BirdForum is the net's largest birding community dedicated to wild birds and birding, and is absolutely FREE!

Register for an account to take part in lively discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="dantheman" data-source="post: 2754944" data-attributes="member: 32998">Day minus One16/05/13 17:28A somewhat inauspicious start – missed my train. The train had already gone. I was there, but the train wasn't. There was an empty platform and me. The train ...This was not particularly good, as it was the last train of the day from Falmouth to Bristol, and my flight was due to leave at 9 the next morning ...Panic a bit!!!!!!!!  Fortunately however, I was able to catch a taxi* to the next town (Truro) where I made the connection with the main line service. This was a bit of a relief, and whilst I usually quite strongly disapprove of taxi drivers speeding recklessly through our quiet leafy suburbs/residential areas, knocking little old ladies over, etc etc, in the circumstances I could almost find no fault whatsover … Unfortunately, the taxi fare (30 GBP) made a slight mockery of my super saver advance fare to Bristol (20 GBP), but at least I now had a slightly better chance of making the flight to Lithuania (49.50 GBP) ... Birds en route (from the train - view out the taxi window was just a blur) included Shelduck (quite a few) near Plymouth, and a Whimbrel** near Exeter.Ignored by the first bus as I turned from reading the schedule on the wall next to the stop (I was just in the middle of re-focussing on the big sign on its side reading 'airport bus' as it drove off), I shortly after caught the next Bristol Flyer (7GBP) from Bristol Temple Meads bound for Bristol Airport. Again, this (not getting the first bus) did not seem to portend particularly well for a trip in which I was relying heavily on having my wits about me in the grand arena of public transportation, hopefully catching vast swathes of further buses and trains smoothly and in a calm and collected manner on a regular basis ... Having safely arrived without further ado, I thought I’d found a great place to sleep for the night under the escalator (turned off for the night), but it turned out to be rather too dusty. Instead, a couple of seats near the washroom area (toilets) sufficed (perfectly hygienic, just a bit noisy with regular and loud clacking heels on the highly polished floor). Didn’t even have to unwrap the rollmat - the armrestless seats perfectly accommodating myself and frame.(*I very rarely use taxis, this perhaps being the fifth or sixth time having used this mode of transport in the UK (literally,almost) quite a departure from the norm.)(**It's a bird report, allegedly - just thought I'd mention a few birds along the way ... )(***Ok, can't be bothered to correct the star thingies, but just thought I'd note for the public record this was the first train I've missed in my life)(****Note to self + others - probably no more * thingies from now on ...)</blockquote>

Verification