Eastbourne to Land' s End by Char-a-bancs.
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The health and pleasure to be derived from a tour in a well-appointed char-it-bancs has caused the travelling public in general to resort to this comfortable and Bohemian-like form of modern travel to an amazing extent, and day trips, in which 100 miles or so are covered on the round journey, can be booked with numerous proprietors up and down the country. Some of the more enterprising owners, however, whose organizing capabilities in connection with these comparatively short tours have been rewarded by well-merited success, have now developed charh-bane,s touring to a remarkable degree.
A particular case in point is a series of long-distance tours which has been inaugurated by Messrs. Chapman and Sons, 1, Victoria Place, Eastbourne; the tours include some of the choicest scenery to be found in England. The firm's first, extended tour of the season commenced on Whit Monday, 1st Juno, and concluded on Saturday last, the 6th inst., to the entire satisfaction of all who participated.
During the six-days trip a distance of 660 miles was covered, which enabled the party to visit many of the beauty spots of Sussex, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall ; the farthermost point reached from Eastbourne was Land's End. Messrs. Chapman, to date, own a fleet of eight ehars-aa banes ; six of these are Dennis make, one is a Tilling-Stevens, and the remaining vehicle is a Belsize. Next month another Dennis will be added to the number, which speaks well for the Guildford company's char-k-bancs productions. The particular machine detailed off for the Whitsuntide trip was a 40 h.p. Dennis, having seating accommodation for 23 persons. Through the co-operation of Messrs. Chapman and Sons and Dennis Bros.. Ltd., we ourselves were enabled to board the vehicle at Brighton on Saturday afternoon last, upon its return journey to Eastbourne, and, in consequence, are enabled to place before our readers first-hand information respecting what is undoubtedly a most remarkable development in touring by char-k-banes. The time of the vehicle's arrival at Brighton was announced to us as 4.30, with a stop of half-an-hour's duration for tea at the Hotel Metropole before the final run home. We were particularly desirous of obtaining a photograph of the party immediately on its arrival, and so made certain of being there to time. It was as well we did, for about a quarter of an hour before tha scheduled time the party, all looking the picture of health, drew up to the hotel. The picture which we subsequently secured is reproduced herewith. During tea we got into conversation with several of the passengers, and what at once impressed us was the unanimous expression of approval, both as regards the nature of the tour and the degree of comfort experienced throughout. Three of the party were so satisfied, that before the outward journey was completed, they wired back to Messrs. Chapman at Eastbourne for three seats to be reserved on the firm's projected Welsh tour to Llandudno.
During tea we approached a venerable lady of over 70 years of age as to her impressions. Her reply was "Not one bit fatigued; I have sailed to the United States sevceal times, and have also been once or twice to Switzerland, but in future I shall prefer to travel in England by char-h-bancs."
The machine has run splendidly throughout the whole six days," two miter members of the party informed us, " and what we like about this mode of travel is that one gets a much better idea of the beauties of England without. the fatigue usually experienced when journeying by rail to some distant county of choice. Another unique advantage is that there is an entire absence of fuss and pother in getting settled at the hotel for each night's halt. The char-h-bancs carried us up to the entrance, our travelling trunks were handed out. and those who so desired could immediately retire totheir rooms." " How much luggage can each passenger be apportioned'? " we inquired.
" Fourteen lb., and the trunks easily go underneath the seats, and i no one s inconvenienced thereby in the slightest degree." By the time tea was over, we were all invited to take our seats. It mis then a merry party of 23 which started off to 'Eastbourne per Dennis. " Doesn't she run sinoota;37 ? " was one comment of our bronzed fellow-passenger, who had tra..elled the whole of the trip. We had by this time reached Lewes, and were bound to agree with tins observation, our chief disappointment being that we had net" done " th whole of the trip. The return journey commenced on Thursday, but before departure the party visited Land's End. It was a beautiful morning, and the stay at England's most south-westerly point occupied from 10.40 to 12 noon. Returning to Penzance, luggage was picked up at 12.45, and lunch partaken of at Tabb's Hotel, Redruth. At 2.45 a start was made for Bodinin, and then on to Tavistock, where dinner was served at the Queen's Hotel. Friday saw the party en route for Salisbury, a distance of 120 miles from Tavistock. They started out at 10 a.m., stopped at Honiton for lunch, and reached Salisbury at 6.15, putting up at the County Hotel.
On Saturday, the concluding day of the tour, 114 miles were covered. The vehicle left Salisbury at 10 o'clock, and, as before stated, called at the Hotel Metropole, Brjghton, on the way home.
The price of the Land's End tour was six guineas inclusive. Upon arrival at Victoria Place, East bourne, we made a cursory inspection of the char-habancs, and found there was not the slightest suspi eion of overheating either of the engine or the wheel hubs. The petrol consumption for the whole of the tour averaged, we were in formed, 9 m.p.g., and Mr. Chapman, senior, was particularly pleased with the behaviour of the machine. Punctuality was a feature throughout, and the char-abanes was only half-an-hour late on arrival home after the 660 miles journey. This may have been due to the visitors.