Day ninety nine the completion of the No 157.

To complete the No 157 I returned on foot to where I had disembarked on the ninety eighth trip of the series and had to wait a good ten minutes for Arriva's T90 to arrive at the Waddon Leisure Centre stop to take me via Croydon and South Norwood to Crystal Palace.

So had I continued my journey last week it would have taken me another 40 minutes and then at least that home meaning an 8 hour day of bus riding!

Arriva's T90 arriving from the direction of Wallington

The bus arrived at 1157 and took Epsom Road, which had been closed for most of this year for Thames Water roadworks. After the bus had climbed past the Centrale tram stop the top of Tamworth Road was reached,the bus drivers are exchanged.

Our replacement bus driver waiting for us atop Tamworth Road.
 In the last week the No 407 has been converted to double deck using the same buses I had used on the No 45 route.
The tram is heading for East Croydon where it will terminate as no trams are able, this week to head east from there.

There were eight drivers waiting under a tree sheltering from the strong sunshine and the bus dwelt here for three minutes from 1207-1210. Once through the bus station the bus headed down Whitehorse Road and then turned right past Selhurst station and train depot.

Whitehorse Road just prior to junction where we will turn right to Selhurst;
Both Croydon and Crystal Palace transmitter masts visible 

 The road after this was adorned with banners supporting Crystal Palace Football Club before arriving at South Norwood at 1225.

The road into South Norwood with Selhurst Park to our left

 From South Norwood the bus continued for a while towards Penge before turning left at Elmers End Road and passing through Anerley towards Crystal Palace.

Who knows which buses stop here or what the stop is called! (Answers on an e postcard please!)

Closing on the transmitter mast at Crystal Palace as we pass Anerley railway station

As the bus climbed up past Anerley station the only pair waiting at the next stop waved the bus on for which the driver must have been grateful, as to stop on the hill would make the climb much slower.

A No 410 heading down Anerley Hill

Climbing up Anerley Hill

 Nevertheless the bus did stop on Anerley Hill at Crystal Palace 'low level' station and then ground slowly to the top before swinging right to terminate on Crystal Palace Parade at 1238.

The final stop on Crystal Palace Parade: a place I had visited on day one and now again on day ninety nine!

To return home I boarded a No 410 which departed about 1250 but took almost an hour to return me close to my home, the 410 route being rather less direct than the 157!