Can we FlixBus it – yes we can, the best budget, hassle-free way to travel through the UK and further afield through Europe.
I bring these musings to you today from a Flixbus en route from Edinburgh to Leeds.
Where I’ll be attending a Travel Connection Group Media Gateway international Travel fare.
We’re just passing by my house in North Berwick, East Lothian, and have been passed by a train, but who’s caring.
We left on time and the coach is comfy and quiet and cheap (from £29 return) compared to the extortionate Scotrail train (£145 return)
My in-tray
I’ve a tray in front of me, a plug point and legroom to stretch my legs in the aisle and there’s a loo on board.
My newly-acquired multi-zipped backpack from the recent American Travel Fair IPW in San Antonio, Texas sits under my feet.
Although equally there is overhead space to give you more room.
Only I wake up in a cold sweat at the thought of how I left my suitcase on the train on the first leg, NB to Edinburgh, en route to Texas.
Equally, if you are going further afield to London, or are returning home with all your washing, you can put your big luggage into the hold.
A trip down Memory Lane
Now, as with much in life, some things feel familiar but some have changed since first I took the bus south to England.
We had safety in numbers as a gang of four off camping in the French Riviera after our last year at school.
When my pals hooked up with some English lasses on board while I awkwardly slunk into my seat, comfy it was though and cheap.
My luck and my looks had improved as I moved through university.
Munich Beerfest blondes
And I had enchanted a golden-tressed Aussie in my much-storied Munich Beerfest tour.
There were buses involved there too, ours Top Deck and theirs Contiki with whom we held a good-natured rivalry.
The overgrown Aussie and Kiwi bunch that we were, and me an adopted Bushwhacker, we’d goad them.
With chants of Contiki take it up the arse, dooda… beer and schnapps had been taken.
But in matters of the heart I was more than happy to fraternise with the Contiki crew particularly a golden vision from Adelaide.
Kisses were exchanged and telephone numbers and addresses (pre-Internet) and I agreed to come down from Aberdeen and see her in London.
London calling
Alas, when I arrived off a 12-hour Stagecoach’s
overnighter and made the appointed time and place, Trafalgar Square, Diane was nowhere to be seen.
Or picking up her phone.
She was there at the pub that night where the Top Deck Beerfest trip reunion was being held.
With her Scottish boyfriend.
The penny fell, I had been her holiday fling and she obviously had a thing for hairy-arsed Jocks.
I stayed the night at the bar of one of my bus buddies in London.
And took in my first, and still, only Aussie Rules game, at The Oval.
Before embarking on the 12-hour overnighter back to Aberdeen.
The magic bus
Of course, this was not my first misadventure with the Fair Sex, nor would it be my last, not by a long chalk.
But when I eventually reached my destination, my English rose.
And it was well worth the earlier bumps and pitstops.
All of which reminisces and luggage I carry with me on life’s journey.
The latest of which is this five-hour bus ride into a new unknown.
Leeds, a city I know from sport and music and the Emmerdale farming soap but have yet to explore.
I’d like to report it’s been a good start thanks to this gem of a coach company.
Can we FlixBus it – yes we can.