2020Indeed. Thank you, Pamela ????
KINDNESS
January 12, 2020Thank you ???? sweet as ❤️
admin
January 12, 2020Thank you, KINDNESS, that’s very kind of you ????
charlypriest
January 12, 2020Tell that to my father ( the pay famous bus and train card) and is always a joy to read you.
admin
January 12, 2020Thank you ????
SueW
January 13, 2020I don’t have a bus pass even though I’m eligible, but I am In a similar situation regarding areas of travel. I would love to tour North Yorkshire without driving, but because I’m just over the border, a West Yorkshire bus pass would only cover the cost for less than a mile!
admin
January 13, 2020They are strange items. I would have thought they could be a national item, a bit like the TV license. I have been told that between October and March, we can use them on the trains anywhere in Wales. I shall have to check it out. Thank you, Sue.
bekitschig
January 13, 2020He’s gotta ticket to ride … Damn, in Berlin you get mad when you have to wait 5 minutes for the next underground …
admin
January 13, 2020Thank you, bekitschig. Yes, a ticket to ride. ????
gianmarco groppelli, *J&J*
January 13, 2020????