We got up in time and got to Pool Meadow. An incompetent bus driver meant that we nearly didn't have a seat on the bus, however it was the wrong bus, and when the right one came we were fine. We got seen off by both sets of parents and Margaret. Also Tony came to record the occasion on his camera.

On the outskirts of Birmingham, Jo saw smoke which Phil soon identified as being the steam train we were heading for (yey!!) We saw it again when the track ran alongside the road, and just missed seeing it go through Moor Street station. When we arrived at Snow Hill station, Jo got a chance to go on the footplate. Apparently Phil had arranged it all already (nice guy :-)) It was big and hot and there were loads of levers but it was really good fun. Phil's mum's comment when she saw the photos was 'what is Jo doing going on the footplate in her posh dress?' but Jo didn't care about the dress and really enjoyed it.

When the train was ready to leave, we went down to our carriage. We were in premier class (Well it was the first day of our honeymoon) So we got soft, comfy chairs, complimentary tea and coffee and friendly, helpful staff. We also got given a bunch of flowers and a card (Thank you to Phil and to Margaret for organising that.) We went thorough Tysley depot, past a random but interesting aqueduct and through lots of little stations painted (to different extents) in Great Western Railway colours of pale and dark brown. When we got to Stratford we had a 20 minute stop while they changed the engine round and we took lots of photos, wandered to the end of the platform and generally behaved like trainspotters.

Back on the train, we got the highlight of the trip, roast dinner. It was gorgeous and it took us all the way back and a few minutes in the station to finish it all. We started off with soup, followed by roast beef, yorkshire pudding (yum yum!!) potatoes and veg. This was followed by chocolate gateau and tea or coffee. The food and the atmosphere were very nice, with us chatting to the people opposite us in both directions. We will be doing this again in the future for other special occasions.

Back in Birmingham we (well Jo mostly) watched the steam train depart then we went for a celebratory drink in wetherspoons in Birmingham before we caught the slightly less exciting virgin train to Dawlish. It was on time at least, although it wasn't much else. The seat reservations weren't working so Phil was cramped all the way to Bristol where we got upgraded to first class. At least we got seats together though. We took the train to Newton Abbot so we could see the coast between Teignmouth and Dawlish Warren then we to another train back and got off at Dawlish (half way between the two) so we could walk along the sea wall.

This was something Phil had wanted to do for a long time and we both really enjoyed walking along the sea wall between the railway and the water. Phil couldn't help but wave at the train drivers (force of habit apparently) and they mostly waved back. We talked about scary things like coming back in 4 years with a little brat who will also be waving at train drivers. We also sat on a bench watching he sea and had some sandwiches for tea. We then carried on walking to Dawlish Warren. Whoever told us to avoid it was quite right and thanks for the advice, it was full of tacky arcade games and fish and chip shops, Like a miniature Blackpool really. We were supposed to catch the last train to Starcross but being us, we missed it, so we had to walk. It was hard work but we made it eventually.

The hotel was nice, nothing too special apart from the small obsession with cow stuff. We had a very nice shower and Phil had a drool at Jo's sexy blue underwear :-)

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