This was a visit to Salou, Costa Dorada in the Catalan region of Spain. We were there in the heat of August, from the 2nd to the 16th - glorious.

Its bus services then were operated by Hispania (owned by the Sagales Group of Reus) and Plana Bus.

The resort is close to the airport at Reus and the ancient city of Tarragona is not far away; also in striking distance is the region's capital, Barcelona.

This is a series of images scanned from a near bygone era (before digital camera technology), commencing with 1995.

This was our first family holiday abroad and we visited Port d'Alcudia in Mallorca. It was a totally new experience, from flying, to stepping off the plane at 1 a.m. and being hit by the heat at that hour; to the white sandy beach, the safe, shallow water of the Mediterranean sea at the resort and the glorious (hot August) sunny weather; to new found food in paella, calamari and ice creams with names like Frigo (Wall's), Camy (Nestle's) and the local Mennorquina; "pop" with the name Kas and Spanish beers like Estrella Damm and San Miguel, but more German beers like Krombacher, Erdinger, Bittburger, Diebels, Warsteiner and a whole host of others; and to big hotels and apartment blocks. Oh and, for me, a new bus operator by the name of Autocares Mallorca (before being entangled in the vines of Arriva plc). That small, but mixed fleet, even had on-board bus stop announcements (something we can hardly manage here today!).

Another winter, more mucky buses. This section opens in Leeds. I am not sure why daytime shots on a bright day should deliver dark images. My own copies are fine.

More to follow as winter draws on!

Sorry about the order in which these photographs appear, but it is something about which I have no control.

First two into service of Arriva Yorkshire West's batch of 14 Alexander Dennis Enviro400s. They are to be based at Heckmondwike garage for the 268 Dewbury-Heckmondwike-Cleckheaton-Bradford service.

1900 entered service on 9th October 2008 with 1901 on the following day. 1901 has followed 1900 around on its first two days in service.

I made my first visit to the Sandtoft Trolleybus Museum on the second of the three day "European Gathering" and with lovely weather, set about riding and photographing trolleybuses (and a few "motorbuses"). The museum has trolleybuses from Belgium, England, Scotland, France, Germany and Portugal and some require a lot of restoration work needed on them. The Society will always welcome donations and physical help to get these vehicles in running order once again. The members are very approachable and knowledgeable people and this will not be my last visit there.

A weekend visit to Bridlington and a-between-trains view of Hull brought very changeable weather.

Those buses in Hull just kept coming, not gibing me chance to compose a picture.

Morning in Lucca, a fine old city with its ancient walls still intact and once famous for its silk, but now for its tourism and less so for the manufacture of toilet rolls!

Whilst in Lucca we chanced upon a veteran/vintage car rally just leaving the piazza as we arrived and they are shown here. They are supposed to be at the end of the sequence, but unfortunately, the vagaries of fotopic has slotted them at the beginning.

The afternoon was spent in Pisa, known to everyone for its leaning tower, which to a lot of us, seemed lower than expectations had us believe.

Spent a short time on the Tuscan coast in Viareggio (the English translation I believe, is "Royal Road"). Apparently this town is typical of Italian seaside resorts with hotels owning most of the beach area.

Montecatini Terme is one of many spa towns in Italy and was the base for the trip to Tuscany. It was a town of some splendour many years ago, but it still offers an air of quality with lots of hotels and upmarket shops and the wonderful hilltop village of Montecatini Alto. To reach this area it is best to ride the funicular up to the top of the hill and then take in the magnificent view, walk around this quaint village and perhaps stop in the piazza for a drink and reflection.

Florence (Firenze) is probably the most famous city in Florence. Like London it's always crowded with so many attractions, which, for me. also includes buses. On the day it was also hot, with the temperature touching 40 deg. C.

The charming town of Arezzo, in the Chianti wine growing area of Tuscany was the second place visited.

First part of my Travels in Tuscany with the buses of Siena.

This is a facinating city, with tightly packed streets in which it is easy to get lost. I was there two days before the Palio di Siena, the horse race around the main square.

Coupled with the Manchester city centre outing was a visit to the Museum at Boyle Street. The event, spread over two days, was 60 years of the Leyland Titan PD2.

Visited Manchester city centre on a sunny October day.

Plenty of buses to see on the island of Gran Canaria with Global as the main provider of services.

Here are shots taken from Playa del Ingles/Maspalomas, Puerto Rico and Puerto de Mogan. As the holiday was for just one week, I didin't have the opportunity to travel to Las Palmas GC or other towns.

Unfortunately I do not have any seating capacities for any buses shown, so if anyone can help please let me know.

Seven VDL SB200/Wrightbus Commanders, 1409-1415 (YJ57 BVT, BVU, BVV, BVW, BVX, BVY, BVZ) took to the roads on 1st September 2007. Based at Dewsbury, they form that depot's allocation to routes 126/127 from Dewsburyto Wakefield via Earlsheaton, Chickenley, Ossett and Horbury.

Are these the last Wrightbus Commanders to enter service as I believe they were dealer stock vehicles and arrived painted white? This style of body has now been superseded.

Tried the Derbyshire Wayfarer ticket. The run from Sheffield to Buxton on T.M.Travel's Mercedes Benz minibus to Buxton travels through the villages of Grindleford, Calver, Stoney Middleton, Eyam, Foolow, Litton, Tideswell and Miller's Dale before terminating in Buxton (from where it then departs for Chesterfield). The weather through the villages was beautiful and sunny. Arrival in Buxton changed the weather to November!

The day did not get much better and therefore no photographs from Ashford in the Water, Bakewell, or Matlock. To get to Matlock, the bus goes through Darley Dale where there are long term roadworks (to create a by-pass I understand) and lengthy delays for the buses.

Went on a National Holidays Mystery Weekend to the resorts (!?!) of Banbury and Nottingham, with an overnight stay in Coventry's suburb of Keresley.

Banbury is somewhat quiet for buses, but busy along the canal. Nottingham, even on a Sunday, was colourful and hectic.

The annual Kirklees Vehicle Rally was on the 12th August this year and, as usual, was held in Greenhead Park, Huddersfield.

The rally covers, not only buses, but lorries, cars, vans and motorcycles.

Here are photographs from a day visit to London on 4th August 2007. The buses pictured were mainly taken from Hyde Park Corner whre I had hoped to capture a shot of the Hybrid Scania on the 148. Saw not a single 148, never mind the hybrid. Other shots were taken from outisde the Royal Albert Hall.