Cardiff Bay... by bus, er, boat!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
- Tuesday 16th January 2024:
Taking the train from Hereford to Cardiff Central, I then walked across the city centre to the River Taff at Bute Park, just next to the castle, where the water-bus stops and starts. (Top marks to Transport for Wales by the way - trains there and back were both precisely on time).
Called the 'Aquabus', it leaves on the hour, and I had an enjoyable 30 minutes ride down to the Bay. Once there I found a large crowd of people outside the Senedd (the Welsh Parliament building) - all were wearing bright orange hats! Watch the video to find out who they were!
While in Cardiff, I had a good look around my favourite shops and had a slap-up breakfast in St. David's Centre.
Hope you'll enjoy the bus ride - which I thoroughly recommend by the way. Oh, and I also went to the BBC... but why? Sorry, you'll just have to watch it!
Video will be published at 06:00 on Saturday 20th.
Cheers,
Jeff
By the way, if you do enjoy the video, then please consider subscribing - it really helps me to grow the channel!
You can see more of my videos, including my journeys along the canals, and of my Brompton bike at:
/ @gladysthenarrowboat
Thoroughly enjoyed this, the boat ride gives you a completely different view of Cardiff, my first ride was going to join Cardiff Rivers Group in a litterpick in the Bay by the old Dr Who Experience building.
Hopefully you'll be safe from the animals on the canal (!) - the Animal Wall is quite something isn't it considering it's been moved from its original position in front of the castle during the 1930's. The anteater used to have a longer nose I think but the 2010 repair made it shorter.
Your footage of all the areas of Cardiff you visited is excellent, thank you for sharing it with us.
The Beeb will have to manage without you so we can appreciate your travels with Gladys when she's finally finished.
Thank you Annie - that's great feedback!
Yes, I agree - you get to see bits of Cardiff - and experience the Bay - from a totally different perspective whilst out on the water. The animals are fabulous - I guess most people walk by them without a glance - but if you stop and look closely they are very well done. As well as the anteater issue, I suspect one of the animals has lost an ear too.
Glad you enjoyed the footage - and yes, I was very sorry to turn down Sir David (he was totally distraught), but having waited all this time for Gladys, I simply must stick with it now, and get out onto those canals. I'm hoping to publish an update about her next week. Fingers crossed...
Meanwhile, as ever, I am starting to ponder on where to go filming for next Saturday's video... but today, while its fine, and not quite so cold, I'll be outside carrying on with my latest Holzhausen-build.
Thanks again for the lovely comment!
Relatively clear windows in the Aquabus. A far cry from when I used to ride the buses, with the windows so grubby, one had to imagine what the world was like as one passed by. There could’ve been terradactiles, Jason battling the gods, new pyramids being built and giant snowmen rampaging across the land. But I never saw any of these; if only passengers could’ve seen through the windows.
Yeah, the window by me was mostly clear although a little smudgy in a few places. I'm often away on trains and their windows are sometimes filthy! Lovely new trains this time in each direction though - and very clean. Top marks to TFW.
I can recall the school buses we used to go to school on... if you beat the seat cushions, a cloud of dust would appear, and I think the windows were similarly neglected.
It sounds like you had bad luck on those buses... I'm sure I saw the Spartans seeing off 10 times as many Persians when I last took the X4 down to Abergavenny...
Hi Jeff, hope you are well mate. Both railway stations are very impressive, You can't beat the oldy worldly traditional builds, I'm not really a fan of the modern, rectangular dull places. Platform zero at Cardiff station could be a environmentally endorsed platform. "The next train arriving on platform zero is a net zero 8 coach extravaganza" 😂. The Aquabus trip was good value and the windows were very clean as noted in DC 's comments. We went on a canal boat trip to meet Santa a few years when the kids were younger and still believed. The windows were filthy on the outside and steamed up on the inside. Luckily Santa came on board otherwise he would never have been seen. I'm not at all surprised that the BBC approached you. Your vlogs could be the saviour of the TV licence. All in all Jeff, a nice day out, a fine breakfast and another interesting video as always. See you on the next one 👍
Hi Dave, thanks, as always, for the nice comments. Hah - I like your suggestion about platform zero! I've used that platform in years past, when catching the Ebbw Vale train - a much nicer way of getting to Cardiff than driving.
