Today I am being interviewed by Sovereign Radio FM as they feel they would like to hear my views on Senior Citizens free bus pass. Many have passed comment that I was lucky as they feel the Government will restrict the use in the future. I shall be interested to hear the questions and the public view !! It is being recorded at three pm today .I will try and find out when it goes out over the air.

I thoroughly enjoyed my hour in the FM Studio last Sunday. I was interviewed by Mark Williams the host and was joined by Tony Vanburger who was the gentleman who interviewed me live every evening whilst I was on the tour. I hope I managed to thank all those that supported me. A big thank you to Seahaven FM , a radio station that are doing a  lot for the community and especially in supporting local charities like the RNLI. They need our support and I do hope they get their broadcasting license in June.

Today I was invited for morning coffee at MCL in Seaford. As you are all aware MCL  very generously sponsored the “Spot the Silly Old Sods” photo idea. It wasn’t as successful as we had first thought in that it was difficult to get folk to photograph us with there mobiles ,nevertheless  Chris Brown has today presented me with a cheque for £1500 . This figure was already in the fund total. Dave and I are extremely grateful to Chris . I have to say my interest in Bus Transport is now considerable and it was an interesting hour this morning to chat about my findings re bus travel and to hear from him the problems bus companies are facing.

Bill and Chris Brown Managing Director of MCL

The last few days has been collecting the donations from those that sponsored me before I started the tour. I am delighted to say that it looks like early next week I will have made the the Target and a bit more. Once again many many thanks to you all for your generosity. Once I have the exact figure I will update the Blog early next week . I attended my brothers birthday party( he is now 65 so he needs a bus pass !!) last week in Mijas Spain and I would like to thank all those at the party who so generously donated.

This Sunday at 5.00pm Mark William of Seahaven FM has invited me to his program to talk about the tour. This will be the last bit of publicity and will give me the chance on air to thank all those that donated and supported me. So if you can log onto the Internet on Sunday  listen on Seahaven FM at 5.00pm.

You will see from the photos of my welcome home just how special it was. My thanks to Ian and crew for arranging the reception, the Limo and another big thanks to Peter & Mo for organising the Newhaven Youth Marching Band.  I understand the young lads & lassies of the Band waited patiently for two hours for my arrival. It was a cold night and those uniforms were not made for that sort of weather.Many thanks to you all,only wish I could have spent longer with you. It was like a whirlwind,no sooner had I arrived and suddenly it was up and away. I was so tried when I got off the bus and suddenly I felt ready to party and what a party. Nobody could have asked for more. The welcome home is one I shall never forget.

This venture could not have been done without the enormous work and planning that was done. I cannot thank Dave’s  wife Pat enough for all the work that she put into planning the routes, the bus  times, numbers and where to walk to between buses. She also organised the accommodation. Pat has worked at the planning over the last 5 months and then in January had to recheck all the bus times again to check times hadn’t changed and in many cases they had.

A big  thanks also to Dave who had had a pacemaker fitted just before Christmas and took the risk of doing this venture with me. The start was tough and the  weather was  awful. I was upset when he felt he had to leave me but hearts must be listened to and health is paramount.  He supported me all the way round and I am proud to be his friend. Thanks Dave. 

And then there is my son Simon. Not just a son but my best friend. Simon produced this incredible web site, uploaded it every day, rang me every day and encouraged me to keep going. His generosity to the cause is amazing . Not only did he do all the above , his company Kudos made a considerable donation. Many thanks Simon.

And finally my wife who has been the lady behind me. Her love and encouragement has kept me going. I am not the most tackful or thoughtful person and so often forgetful !! but oh how lucky I am to have such a lovely supporting wife.

A big thank you has to go to all the lovely people who gave me a bed for the night. It wasn’t just a bed it was their hospitality and delicious meals.

Thanks also to the Royal Norfolk & Suffolk  Yacht  Club,  Beach Hotel  Whitby, Cobbled Yard Hotel  Berwick on Tweed,  Skern Lodge Adventure Centre Appledore,  Regent Hotel  St. Ives and the   Galleon Inn  Fowey.  All donated bed & breakfast and hospitality.

My wife dropped me off early at Poole bus station with the hope I could get home a little earlier. Without my bag,  the day should have been easy. However, all went well to Lymington, stood all the way on 3 buses talking to some great bus drivers. Best way to get to know what to see ! The journey from Lymington to Southampton is across the Forest and spring time is just the time to cross the forest. Spring flowers and the ponies grazing. Arrived Southampton and then my problems started. Nobody knew where to catch the next bus. Just as well I was over an hour early. Finally found a tourist information office who informed me the last bus on this route would leave in an hour from a stop just outside. This bus route to Portmouth finishes today and I was going to travel on the last one. All at the stop were moaning as in future the only way is via Fareham and it will take 3 hours. The poor driver sure got it in the neck, I felt very sorry for him as it wasn’t his decision !! The route is closing due to the fact it doesn’t make money as it is used mostly by Senior citizens which according to the driver only pays for the fuel !! So now I am over an hour late and as we approached Portsmouth ran into a 3 mile traffic jam. Deep joy!! Eventually got onto the 700 coast bus to Brighton 2 hours late. Arrived Brighton to be told wait here and the next bus would be for Newhaven. Well it never came and I was now getting very irritated. I knew a few friends were waiting for me at Newhaven as I had promised them a beer.! After two more bus rides finally arrived at Newhaven at 8 pm an hour an half late.  I heard someone say on the bus as we queued to get off ,”what the hells going on here”. Wow, what a home coming. I was overwhelmed. There was the Newhaven Youth Marching Band playing,  my wife , my son & daughter in law & grandson. Ian the coxswain & nearly all the lifeboat crew, Peter & Mo ,Seahaven FM and friends there to greet me off the bus. I didn’t  know where to turn, I just hope I didn’t miss anyone. The atmosphere was incredible .They then told me the youth band had been waiting for me since 6 pm ! Also there was a Black stretched limo which had also been waiting and he was late for his booked client!. I was ushered into the limo and taken to the lifeboat station. Again I was knocked sideways as the coxswain, crew & wives had put a reception for me. Thanks to you all, I sure have got a lot of thank you’s to write. Whats more you will see my target is nearly met as on the last few buses I had calls to tell me others had donated including the Brighton Marina Bertholders Association. Many thanks to all of you.

Many thanks to my hosts Peter and Lisa. Really enjoyed my stay. Peter very kindly took me to Topsham ,which is a lovely little port on the exe. Such a shame it was so misty. He then dropped me off at Exeter bus station for my only bus trip of the day. The Jurasticcoastal bus to Poole. If any of you find time it is well worth the time,sit upstairs and just relax and just take in the beautiful coast line. Once again met some lovely people including a Dutch lady who explained all about the Dutch lifeboat service. Thank you for your donation. I arrived Poole on time to be greeted by my lovely wife who helped me carry my bag for the last time. If I ever do this again it sure will be with a lighter bag !! Spent the evening in the RNLI college where we met Peter Chennell ( Head of Sea Safety ) for a large glass of wine. Many thanks Peter. The College is a superb place to stay with excellent food and a bar !! Met our 2nd Mech Lol   ( Newhaven lb ),who was also staying the weekend with his wife and  friends.  My wife and I throughly enjoyed our time and evening together.

Have just spoken with Bill, He is on the bus to Brighton. Only one more bus to catch!!.  Congratulations, very well done, wish I could have been with you to share the satisfaction of completing a unique trip.

Dave