Burning Rubber
Trip Start
Oct 04, 2008
1
18
67
Trip End
Nov 04, 2008
Weymouth,
United Kingdom
Friday, May 23, 2008
Bizarrely after 5 minutes of trying, swearing and fiddling, Bill discovered that you now had to hold down the engine start and then switch the master switch. It fired up, no problem. Seems I had probably charged the batteries for nothing.
I hadn't insured Bill for the bus. This meant that it was down to me to get it out of the car park. I put it in gear, eased the accelerator down and suddenly the bus was moving for the first time in 7 months ! This wasn't so bad, I thought, as we eased around the Police Station. I saw the sharp bend coming so I eased the brakes on. Nothing happened. I pushed harder on the brakes and still nothing happened. I stamped on the brakes and the air brakes kicked in big style. Bill and Jo were thrown forward towards the front of the bus.
Lesson 1. Air brakes need patience.
We got out on to the main road, having carefully avoided the police cars and all of the other cars in the car park. I went up the kerb, but what the hell ! We were on the way and I was behind the wheel ! I had my foot to the floor but it didn't seem to be accelerating away.
Lesson 2. A Bristol VR has less acceleration than most Ferrari's.
A quick trip up the bypass and back and I felt like I was getting the hang of this driving malarkey. We were cruising. Instead of heading back to the Nick, I drove in to a housing estate because that was what Jo requested to start her bus driving career. Strange idea, but that's what she wanted. I was wondering if she wanted to practice three point turns or reverse parking. Her second bend turned out to be an acute left hander. She also found out lesson 1 as we were flung forward towards the windscreen.
Lesson 3. Big roads are easier than little roads.
I had a further spin around town, taking in King Street and The Esplanade. I was getting the hang of this, even if I did nearly take out a fence in King Street.
Lesson 4. A Bristol VR is a bit longer than most cars.
Well, we got back safe and sound. Another milestone passed. I've now been behind the wheel of a double decker bus. Fan-bloody-tastic !
