St John Street

It is 8:30 and we have come to the bus stop in St John Street to catch a number 341 bus to Waterloo Station. From there we travel to Poole in Dorset where we will spend four nights, returning home on Friday

Aboard the 341

Though it’s the rush hour, we managed to find seats on the bus. Yes, those are our suitcases, beside the exit door.

Waterloo Station, upper level

We reached Waterloo Station at 9:00, 65 minutes before our train was due to depart. We ascended to the upper level and bought breakfast at a place called The Balcony. Sitting at one of their tables gave us a close-up view of the famous station clock. (Do people still meet “under the clock” in this age of mobile phones?)

Aboard the train

As soon as our train’s platform was confirmed (and they usually don’t give you much warning) we went aboard. We had to travel in the first five coaches as the train divides at Bournemouth. There were very few passengers and we easily found seats at a table. WiFi is available but it’s so slow as to be useless.

Trundling through the suburbs

We trundled through the suburbs to Clapham Junction, where a few more passengers joined the train, and the set off towards our destination at no very great speed. (I read somewhere that today’s train journeys often take longer than the same journeys did in the days of steam.)

The Delfino Lounge

By the time we arrived in Poole, the weather had closed in and it was raining. We hurried to the nearby shopping centre and went into the Delfino Lounge for lunch.

Art on the walls

The walls of the Lounge are covered with an eclectic collection of art.

It’s looking brighter

By the time we had finished lunch, the rain had stopped and the weather was looking brighter.

Costa Coffee

Instead of a hotel room, we have reserved an apartment for our stay. We can access the apartment only at 3 pm. As we cannot leave our luggage with them, as we could at a hotel, we have to keep it with us which is a disincentive to moving around. We have therefore come to Costa and will wait here until the apartment is available.

Sunshine and rain

When the time came, we left Costa and made for the apartment. We found that even though the sun was shining, it was also raining. Gardners and water companies will be glad of the rain after the long drought but it will take more than a few showers to refill the reservoirs.

The key store

To access the apartment it was not necessary to contact a human being. We entered the building by typing a number on a keypad to unlock the front door. In the hallway is this stack of key stores and typing a number into the appropriate one opens it to reveal electronic keys to our apartment. This is on the first floor and there is a lift for when we are feeling lazy.

The lounge

The kitchen corner

To be going on with, here are a couple of snaps of the room which combines the roles of lounge and kitchen.

Old Burton’s

After a little rest, we walked up the High Street, where we spotted this old Burton’s store with a foundation stone dated 1938.

Level crossing

A feature of this town is the railway line that passes through it. High street traffic is periodically halted when the level crossing gates close, though there is a pedestrian bridge if you don’t mind climbing the stairs.

Aboard the 10

We walked to the bus station and boarded a number 10 bus which took us to Westbourne where we were meeting a friend..

The Duck

We entered a cafe bar called the duck where we spent some time.

Poole Road

Afterwards, we went to a bus stop in Poole Road.

Aboard the M2

We boarded an M2 and went for a ride. (We might as well make the most of the all-day bus pass!)

Somewhere in Southbourne

We exited the bus at its terminus at Southbourne.

Back on the M2

As evening was coming on, we did not tarry here and when the bus that brought us here had turned round, boarded it again, to the surprise of the driver!

During the journey, it started raining heavily and then came the thunder and lightning. There was a series of bangs as passengers closed the bus windows to stop the rain coming in.

Poole bus station

After what seemed a long journey, the bus delivered us to the bus station at Poole. In the station was a small but well stocked shop where we bought food for supper.

The final bus

We then boarded our last bus for today which took us near to our apartment so that a few steps brought us home, bringing to an end our first day in Poole.