The Gympie community will have another chance to climb aboard the historic Lewis Bus again this Friday morning when once more, the bus will be providing free rides around the Gympie CBD.
The vintage bus, which originally hit the Gympie streets in 1932, will be available to ride from 10am Friday, all things being well.
Tony Goodman, Mary Street businessman and advocate for the Mary Street traders said he hoped the bus would be able to run “reasonably regularly” to act as a drawcard for people to come off the highway and come into Gympie proper.
He said passengers can catch the bus at the bus stop in front of Brown Jug Cafe and then travel up Mary Street to Fiveways, then head up Mellor Street to do a loop past the Mary Valley Rattler, on to Horseshoe Bend and then down upper Mary Street and back along the main street once more.
“This route provides more airflow for the bus,” Mr Goodman explained.
“It’s a nice little trip, and people can have cake and coffee while they are waiting to catch the bus,” he said.
The bus was a popular feature last Friday night at the Night Market in Mary Street, and despite rather bleak, rainy weather, between 80 to a 100 people climbed onboard for a quick trip back in time.
The bus is sponsored by the Gympie Lions Club who provide the fuel, Polley’s Coaches who have it under their umbrella for permits and insurance and the Gympie Historical Society who so lovingly restored the 90-year-old bus back to its former glory.
Trevor Belling and his uncle Karl are the specially licensed drivers who take turns at expertly guiding the old bus around the route and the bus is free for anyone to ride.
