Journal: Saturday 28 June 2025

I extended my public transport experiment today, picking up the 10.15am like an old hand outside The New Stag - easy once you know where the stop is - and getting off outside Jemima's coffee shop, opposite the library on one side and The New Inn on the other.

That junction is always busy or, perhaps fairer to say, it is always congested. It's a sharp turn for the buses to get round and people always park on the opposite side meaning there are Tetris movements throughout the day.

First stop the chemist, trying to get some alternative relief from anti-biotics which are creating more problems than they are addressing. I get the details for the Urgent Treatment Centre at Whitstable which seems a long way to go.

Then to the library to drop off The Artists Way Toolkit and a chat with the librarian. I'd already cleared my outstanding charges for reservations so I was in her good books. There was no news about the sale of the building, but the County Council has the lease for another year so a little while before the library is in jeopardy.

The whistling man wasn't in the organic greengrocers, I guess it was his wife serving. I love going in there where you can pick one carrot and two onions or whatever you need. I took handfuls of plums, apricots and cherries, a portion each, baby potatoes and some red onions.

Next to the Co-op to collect provisions for the weekend, more milk and wine, hummus, a sourdough loaf, some tomatoes and a yellow sticker chicken en croute arrangement. It made a change.

With plenty of time to spare (I could have lingered longer in the Co op, spent more), I made my way back to Jemima's and picked up a takeaway coffee (I should have taken my keep cup but I forgot, I'm not yet in my routine).

There's a double seat outside Jemima's in the shade next to the bus stop. I sat with my shopping and some vegetable samosas, another yellow stickered treat and waited for the next bus.

It came right on time, doing its stately arabesque to turn the corner and line up against the pavement on the opposite side. It was the same driver (and bus) as I had caught an hour earlier.

To get back home I have to do the full journey to the bus's destination by the harbour and then all the way back to the terminus in my village. On the outward or return journey (depending where you start), the route by-passes the main village and runs along the main road at the top.

It's twenty minutes or so to complete the journey one way and half an hour back. I didn't mind, I like watching the bay through the window and the people coming and going at the various stops.

I learned today that it's a short walk from one of the stops to the mainline rail station in the town, and I can also get the slow train from the station in the next village. I also worked out how I could get to the Urgent Treatment Centre (and back) on public transport. I prefer to use buses, if I can, to keep the service, and also it's free for me to travel.

I didn't think I had walked that much and was surprised at over 5,000 steps.

The picture has nothing to do with the day, I was too busy watching to remember to take any photos.
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Shopping, Walking