Day 6 – Twitter Digest

The final day sees a rather leisurely jaunt through the South Downs and then the long CoastLiner service from Havant to Brighton, our final destination.

• Bed too big and too comfy. Decide to spend another hour here, take breakfast and catch a later bus rather than spend 2 hours in Alton. 6:14 AM
• Riskier connections though... 6:15 AM
• http://twitpic.com/3vr3h - The "Good Morning" viking bids you good morning. 8:46 AM
• Fridays during college term, a duplicate bus is run on the 0900 to Basingstoke. Large youthful queue here :) 8:53 AM
• http://twitpic.com/3vrj7 - Don't miss the last bus home! 9:03 AM
• So I only have to spend 6 mins in Alton with my revised plan, instead of 2 hours, but I do have to spend 40 mins in Basingstoke instead. 9:05 AM
• Last day of challenge, and my thoughts are increasingly towards the end rather than the means. It has been quite a journey so far! 9:08 AM
• Just passed Twinings offices. Hope they aren't holding @stephenfry hostage still. 9:14 AM
• The relief bus has overtaken us. We're comfortably full but it only has two people on it. Presumably it fills up from Whitchurch onwards. 9:29 AM
• http://twitpic.com/3vsbx - The hand bag shop: essential village service. 9:34 AM
• http://twitpic.com/3vt9h - Artwork in Basingstoke travel shop. 10:11 AM
• http://twitpic.com/3vtkn - Make your own milkshake at ShakeAway 10:22 AM
• My choice: Terry's Chocolate Orange and Raspberries 10:26 AM
• On the bus. The irregular 28 to Alton. 5 mins late. 6 min connection. Will I end up spending 2 hours in Alton anyhow? 10:58 AM
• This bus looks like it may have had a past life. There's the remains of an aircon, and a multitude of hanging straps. Hong Kong perhaps? 11:03 AM
• It used to have two doors as well. It wouldn't need them for the load it is currently carrying. 11:13 AM
• Ah pants. It was within my grasp and I failed at the last. 11:47 AM
• If I'd got off in the town centre instead of staying on until the rail station, I'd be on the 72 now. But which stop? So I didn't. 12:00 AM
• The 72 pulled out as the 28 arrived. But I think maybe this is good, stretch my legs for a bit. 12:02 AM
• http://twitpic.com/3vwf6 - Alton station cafe 12:07 AM
• Things to do in Alton #1 - steam trains. Note: no weekday service out of season. 12:10 AM
• http://twitpic.com/3vwph - A Stagecoach train with South West Trains 12:16 AM
• http://twitpic.com/3vx5d - No services today 12:30 AM
• Things to do in Alton #2 - sweet Fanny Adams. No, seriously, she is buried in the cemetery here. 12:36 AM
• http://twitpic.com/3vxoe - Sweet Fanny Adams 12:48 AM
• The rivers in this past of the world are shallow, crystal clear, and with clumps of greendry poking out of the top. Beautiful. 12:55 AM
• t3h n3xt bu5 is @ 1337 1:03 PM
• Whilst some towns are havens for senior citizens, Alton is full of sixth formers at the local college. 1:10 PM
• Made it. Arrive Petersfield 1416, depart service 37 to Havant at 1426. 1:41 PM
• The name of the pub in Liss is "Whistle Stop" - ha ha. 2:04 PM
• Level crossings, eh? Awaiting next bus at Petersfield station. 2:24 PM
• She has arrived. Buses use the feminine, in similar fashion to other great travelling hulks of metal. 2:30 PM
• The South Downs don't look con that brilliant when viewed from the A3. 2:38 PM
• We leave the A3 and all is tranquil again. 2:40 PM
• A bit of excitement - a bus in front has broken down. Passengers transfer onto ours. 2:43 PM
• A woman who has just got on in Waterlooville was waiting for the bus which broke down. She appears happy gossiping about the fact to every1. 3:15 PM
• Now in Havant. 3:52 PM
• Would you believe it? I am on my final leg of the trip - scheduled to arrive in Brighton at 1915. 4:09 PM
• Though it is advertised as a through service, a disclaimer in the tt warns that vehicles may be swapped in Chichester and Worthing. 4:11 PM
• What is the CCA Art Bus? Just passed it in Emsworth. 4:18 PM
• Just seen the sea! That makes all four coasts - North (Thurso), East (Stonehaven), West (Hest Bank) and South (Chichester Harbour). 4:33 PM
• http://twitpic.com/3wagz - Chichester Cathedral 4:45 PM
• Bognor Regis is the next town en route. Hopefully get a closer look at the sea... 5:05 PM
• Hmm. Not too many flashes of sea on show. May have to wait until gone Worthing for the unadulterated viewing. 5:22 PM
• The Body Shop HQ in Littlehampton appears to be in the shape of a pagoda. Not quite sure what this achieves. 5:54 PM
• A bus driver in the opposite direction warned us of a crash on the dual carriageway. We're in the queue now. 6:11 PM
• http://twitpic.com/3whuz - Not going anywhere for a while :( 6:19 PM
• Past the scene now. Looked nasty: bike and a car, windscreen of the latter badly messed up. 6:36 PM
• Probably around 25 mins late. Can we make up any time? 6:37 PM
• http://twitpic.com/3wjue - Pie champion - well done. 6:43 PM
• http://twitpic.com/3wl04 - The sea at last - Worthing Pier 6:56 PM
• 21 mins late leaving Worthing. 6:58 PM
• The route is finally doing justice to its "CoastLiner" moniker: views out over the bay. 7:06 PM
• http://twitpic.com/3wooz - The back of the bus I have just got off. 7:39 PM
• Yes, I have finally arrived in Brighton after 6 days bus travel across the length of the country. 7:42 PM
• I'm quite three, so I hope you'll accept a debrief at a later point, but thanks to everyone who has been following my adventure. 7:45 PM
• http://twitpic.com/3wpg3 - Brighton welcomes me. 7:48 PM