Poem 10 of 230: LAND’S END TO JOHN O’ GROATS
(TUNE - IN THE KEY OF C MAJOR:
D2 G3 A2 A3 B2 B3 A2 A3
D2 A3 B2 B3 A2 A3 G2 G3
D2 B3 B2 B3 A2 A3 G2 G3
D2 A3 B2 A3 B2 A3 G2 G3)
At the bold age of twenty-one,
Via Hong Kong, China, Macau,
I flew from Sydney to London -
Land’s End to John o’ Groats my vow.
I took a train out of London,
Found a highway and thumbed a ride;
I headed down toward Brighton,
Then hitchhiked roads the coast beside.
On the face of my shoulder bag,
A sketched map of Aus. was my tag;
For said a Scot who’d hitched Europe:
“Some emblem may well boost your hope.”
And drivers throughout the island,
Over a two month riding span,
Were the kindest folks I have met -
I swear not once did I get wet!
I stopped overnight in Portsmouth,
And one or two nights in Torquay;
Then headed along to Plymouth -
Still travelling beside the sea.
After viewing rugged Land’s End,
I began the long journey north -
North-east, rather, before a bend,
Somewhere in a bit from Bournemouth.
On the way, I saw relatives,
Whom after leaving I did miss -
Their home's cosy atmosphere,
And their local pub's good cheer.
And the hitched-lifts came from many:
An off-work Bobbie, a truckie,
As well as on-duty soldiers -
Thanks, and I’ve not said where each was!
I headed west through South Wales,
And viewed Cardiff Arms from afar -
I was hitching with local males,
And they showed me from in the car.
I stayed a while at Swansea -
Saw the local footballers play;
Then hitched north through Llandovery -
Beautiful farmland, I must say.
I slept mostly in B. & B.s,
Where the full breakfasts sure did please;
But also stopped in Youth Hostels,
Where it’s the comradeship that tells.
My favourite sites were Bath, Torquay,
Old St. Andrews (noted shortly),
The road Glasgow-to-Inverness,
The Lakes, plus London’s spots, no less.
From Colwyn Bay, I headed east
To Manchester, my place of birth;
Then on the Lakes my eyes did feast,
Before I passed by Solway Firth.
Onto Edinburgh, Glasgow,
St. Andrews, before Inverness;
Then waves from locals were the go -
Warm folks round John o’ Groats, I’d guess.
(C) David Franks 2003
Hear here - http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=28787
(TUNE - IN THE KEY OF C MAJOR:
D2 G3 A2 A3 B2 B3 A2 A3
D2 A3 B2 B3 A2 A3 G2 G3
D2 B3 B2 B3 A2 A3 G2 G3
D2 A3 B2 A3 B2 A3 G2 G3)
At the bold age of twenty-one,
Via Hong Kong, China, Macau,
I flew from Sydney to London -
Land’s End to John o’ Groats my vow.
I took a train out of London,
Found a highway and thumbed a ride;
I headed down toward Brighton,
Then hitchhiked roads the coast beside.
On the face of my shoulder bag,
A sketched map of Aus. was my tag;
For said a Scot who’d hitched Europe:
“Some emblem may well boost your hope.”
And drivers throughout the island,
Over a two month riding span,
Were the kindest folks I have met -
I swear not once did I get wet!
I stopped overnight in Portsmouth,
And one or two nights in Torquay;
Then headed along to Plymouth -
Still travelling beside the sea.
After viewing rugged Land’s End,
I began the long journey north -
North-east, rather, before a bend,
Somewhere in a bit from Bournemouth.
On the way, I saw relatives,
Whom after leaving I did miss -
Their home's cosy atmosphere,
And their local pub's good cheer.
And the hitched-lifts came from many:
An off-work Bobbie, a truckie,
As well as on-duty soldiers -
Thanks, and I’ve not said where each was!
I headed west through South Wales,
And viewed Cardiff Arms from afar -
I was hitching with local males,
And they showed me from in the car.
I stayed a while at Swansea -
Saw the local footballers play;
Then hitched north through Llandovery -
Beautiful farmland, I must say.
I slept mostly in B. & B.s,
Where the full breakfasts sure did please;
But also stopped in Youth Hostels,
Where it’s the comradeship that tells.
My favourite sites were Bath, Torquay,
Old St. Andrews (noted shortly),
The road Glasgow-to-Inverness,
The Lakes, plus London’s spots, no less.
From Colwyn Bay, I headed east
To Manchester, my place of birth;
Then on the Lakes my eyes did feast,
Before I passed by Solway Firth.
Onto Edinburgh, Glasgow,
St. Andrews, before Inverness;
Then waves from locals were the go -
Warm folks round John o’ Groats, I’d guess.
(C) David Franks 2003
Hear here - http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=28787
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| Sydney from an airliner window; 28/11/15 |
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| The 1998 H.K. Airport, with the 2018 bridge across to Macau in the background; 11/11/19 |
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| Star Ferry on Hong Kong's harbour; 4/12/19 |
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| Hong Kong Space Museum, where I watched a 3D movie during my 1988 visit; 4/12/2019 |
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| The Peak behind H.K.'s skyline; 4/12/2019 |
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| Hong Kong, at dusk, from The Peak; 5/12/19 |
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| Deep Water Bay in H.K. - good for sports, including, for myself in 1988, golf; 6/12/19 |
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| Tower of London, nearby Fenchurch Station, which serves east London - the way I headed to start hitchhiking back in 1988; 15/9/2014 |
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| Cardiff Arms Park - 30 years on; 24/7/2018 |
Bath's famous Crescent of terraced houses; filmed 8/4/16
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| Bath - not just one of my favourites; 8/4/16 |
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| Bath Abbey and Roman Baths; 8/4/2016 |
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| Bath Abbey by my dad, when 18 |
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| Bath's Victoria Gardens; 8/4/2016 |
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| Bath's Botanical Gardens; 8/4/2016 |
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| Bath's Excel Tennis courts ; 8/4/2016 |
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| The Grand Hotel, Torquay; 30/6/2018 |
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| Torbay, & Torquay Beach huts; 30/6/2018 |
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| Bird's eye view of Torquay; 30/6/2018 |
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| Sports area behind Torquay Seafront; 30/6/18 |
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| Sun-drenched Torquay Seafront; 30/6/18 |
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| Princess Pier & Torbay, Torquay; 30/6/18 |
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| Torquay Harbour, from Princess Pier; 30/6/18 |
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| Torquay Harbour back to the Wheel; 30/6/18 |
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| Torquay Harbour & St. John's Church; 30/6/18 |
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| Cormorants near Torquay Harbour; 30/6/18 |
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| Nice harbourside balconies, Torquay; 30/6/18 |
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| Smeaton's Tower & Plymouth coast; 21/7/23 |
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| Colwyn Bay - heading east; 1/9/2022 |
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| Youth Hostel Association stamps from 1988 |
