As usual we were all welcomed aboard by Bill Patterson, our cheerful coach driver, and soon set off for the lovely drive across country to Coldstream. Calling at Gavington on the way to pick up a few more members.

The view from the coach windows allowed us to see over the hedges and walls and take a peep at village gardens in bloom as we went by.

It was a beautiful day, the countryside bathed in sunshine and the fields scattered with sheep and their lambs and cows and their calves.

Primroses peeped from the hedgerows and bluebells were starting to bloom and carpet the floors of the woodlands.

We soon arrived in Coldstream and while some of us couldn't wait to see inside the Museum others decided to visit the BAV's Charity Shop first! 

While a few of us sat on the benches in the square, lapping up the sunshine surrounded by planters brimming with tulips and gaily coloured polyanthus.

Nevertheless we could resist the chance to see inside the museum, which has extended their collection of exhibits and now include fascinating artifacts from the period when the Romans lived in the Borders.

Leaving the town centre we set off again on a pretty roundabout route to the woodlands on the Hirsel estate were a few of our fitter members decided to walk the woodland path to the Hirsel.

Hoping to see the rhododendrons in bloom, we were little too early in the season for that but enjoyed the walk through the woods along the cool and shady paths.