GS34, which had been parked on the centre of the Broadway, came round onto the stand for a 397 short working to Cholesbury, and I boarded to act as navigator on their outward trip.
Once again I headed out of Chesham and north up Chesham Vale. Were these the same girls on horseback? We reached Cholesbury Common, and were just going to turn on the triangular road junction when as GS32 and GS13 swept round the corner from Tring.
Both the southbound buses pulled up at the gravelly lay-by, and GS34 turned to join them. The three were manouvred to suit the photographers, and several hundred photos were taken.
Then they pulled away one by one on their way south back to Chesham Broadway, leaving me on the common. This was not accidental, or malice aforethought, but by my design. I wanted to go up to Tring, and I knew that GS2 should be coming up the road in ten minutes time. I hoped. Of course, that is when the weather advertised its winter intentions with a cold little spot of rain under a localised leaden cloud (Blue sky in the distance). I was relieved when GS2 hove into view and trundled up across the common. The orange glow of that trafficator was a welcome sight!
Tring was just over the hill to the north. We passed through Wigginton, then down under the concrete spaghetti of the A41 and into the charming town of Tring. I had not been here before (I used the A5 to get from London to Birmingham in the old days). Tall brick-built buildings flanked the narrow main street, which in the way of modern towns has replaced its practical tarmacadam with expensive setts. But Tring bus garage is no more. We could not drive down the ramp and turn there. It is but a building site, flanked by off-white boards. We had to continue up through the town, round the roundabout and come back down to stop beside the hoardings.
After quick photos we moved on to more photogenic surroundings in the centre of town.
Then we returned to Chesham, out under the bypass and up over the hill to Wigginton and Cholesbury. We ambled down through Hawridge. This time I got my planned picture of The Rose as we passed. We met GS1 heading out of Chesham as we came down to the town limits.
Back at Chesham, we followed SNB312 into the Broadway.
All photos by Ian Smith. Click on any of them for a larger picture.
Back to Ian's Bus-stop
Part 3: 397 and 348 (GS62).
Part 5: 316 to Ley Hill & back (GS32)