Again another enjoyable evening meeting the crew ,the LOM Graham Parker and the coxswain Marco Brimacombe. Spent the early part of the evening in the Fortiscue Inn with Graham who had made a special effort to come down to the station to  meet me. Graham also came back this morning to take me up the hill to catch the bus. Many thanks to you all for your warm welcome and hospitality. I was extremely lucky today as when I arrived in Kingsbridge there was a special bus that went to M&S in Torquay direct which meant no changes of buses even though it went the same route. Whats more the driver Brian told me to stay on the bus and he would then take me to the strand in Torquay for my next bus to Teignmouth. This meant I was an hour ahead and it gave me the chance to have lunch with the LOM Tony Watson of Teignmouth lifeboat station. Tony and I attended the first course for LSSO ’s at Poole and have attended many boat shows together. He gave me a tour of his station and then had an enjoyable lunch together.Tony was a little shocked that I knew their boat was going to Sea this afternoon to scatter the ashes of Ruby Merrith born 1926. I had met a relative on the bus eariler.  Thanks Tony. I arrive Exmouth to be photographed getting off the bus and then more photos at the station. Exmouth is working really hard on fun raising as they will have a new station opening they hope in April. A special thanks must go to Joe Damsel LPO of Exmouth. She did all the work to get press and the interview on BBC radio Devon. Exmouth have at present a  Mersey afloat with portacabins on the quay and a IBL D class in the old boat huse which is the shop and museum. They cant wait for there station and be all under one roof. My host this evening is Peter Williams LSSO and his wife Lisa. Many thanks for dinner and your hospitality.

I was met last night by my opposite number Simon Hanaford. We where both welcomed to the Fowey Lifeboat station by  the coxswain Kieth. After publicity photos of me and some members of the crew for the local paper we attended the crew training evening. They had the Falmouth Dive Centre to demonstrate correct procedures etc. for divers in trouble on the surface. I met also the Falmouth LSSO Roger Andrew who I believe organised the event. I found the training extremely interesting.I then retired to the Galleon Inn where my hosts Karen & Lee welcomed me. If you are ever in Fowey you must visit the Galleon Inn, it is the best place in town. Fabulous views and very comfortable. Kipper for breakfast as well !! The climb out of town in the morning was again a challenge. Bus was late so only just made my next connection. Weather was drizzle all day so views were very limited. Arrived Salcombe Lifeboat station at 5.00pm to be met by the coxswain Marco. This evening is first aid training ,so a brush up for me ! Great to meet so many of the crew. Salcombe has a New Tamar 16-09 that arrived a year ago.  Contacted today by Devon Radio ,so if your in the area you may hear the interview I gave.

Had a great Cornish Fisherman’s breakfast. A Cornish kipper,locally caught and smoked. Many many thanks to Keith and Sandie for their hospitality,really appreciated. At breakfast met a lovely family from Newport   Caroline & Peter Harper and Joan & Terry Powell who had spent the last few in St Ives. Many thanks to them for their donation and to photographing me getting on the bus. The weather today has been fantastic, warm and not a cloud in the sky. The tiny bus from St Just to Penzance via Lands End & Mousehole visited all the coves. Again stunning scenery, unfortunately I was unable to visit my birth place Falmouth as the road was blocked at Breage so they could recover a Truck from a ditch. Having re routed to Turo which meant I arrived in Fowey early around 5.30pm. While waiting for the bus in St Austell I met two lovely young ladies. Pat 82 and Helen 78. Pat has just given up golf! both ladies were so supportive of the tour and great fun to talk too! I hope they have a nogin on me this evening. They invited me in for Tea but unfortunately the Bus was due any minute.

First, many thanks to John Watson for the last two nights accommodation. Very comfortable and I will be telling my wife of your  adventure centre as she is a Head of a Primary school. I walked to the bus this morning and realized I am not fit .Half a mile with my bag and I arrived at the bus stop as if I had just come off a squash Court!!! I took a bus to Bideford and then had to walk up the hill to the hospital stop to catch the next bus. Wow 20 mins to walk with bag up the hill another half mile. Arrived to be greeted by a gent who said I must be fit, again looking as if I had another session on the court.! Made the bus though ! Two bus rides today stuck in my mind as one had stunning views of the coast and the other was one where we went inland to many hamlets , I again being the only passenger. Most of these hamlets where at the end of cul le sacs! These very narrow roads mean on many occasions the bus has to reverse to passing places. This makes it very difficult for them to keep to schedule. So I arrived in St Ives approx one hour later than planned. The Regent Hotel I was staying at was right next to the bus stop. A real contrast to the start of the day. Kieth & Sandi welcomed me and showed me to my room. I spent the evening exploring St Ives and had a dinner at the “Fish Cafe”. Certainly recommend it if you visit St Ives.

