This was a three bus moving day, Heathrow London to Minehead Somerset.

The first bus was an easy 10min ride from the hotel to the Central Bus Station inside Heathrow Airport.

The second  bus was a National Express Route 502 coach from Heathrow to Taunton, way out west. We had pre-purchased tickets for this service a couple of months ago back in NZ. Most of this 3hr 20min journey was on motorways so it was a smooth fast ride. This coach was going on to Bridport and Taunton was its second stop.

The third bus was a Route 28 First Bus of Somerset local service Taunton to Minehead. This took an hour and twenty minutes and cost £3. There are 63 bus stops on this route, fortunately we only stopped at about 25 of them. It was all on narrow twisty country roads, through small villages and the driver went like a bat out of hell. We were quite relieved to get off the bus in Minehead. This service did take cash but we used cashless paywave. I would hate to cycle on these roads. They are narrow, have little or no shoulder and no safe place to get off the road – often it is a bramble hedge.

We have stayed in Minehead before. In September 2019 we caught the train from Paddington London to Taunton and the same crazy bus ride to Minehead. We stayed here one night when we walked from Minehead to Westward Ho! on our second South West Coast Path walk.

We also stayed in exactly the same accommodation, The Parkes Guest House. We remember it well, and not just because we are in an attic room, two stories up with no lift. The owners Sue and Chris are still here although they look as though they are well into their eighties. Sue seems very frail and looks like she has Parkinsons. They are very welcoming and positive. There are five rooms, two in the attic. The Dunkery Room and the Dunster Room. Last time we had the Dunster Room. There are only two couples here tonight and tomorrow night we are the only booking. We are having two nights in Minehead to get rid of our jet lag and also as insurance just in case our bags had gone missing. It may have given them a chance to catch up with us before we move on.