Blazing hot morning. Got up early to greet visitors, checked mail and dealt with a few chores around the flat, then headed out on the 1053 to Bristol, off for another session of Skip chasing. Started encouragingly with 67010 arriving slightly early at Weston.

Lingered at Bristol for the 1248 to Paignton, with 67006 doing the honours on 1V15. Temple Meads seemed strangely quiet today. Headed for my usual seat, and soon discovered why the front coach was near empty - no airconditioning, and a long hot journey from York! Explored some options for filling the time until 1V19 arrived including getting off at Dawlish and then back to Exeter on the Virgin HST, but decided the original plan of waiting at Exeter would at least present a chance to cool off and get a drink.

1V19 arrived on time, with 67002 in charge. Boarded for the short run to Paignton along the sea wall. Amazing sunshine, but again no airconditioning in the front coach. Began to wonder if this was some sort of anti-crank measure? Decided on a 'take no prisoners' approach to Paignton today! Refused to get bogged down in ruminations on Paignton visits of the past, and concentrated instead on working out how to get home. The timetable seemed to offer a connection into a Carmarthen bound service at Newton Abbot, but frankly I was sceptical. Tried the 1720 Wessex unit anyway, and soon discovered that the Carmarthen was only going as far as Exeter today. Waited at Newton Abbot for 1M28 which left Paignton at 1735 and would have been a simpler choice from the outset! Swift Voyager ride to Temple Meads, mercifully cooler than earlier trips today!

On arrival at Temple Meads, found southbound services in some disarray, with both an 1848 and 1900 service delayed. The 1848 Voyager arrived a couple of minutes after I did, so for fear of further delays I took the opportunity of a quick ride home. Overall, a successful day - managed to travel on three out of the four Class 67 hauled services and survived a trip to Paignton without psychological scars.