I know I am in Devon, the accent is one I recognize as my education was here in Devon and have always considered my self to be a west country boy as I  was also born in Falmouth. Today I have been welcomed into the Appledore Lifeboat station by Wendy Dale LOM, the second coxswain Owen Atkinson, Gary Stanbury 2nd mech. and crew members Andrew, Richard and David. A quick tour of the station and then we were off down the slipway in the launch inflatable to get to the 47- 027 a Tyne Class Lifeboat moored in the estuary. The launch was down the slipway by tractor driven  Adam and assisted by Kevin. Sundays is not normally there day of exercise, so I was really honoured to be taken to sea . All had given up there morning, many many thanks guys. The weather today is a perfect spring day, warm, little wind and a flat sea. The exercise was interesting as we did engine tests ,shutting down each engine in turn to allow new trainees to experience boat handling , Man overboard ,which I found very interesting as they have a high freeboard in which to recover. The Coxswains tips I will definitely be using in my next talks on MOB/Recovery. Owen then took the boat very close to Baggy Cliffs . These cliffs are often used by Climbers and  on many occasions they have had to get along side these cliffs to rescue them, they use the Y Boat as a large fender. Very skilled helmsman-ship. We the returned to refuel on the quay before returning to the floating mooring. A very enjoyable and informative trip. Many many thanks to you all. Spent some time at the station on our return and heard some interesting things that they are doing for fund-raising. Wendy gave me also a little of the history of the station. 1824 Appledore was the first station to have an RNLI lifeboat and also it was the first to have a motorized lifeboat. Many thanks to you all for your warm welcome and hospitality. I am staying at the Skern Lodge Adventure Centre , many thanks to John Watson his staff  for there hospitality. Tomorrow off to St Ives.

Another enjoyable evening with Chris Spencer,his wife Suzanne, Nick and his wife Dianna and David. A Sea Safety evening as Nick and David are sea safety advisers and Chris is the LSSO. Excellent bowl of Mussels !  Many thanks Chris and Suzanne  for your hospitality. Suzanne dropped me off  this morning just in time for me to take an early bus which gave me a head start for the day. I arrived at Minehead with the chance that I might catch a bus 2 hours ahead of the plan. I climbed off the bus to walk across the road just as the Lynmouth bus was leaving. I looked up thinking now a 2 hour wait only to bump into a Doctor friend of mine from way back. In fact I was his best man 30 years ago. John and Tina were so shocked as was I !!  They retired to Minehead and over the last 10 years we have only contacted each other by Christmas cards. We had a very enjoyable lunch together and I had a quick chance to see there cottage. While waiting for the bus to Lynmouth I had a chance to take a few photos and also met a Lady called Pattie who is very keen to be an RNLI fund raiser ,she is going to the shop to find out who the chair is of fund raising. So Minehead you got someone else now to help. The views ,on the bus to Lynmouth ,are stunning and I arrived in Lynmouth with a walk to Lynton which is 1/2 a mile up a very very steep hill with only 15 mins to do it in. I was struggling with my bag and luckily someone told me the cliff railway opened today. What a relief as I made the next bus just as it was about to leave. Otherwise another 2 hour wait. Paul the bus driver and one lady passenger gave me a conducted tour to Barnstable. Many thanks Paul. Arrived Appledore at 6.00pm. Tomorrow is a day relaxing and I will be meeting the crew and a chance to go to sea  on their morning exercise.

Click on the Link to see Bill in the Burnham on Sea website

http://www.burnham-on-sea.com/news/2009/bus-fundraiser-17-02-09.php

As you will have seen ,the photo idea spot the silly old sods has not been very sucessful. What we hadnt  realised are the buses are full of senior citizens who have mobile phones but don’t know how to use them. I am therefore delighted that Chris Brown of MCL. Ltd has agreed to donate as if we had received the photos. Chris many many thanks for your support very much appreciated.  Also the TEXT system as had few responses only 14 to date. I must try harder !!! Nevertheless we are still going for target £5000.

This was probably the only day I have had on the tour where every bus left on time and arrived on time. One could say it was a doddle ! Arrived Burnham on Sea early 3.00pm to be met by Chris Spencer LSSO who photographed me  getting off the bus. Again welcomed into the station by the LOM Ricky Holmes , LPO and senior helm. Again more photos and welcome cup of coffee. This is also an unusal station as they tow the Lifeboats down the high street to launch. I heard of Weston Super Mud but you should see the photos in the station of crew in mud gear!! Many thanks Guys for your welcome.

As you will see from the photos my hosts Roger & Philly put on superb dinner. A delicious fish pie with the added touch of the RNLI and SOS in pastry. We were joined by the DLA of the Fishgaurd lifeboat station Alan Hollis and his wife Eliz. A lovely evening,many thanks Roger and Philly. Before I left Fishguard there was just enough time for me to see a little of the town and the Tapestry of the invasion of the French in 1700 era. I didnt know the french invaded us at Fishguard. Very similar to the Bayeux tapestry. The journey to Carmaerthan uneventful but I now know how it feels to be a really silly old sod. I had a cup of tea in a cafe and the very chatty owner took my phone to charge it . In chatting completely forgot it and got on the bus. Panic ,panic , no phone so had to get off the bus and return to collect it. The chatty owner greeted me with its nearly fully charged! Very relieved I caught the next bus and eventually arrived in Penarth 7.00pm !  I was met in Penarth by the LSSO Laurie Pavelin and headed for the lifeboat station and the Yacht Culb for Dinner. At the culb I was introduced to Karl Lawence the senior helm. Spent the night on Laurie’s lovely yacht a Dufour 40. Very comfortable yacht and I only wish when I woke we could sail. In the morning Laurie took me  for a  tour of  Penath and  Cardiff docks/ marinas . Modern clean super city. Many thanks Laurie.

Bus was very late leaving Caernarfon and within 10 minutes of leaving an alarm could be heard coming from the drivers cab. The bus then went into limp mode and eventually stopped. The driver phoned base and the turned engine on and off a couple of times and the alarm cleared and the problem was over we thought. Twenty minutes later same problem. This time it was obvious we wont going anywhere and we had to wait for a following bus and breakdown truck.The bus arrived and from there it was find a bus to destination. Many folk helped me find alternative buses. Arrived a bit late to be met by my host Roger & Philly Morrall. Classic car friends of mine.  Gather Fishgaurd Lifeboat DLA and his wife are joining us for dinner. Hear more tomorrow if I can get access to computer.