Back to the Beach, by Bus!

Posted on by Malin - Sensational Learning with Penguin

As mentioned previously, we’ve just moved out of the static caravan which has been our home for nearly a year, and into a little house. We’re actually still in the process of moving, as we still have some cleaning out etc to do. The other day, as Daddy Penguin had a day off work, we took a trip back to the caravan get a few things done, and to spend some time on the beach there.

As our car failed its MOT badly the other week, and we haven’t yet decided if it’s worth fixing, this also meant going on a little bus trip! Bus rides are of course an everyday kind of thing to a lot of people, but before this it had been a long time since Penguin last went on a bus, and having lived in Sweden until about 15 months ago, he had never been on a double-decker bus before. So this was a first, and quite an adventure!

Of course we had to go on the upper deck, and luckily the seats at the very front were free, so we got the best possible view! It’s been a loooong time since I last went on a double-decker too, and I might just have been even more excited than Penguin. But that’s not to say that he wasn’t! He was a little bit unsure about the whole thing, but at the same time excited and fascinated.

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We had some Polos with us, as usual, as it helps to have something tough to chew on when getting a little stressed, unfocused or anxious (think of how football managers are often seen chewing away frantically at gum during matches). And when the bus paused for a few minutes at the station, Penguin had his iPad handy so that he could fiddle about with his pictures on there, and stay seated, rather than get worked up over us not being on the move. However much we like being out and about, and doing hands-on activities of various kinds, screens are still our friends as well.

After getting off the bus, we popped by the caravan briefly before heading to the beach. It was a beautiful and bright day. There was a bit of a cool breeze, but you could really feel the warmth of the sun, too.

IMG_2884The tide was quite low and going out, and we strolled along the waters edge checking out the shells and other finds from the sea.

4D6BE972-C7D8-4FC0-858F-01375E22394FThere were quite a few dog walkers about, but we were still surprised to see that the beach shop had decided it was worth being open on a weekday in March.IMG_2880

After sitting down on the beach for a bit to have some snacks we’d brought along, we headed up into the sand dunes, where it was nice and sheltered from the winds. Penguin decided to sit down and enjoy the sand for a while. I know I’ve said this before, but the seaside really is a fantastic place for sensory experiences. Not all children will find all of those stimulations positive, so do take your individual child’s sensory preferences into consideration, of course. For Penguin, sea and sand are two of the best things ever.

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Again, just like the bus top ride, I think I enjoy it at least as much as Penguin. I wouldn’t mind spending most of my days on a beach, gazing out to sea…

IMG_2876After a while it was time to head back to the caravan, through the grassy dunes, and after an hour or so there we took the bus back again, to our new home.

IMG_2875IMG_2887We were lucky enough to get a seat at the front of the top deck again on the way back, and by the end of our outing Penguin seemed very happy with the whole experience. I look forward to more bus top trips together!

Back to the Beach, by Bus! - Sensational Learning with Penguin, March 2018. We took the double-decker bus to the beach, where we explored what the sea left behind as it was going out, as well as generally enjoying the sand and the sea.
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57 thoughts on “Back to the Beach, by Bus!”

      2. I think Australia looks amazing indeed. And a younger relative if mine recently spent a year there as an exchange student. He seemed to have a fantastic time surfing, partying, and enjoying the great outdoors down under. My only issue with Oz is some of the exotic animals you’ve got there… I’m not good with big spiders, for example…🕸🕷😱

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      3. Hahaha yes we have some special creatures here, that’s for sure! I hate big spiders too but they’re harmless. Its the little ones you gotta watch for! The baby brown snakes, teeny tiny blue ringed octopus and the small red back spiders are some of the smallest but deadliest animals 😝

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  2. What a lovely way to spend your day together. I love the beach. I too could spend all day just watching the waves roll in. We are off for a short break soon and the beach is one of our first stops!

    I hope you are settling in well in your new home 🙂

    Thanks for sharing with #MMBC x

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  11. There is something very exciting about riding on a double decker bus when you are young and not used to it. For ours it was a huge treat and something they only did visiting grandparents just for fun. What a wonderful looking beach to end up at too, it must have been quite fun living there even if I’m sure you are glad now to be in a house.

    Thank you for sharing with me on #CountryKids

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    1. Yes, it’s really exciting to travel so high above the ground, with great views 😀 And we’ll miss the proximity to the beach, but at least it’s not very far. And yes, it’s a huge relief to be in a house now, the caravan was never intended to be longterm x

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  12. Beautiful shots of the beach, you know we love it too and taking the bus sounds fun! I do hope you get your car sorted quickly though. Thank you for linking up to #PointShoot 📸

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  15. It’s never boring on a double decker bus ride!! We have open top ones here in the Lake District, these are even more exciting! Those beach shots are incredible, how lucky to have had this right next to your caravan. Beautiful. ‪Thank you for linking up to the #familyfunlinky‬

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    1. Thank you so much! Yes, we’ve been lucky to have that beach on our doorstep. But also feel lucky to now be in a house, even though it’s taken us further away from the beach.
      The Lake District seems such a beautiful place, and to see it from a bus top must be fantastic! x

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  16. Looks like you had a beautiful, if cold, day for your trip to the beach and what a beautiful beach it is. I love the look of all those shells and the sand dunes look like a fun place to play in. Taking the bus instead of going by car can be a lot of fun especially with the view from the top deck. Glad Penguin enjoyed it. Hope you can get your car back on the road soon as well. #countrykids

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    1. Yes thank you, it was a really good little outing, and we always love a beach visit 🙂
      Not sure if we’ll be able to get the car back in business, sadly, so I’m very glad the bus ride was a hit! xx

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  18. You’re so lucky to live within a bus ride of the beach. I can’t think of the last time I caught a bus but my elder children did a few weeks back and found it to be a great adventure. There is something magical about the beach at this time of the year when it is less busy. #mmbc

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  21. Great post ! Kids aside I love the beach so much, just find it soothes the soul a little no matter what the weather!! Fantastic photos #fortheloveofBLOG

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  24. It sounds like you all had a brilliant outing and it seems it did wonders with Penguin! I love going to the beach, especially when the tide is out, its all about the mud between the toes!!
    Thank you for sharing this with us at #TriumphantTales. I hope to see you back next week!

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  27. You certainly had great weather for it. I remember the first time we took our little ones on a bus and they were so excited – it definitely added to the adventure. Thanks for joining us on #adventurecalling. We’ll be open again this evening for more new posts.

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