On Day 184 I do the No 284 from Lewisham to Grove Park

 The opportunity arose to do this next bus as the dress tsat we needed to return had its nearest shop in Lewisham. So we caught the tram to Elmers End and the train from there to Lewisham. Problem explained we returned towards the railway station to bus stop C where we boarded Stagecoach single decker 36683 at 1231. The stop said the bus journey would take about 41 minutes so there was no issue with missing our next appointment in Bromley at 1330.

Bus Stop C at Lewisham station

Stagecoach 36683

Charmaine boarding

Traffic was rather slow as we left the station towards the clock tower and down the High Street and under the railway line, such that it was 1241 before we were passing Ladywell station.

Junction opposite Ladywell station

 This was a road previously taken on the No 122 but the bus turned left onto Chudleigh Road forging on alone through numerous late Victorian villas which only slowly changed into inter war years stock at its southern end. The bus turned left down Bexhill Road under the Catford Loop Lane and then left into Manwood Lane which morphed into Ravensboune Park as we left SE4 and entered SE6. As the bus reached the end of this slow descent we reached the South Circular Road by Catford station.

Ravensbourne Park sports ground

Joining the South Circular by Catford station

From here we headed east to Lewisham Town Hall where the driver was exchanged from 1254-1300. After this we followed the one way system around the back of Rushey Green until we turned left down Sangley Road in company with the No 124, 160 and 181 bus routes. 

The industrial estate where the Thomas Tillings garage used to be

At St Augustine's Church we entered Sandhurst Road which took us to Verdant Lane where turning right the bus is once again alone as it ran past Hither Green cemetary at 1313.

Chippy just past Hither Green cemetary and crem.

Verdant Lane runs into Northover where the No 124 joined us and this enabled the route to access Downham Way and turning left, Grove Park. Grove Park station was passed at 1319 as we headed for a while along Baring Road until we reached Coopers Lane, recently covered in the opposite direction on the No 273. At the end of Coopers Lane the bus swung to the right and took Marvels Lane which crosses Chinbrook Road and deposited us at the Grove Park cemetary stop at 1326.

Arrival at the final stop

Bus runs around crescent to left to park at the same place it returns from.

The return was effected by walking down the hill to catch a No 126 to Bromley for lunch. Later we caught the train to Orpington and then the R5 to Crescent Way for an afternoon with other friends. Subsequently we caught an R4 to Orpington station, train to Beckenham Junction and then a tram home.