Yeah, dirty windows make for a miserable ride. Sometimes, even the WMR trains have dirty ones - but I do appreciate how hard it must be to keep them clean in this present lousy weather.
Glad you liked the video, and the bit about BBC - it seemed a neat idea since I was right outside the place - but I don't think it came over as funny as I'd hoped ☹️ (My own fault - I ought to write a script I suppose, instead of making it up as I go!). I haven't done anything yet for this Saturday because I've had a few things on this week... which is a worry. Had hoped to publish an update on Gladys but I've not been able to talk to Aintree Boats yet this week.
But I'll do my best to upload something - might just be of me cutting my toenails... I wonder how many likes that would get!
Thanks again Dave - I'm sure to be back on West Midlands Railways again soon 👍
A toenail spectacular, this is what the BBC needs 😂👍 @@Gladysthenarrowboat
Well, they make shows about almost everything else these days Dave, so why not?! ...'Strictly Toenails' perhaps? Or maybe Louis Theroux could interview celebrities while they're having their feet done? Or another idea... celebrities cut the nails of other celebs each week?! Hmm... can I work all this into a video by Saturday though?... Time will tell 👍
Strictly Toenails....what a classic 🤣😂🤣@@Gladysthenarrowboat
Mind you, I don't think I'd let Claudia Winkelman anywhere near MY toenails - not unless she cuts that stupid fringe of her's! NB - please don't assume I'm a 'Strictly' fan Dave - I am NOT! I avoid watching it at all costs!
great video Jeff, enjoyed it, and glad you decided to not go with the BBC 👍 Trip would even be better in the summer although I imagine a lot busier.
Thanks Ian! Yes, Sir David went home very disappointed - he had high hopes that I would make a worthy successor when he eventually retires!
Yes, it was quite a dismal grey day, and although I don't like doing so, I did have to brighten the video a bit when I was editing. I'm sure you're right about the summer - in fact I have taken the boat trip some years ago - albeit on the larger boat which isn't running at the moment, and I recall it was very full. Very glad you enjoyed the video! 😊
If you look at 9:20 just before you go under Cardiff Bridge you’ll see the remains of the older bridge on the embankment. Re Cardiff castle, if you live or work in Cardiff you can get in for £7 and then have free entry for the next 3 years. Great to see the ride down the Taf, I’ve never done it.
Thanks for pointing that out MT - I hadn't noticed the old bridge's remains. Cardiff Bridge is certainly very impressive. That sounds very good value for Cardiff dwellers/workers - I may go back one day and go on a tour.
I definitely recommend the boat ride - best views sitting on the left, although I think some of the tours go to / get closer to, the barrage as well, so sitting on right better then. That said, there was a sign asking people to remain seated... but all of us were getting up and moving around for the best views!
Jeff, very enjoyable. Can't have too much of Cardiff and wimsey.
Thanks John, that's very nice feedback! Wimsey... that's a word we don't use often enough these days! 😊
So pleased the BBC were impressed with your videos but of course Gladys comes first.
We’ve been to Cardiff castle it’s definitely worth a separate video.
Enjoyed watching the boat trip love Cardiff often wondered what the boat trip would be like. Will do at some point this year.
Thanks Gerald. Yes, you know, some people actually think I made up the BBC thing for a laugh... I mean, would I do that?
The longer I have to wait for Gladys, the harder it is to think of new places/things to video - so, doing a special on the Castle sounds a good idea. Plus, an excuse to go back to the Diner for a big brekkie. 😊
I thoroughly recommend the boat trip. There is also a larger boat which goes from same place and does trips around the Bay, but that one isn't working in January. You'd love the trip whichever boat you take 👍