The non-choir tour outing

Today our very good friends Felicity, Sue and Ray came to visit. 

We wanted to thank them for all their efforts at our wedding and as we've been on Sue and Ray's boat twice, this seemed perfect. 

It was a nice, partly sunny, and certainly warm day. 

Everyone duly arrived at 10:00. 

And we set off. 

We sailed to Tibberton and found a lovely mooring just by the railway and the old church. We had trouble at the winding hole as someone had moored right across from it but they moved on when we asked them to. 

Alison had made beef bourguignon for lunch which was delicious and then her special Cassata cheese for dessert. 

All to soon it was time for the return journey. Sue helped at the locks which was greatly appreciated. 

Hanbury locks are quite deep and very dark. I still think they are a brilliant invention, so simple and effective. 

We had at thoroughly enjoyable day and are already looking forward to the next one. 

My other hobby.

Yesterday I was booked as Driver 1 which meant first choice of tram to drive.

Heidi, my conductor for the day, quite fancied having Rack 2. She hadn't driven it before and when she mentioned she would like to do a trip as it was being withdrawn from service at the end of the year we quickly chose it. Rack 2 is probably my favourite tram and I didn't realise it was being withdrawn, so the chance to have a day driving it was brilliant. 

I drove 9 trips and Heidi did 3. The fine weather trips were great but we did slip slide away on the wet ones. 

We also had trainee conductor Luke with us, pictured here helping Heidi with the information talk at Glory Mine. 

The other trams in service were 273,

and 510. 

Blackpool 40 was doing an Ultimate Driving Experience and luckily for them, when waiting at the staff post became too frustrating they could just turn and go. 

After all the long waits for other vehicles and crews, we ended up last tram as usual, but I'm not complaining, we got one more trip than anybody else :-). 

Two for joy.

Having not sailed Magpie II since April it was with some trepidation that we finally set off on her for a small trip we have managed to squeeze on between honeymoon and going back to work. 

We went to Tibberton and had a meal at The Bridge. 

The food was lovely but a series of power cuts meant that the evening will be remembered for darker reasons than normal. 

The first attempt to pay by credit card was interrupted by a power cut so I had to do it all again. I hope I haven paid twice. 

During our journey we spotted this signal box

 

And this lovely church. 

Nothing else for it this morning then but to go for an investigative walk. 

We followed the road and eventually came to the crossing. 

The signal box is permanently manned for, it appears, the opening and closing of these gates on a quiet back road. 

It is due to be demolished next year and replaced with barriers. Shame. 

The church is St James at Oddingley. 

It dates from the 15th century and had an interesting story about a vicar who was murderd in the 1800s. 

Eventually we got back to Magpie II. We had managed to moor just past the winding hole which made turning easy. 

A short cruise back, stopping in the Fir Tree at Dunhampstead for lunch. 

We are now safely moored, after a slight bump with next door (oops) and giving the batteries a good charge before going home. 

Last night's mooring was much more rural. 

No Xtra help

For breakfast this morning we went to a local diner. 

  

and both had burritos. 

After some final packing we set off for our last few hours in America. 

I am still amazed by the public transport in San Francisco. 

The trolley buses are fantastic

and have some amazing overhead wiring. 

We took the cable car down California and waited for a tram to Fishermans Walk. 

These two passed us whilst we were waiting. 

 

We caught this one. 

As you can see it only ran to pier 39. Turning early involves the driver changing the points. 

We then walked to our favourite cable car line, Powell and Hyde. 

This fire engine passed us making a lot of noise. 

We were fortunate enough to ride on the front offside corner again so a really good trip on our last day. 

We walked down Market Street, sneaking into the poshest hotel in the area to use the loo and then caught the California cable car to the cable car museum. We enjoyed our time here but spent loads too much :-). 

There are only four ropes which drive the whole system, the longest being about 4 miles long. All are driven from here. 

After our last ride, back to our hotel, we had an hour for lunch. We had spotted Mels diner yesterday so gave it a try. 

It turned out to be as good as any meal we have had. 

I had three sliders, a beef one, a sausage with goats cheese one and a pulled pork one. 

Also American fries and onion rings. 

Alison had a chuck steak. 

We think we have put on about a pound a day, but have had the whole experience we wanted. 

The diet starts tomorrow. 

Time for a few quick pictures 

 

And then to the airport where we now sit. 

We tried to by Duty Free but our Halifax card, our funding source for this trip, was not accepted so no Xtra help and no duty free :-(. 

Boarding in 30 minutes.