Going south, McLaughlin explained that double-decker buses are not geared for climbing mountains, but in the end, it was a body of water that set Sir George down for good. “While leaving Mexico City too we almost got the bus knocked over by fans shaking it – it was quite scary and we kept having to drive the bus back and forth,” said Winter. Their intent after California was to make it to Mexico City for the FIFA World Cup in 1970, where England couldn’t make the final four years after winning it for the first and only time.ĪDVENTURE STORIES ON THE SEA: An Epic Adventure Few have Heard of: ‘The Great Loop’ Circles the Eastern US on Waterways Never Far from Shore The Sir George White Special in 1970 – SWNS Five of the 11 strangers who set off in the ‘Sir George White Special’ (L to R) Mike Conway, Bernice Poole, David McLaughlin, Sally Mears, and John Winter An epic tripĭavid McLaughlin, the driver and mechanic, told the BBC that “Central and South America, the roads are entirely different and it was an adventure.” Their epic trip came to an end when the bus sank trying to cross a river in Peru. We met him briefly which was fun, though only for a moment.” “We had to take the bus off the road, but eventually were given permission to drive on by Ronald Reagan – who was Governor of California at the time. “Usually the police were very good and gave us escorts sometimes, but eventually in California we were stopped by a determined policeman who wouldn’t let us go,” Winter said. They had to negotiate tricky routes and mountains and because the bus was too big for US roads they caused damage to bridges and overhead wires. The group traveled thousands of miles and worked along the way, picking fruit, planting lily bulbs, cleaning restaurants, and chauffeuring cars. The eleven men and women were just strangers when in March of 1970, they sailed the bus called the ‘Sir George White Special’ from Bristol to Canada before embarking on a 40,000-mile trip.īraving ‘blistering’ desert heat and bone-chilling cold in the prairies the group spent 22 months aboard a bus that couldn’t go past 50 mph. I stayed with the group for about a year.” ”But it was unlike anything any of us had ever done. “The bus really was the hero of the story, we had totally torn out the upper floor to fit beds and living space,” said Winter. Poole advertised the idea twice in the local paper, drawing in John Winter, who tagged along for 1 year and is now publishing Bus to Bust about their journey. Click on the ‘Additional Info’ button below to see a map of the London Hop-On Hop-Off Tour route.Mr. Your hop-on hop-off pass includes a single or return cruise along the River Thames. Between stops, stroll through gorgeous Hyde Park and view Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square. Hop off to explore the eclectic shops in Covent Garden, snap photos of the lavish Buckingham Palace or experience the bustle of Oxford Street. As you ride, learn about London’s history and interesting anecdotes about locals sites such as Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, St. With your Classic (1-day), Premium (2-day), or Deluxe (3-day) pass, hop on and off the double-decker bus at any of the route’s many locations, or stay onboard for a relaxing ride through buzzing London. (A complete list of stops can be found in the Itinerary below.) Upgrade to include a must-do London Eye Flight. When purchasing your ticket, choose from multiple routes. Enjoy the flexibility of choosing your own itinerary and pace with the structure of strategically placed stops and informative onboard commentary from a professional guide. Hop aboard the Big Bus at any of the stops on the route, and grab a comfortable seat in the enclosed lower deck or on the open-air upper deck for the best views. Explore the best of historic London-seat of the British Royalty-by bus on a lively tour of the city’s key attractions and landmarks.
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