Day 201, Even further north than the last trip because the only No 311 I could find was in Bishop's Stortford!

 The day started inauspiciously when I looked at the national rail enquiries to check the next train was running to find all were cancelled on our line until at least 1400. Later I found out a lorry had dislodged parts of a bridge onto the railway track. Thus we caught a bus to East Croydon where we bought our returns from Boundary of zone 6 to Bishop's Stortford with Senior Railcard for £10.60. The train was the 1028 to Victoria where we changed to the Victoria line and arrived on  the platform at Tottenham Hale with 20 minutes to wait for our train  to Bishop's Stortford. The train arrived on time and we arrived at the destination station at 1213. This should not have allowed me to catch the next bus but in fact had I tried I could have caught the 1214 from just outside the station.

The view from the bus stop of the railway station

Charmaine didn't intend to accompany me so I made sure she found the town centre before I returned to the bus and train interchange. 

Ryanair Boeing 737 EI-EKF outbound from Stansted Airport

Two Stephensons buses who provide services to the airport. The Central Connect service to Saffron Walden and Arriva Herts and Essex local No 308 service

There are a myriad of different operators fanning out from here in a similar way to Waltham Cross.

The total service should take 11 minutes, but does not include Tesco visit on graphic

The different colours indicate different
 bus companies

Quite a shock to see this bus now owned by
Central Connect
as it is one previously operated from
 Sutton or Merton garages

Old London General name still visible under paint

Arriva Herts and Essex 4008 approaching

At 1241 I boarded Arriva Herts and Essex No 4008 on route No 311 and until we reached the next stop I was alone with the driver. The next stop called Riverside is adjacent to the shopping centre and about five people boarded. 

Bus ticket

Crossing the navigable River Stort

The bus then looped around the east side of town and next crossed to the north heading west as it climbed up Hadham Road. No stop was made as we did this journey until we reached the top of the hill where a new estate had been built with fire and ambulance stations at Patmore Close. After letting two people alight we continued heading west across one roundabout and then turned left at the next one which enabled the bus to turn into Tesco where another person alighted. Only every other No 311 goes to Tesco. From here the bus returned the way it had come to the roundabout and turned right briefly into Hadham Road before soon taking the left into the Stortford fields newly built estate for which the builders are still selling houses. 

An indication of how mucky the windows were which caused considerable flare when I tried to take photographs from the bus

When we alighted it was at a temporary bus stop and presumably the bus will go further when the estate is extended. The return bus stop across the road was of a more permanent nature but presumably would not be the starting point back to Bishop's Stortford in the future. I arrived at 1258, 17 minutes after departure, almost the shortest route I have done and it tool over two hours to start it!!

Bus going to turn around

Temporary bus stop

Houses still for sale

Still plenty of houses available it would seem

I then walked back to the town which took about half an hour. 

Another bus company Richmonds headed towards
Hadham Road as I return to town centre on foot

The motte of the castle

The No 311 returning from the next run

A Stephenson's Optare heading towards Stansted

Central Connect bus coming from the east, perhaps 
Great Dunmow

Then we had a cup of tea and cake in the methodist church and walked back to the station. We caught the 1433 to Tottenham Hale and then the Victoria line just two stops to Finsbury Park where the Thameslink conveyed us to East Croydon where we arrived at 1600.