5137 trip to The Hellfire Caves, Buckinghamshire 17th July 2010
5137 came with us today on a Thanet Ghostwatch friends and family day out to the Hellfire Caves in West Wycombe Buckinghamshire. At 250 miles round trip, this was going to be the longest trip that any of Bernard's or my buses have ever done since their service days. We set out at 0530 and arrived at the caves at 1015 after several refreshment stops. After exploring the caves (Hell) and the church on the hill above (heaven) we headed off to nearby Hughenden Manor near High Wycombe. 5137 was parked in the carpark by the church in the company of some bulls! Leaving High Wycombe about 1700 we encountered fellow Bristol VR AFJ770T on the M25. Amazing, the only vehicle we manage to overtake all day and it's another VR! Then during a stop at Clacketts Lane services I spotted another VR lucking in the truck parking area. This was former Bristol / Badgerline EWS742W now owned by the Solana family as a mobile home (thanks to Cristina and Peter for the tour!) and was off to Dover then Europe as a family tour. We headed back onto the motorway and into Kent, stopping off at Teynham for fish and chips. We arrived back at the yard at nearly 2200 after a tiring but great day out. 5137 performed really well throughout and held a steady 47mph on the flat bits of the motorway.