I have always loved a coach trip, from school outings to adventures when my kids were young, to spoiling other people’s children, to going places, seeing and doing things without the hassle the journey would involve in going by car … and nothing has changed as I have gotten older.
Today we were off again, this time to see The Kelpies and then to have afternoon tea on a steam train. Typically, the weather was not the nicest, in fact it was bucketing it down so hard that everyone was soaked before we even set off, but no one was bothered.
The Kelpies are not really the thing to go visiting in a monsoon, there is little to do there that is under cover apart from the gift shop and café but we all made the most of it and some, like us even ventured out to get some photos and to eat ice-cream.
The steam train was another thing all together. There was just a short dash from the coach to the station, so we didn’t get too wet. The tables had been reserved for us in beautiful reconditioned British Rail Mk1 coaches, built around the 1950’s, painted in the crimson and cream (blood and custard) livery. It was strange to see the ashtray fittings, anther more poignant blast from a bygone era. Afternoon tea was everything that you would expect from fine dining. Hand made in the buffet on the station came an array of sandwiches, scones, proper butter, clotted cream and jam served on a traditional cake stand, all delivered to the tables before departure, to be washed down with copious amounts of tea or coffee. There is just something very magical in this day and age about having tea whilst listening to the engine and watching puffs of steam billow past the window.
A spritely gentleman in his eighties, as he proudly inform us joined our table. He introduced himself as ‘Fred, not dead … not yet’ and told us about the coach trips that he constantly went on to not only get himself out of the house, but to keep active and to meet new people. Although we had originally harboured the idea of a romantic tea-for-two, it turned out a pleasure to share the ride with him.
The Dodds of Troon coach was full. We were the youngest (apart from the driver) and we’re almost in our sixties. Some people were celebrating a birthday, some were couples like ourselves and there was the party organised via a care facility … but by the end we were all friends. I can’t think of a better way to have spent a very wet Sunday afternoon.
The Kelpies - https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/the-helix-home-of-the-kelpies-p889261
Dodds of Troon - https://www.doddsoftroon.com
Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway - https://www.bkrailway.co.uk