Day 1: Chorley to Exmouth
Our journey started at 7.30am when we boarded the feeder coach which would take us to Shearings' Interchange at Stretton. After calling at some 'pick-up points' on the way, we finally arrived at the interchange at 9.15am. We had been forewarned that there would be an hour plus to wait here so we were prepared with flasks, sandwiches and chocolate bars! At 10.15am the calls started to come through for people to board their coaches, with ours finally being announced at about 10.45am. Shearings organisation was amazing to watch with bags being collected from numerous feeder coaches and deposited at the appropriate long haul coaches - suitable labels had been issued with the tickets. Three comfort stops later and we were finally leaving the M5 to bypass Exeter and reach our destination, the Grand Hotel right on the sea front.
The long haul coaches wait patiently . . .
whilst a tractor ferries baggage to appropriate collection points
Marie and I enjoy morning refreshments in the sun (but it was a cold day!)
Our home for the next four days