Victoria Line Delay
Yesterday, I left Selfridges about five with the intention of getting to Blackhorse Road by five-thirty and home in time to see England play South Africa in the Twenty20 World Cup.
But I hadn’t bargained on the signalling problems that happened at Seven Sisters, that effectively meant that no trains could run through.
Now one of the things that works on public transport in London is that there are a lot of different ways to get from A to C, even if doesn’t mean going by B.
Eventually we gave up at Euston, where we had sat for about five minutes. The driver had told us to try to find alternative routes, but to get to the further parts of the Victoria Line is not easy. Especially as the Circle Line to Liverpool Street was shut as it was being upgraded. Why Liverpool Street? You can get a Chingford train to St. James Street in Walthamstow.
I was talking to an Aussie, who wanted to get to Pickett’s Lock, where he had planted his tent for about three pounds a day. That must be the cheapest bed in London, although these days it must be pretty cold. But then he was going walking near Inverness and was wearing shorts on quite a cold day. I was actually wearing a T-shirt under my shirt!
So we legged it and immediately caught a Northern Line train to Kings Cross St. Pancras. A long walk through that station brought us to the Piccadilly Line, where we immediately caught a train towards Finsbury Park, where the aim was to see if we could get a bus towards Seven Sisters and Blackhorse Road. Or in fact rejoin the Victoria Line, but that now not running at all.
It was there that I made my first mistake. All the world and his wife seemed to have the same idea and masses were scrambling towards the exit and the buses.
So it was back down to the Piccadilly Line and back on the next train to Manor House.
We were in luck and a few minutes later we were on a 279 bus to Tottenham Hale for myself and all the way to Edmonton Green for my travelling companion. He would be exactly where he wanted to be and I would be a short bus ride away from the Lotus Elan at Blackhorse Road. Note that buses are so much better today, now that they actually tell you where they are going!
It was all very complicated, but at least I had a someone pleasant to talk to. I arrived about forty minutes later than I would have done directly by tube.
Incidentally, one thing that was very good was the attitude of London Transport staff. My companion’s tickets didn’t work the barriers as his was just a simple return, but they just waved him through.
The whole journey could have been one hell of a lot worse!
Around the World in 33 Days – Nause!
I have been booking hotels and find some parts of the process very tedious.
For instance, why do I have to have a loyalty card to get a discount? I’m staying in I think about three different groups, so I’d need to have a wallet full of plastic. For what! Probably nothing, as I’ll never stay there again.
Also some hotels don’t publish a local direct number. So if they don’t, I try to avoid staying there!
If Amazon and Marks and Spencer can get a one click buying stategy for the Internet, surely some global hotel booking site can do the same. The trouble is that you won’t find the really good hotels on global sites.
Still I’ll just grin and bear it.
Around the World in 33 Days – Latest Itinerary
The latest route and itinerary is as follows. I shall be flying business all the way, as that was good value from Trailfinders.
Stop 1 – Hong Kong – Arrive Wednesday, May 12th at 16:05
I need to break the journey and what better place than Hong Kong. I am staying in the Mandarin Oriental. My late wife and I always did and it’s worth every penny.
In Hong Kong I will be seeing a few old friends and some others who are perhaps interested in my new project management system, which can produce reports in both English and Chinese. Or in fact any number of languages at the same time.
Stop 2 – Melbourne – Arrive Saturday, May 15th at 06:15
Of all the major cities in the greater south-east of Australia, Melbourne is the only one I haven’t visited. I suppose I haven’t visited Canberra either, but then my Aussie friends say it isn’t worth it.
I also want to play real tennis in the city and see the sights. I’m also going to see some old Metier mates. But if anybody else wants to see me, then just contact me. Or leave a message at the Bloomfield Hotel, where I’m staying.
Stop 3 – Brisbane – Arrive Tuesday, 18th May at 14:15
Seeing an old mate that I’ve never met! We’ll talk about Artemis, Metier and the new project management system. I shall be staying at the Holiday Inn.
Stop 4 – Hawaii – Arrive Friday, 21st May at 09:25
Now I’ve never been to Hawaii, but it looks like a place that is worth a stopover as I make my way across the Pacific. I also want to visit Pearl Harbor. After all, I’ve stood on the dock at Taranto, where the Fleet Air Arm proved the concept for the Japanese. Read the Attack on Taranto by Lowry and Wellham for more details. Note that the book is an American publication. I shall be taking a copy.
I don’t know if anybody knows me in Hawaii, but I shall be staying at the Aqua Bamboo and Spa. I chose it as I got a little kitchen, so that I can fend for myself if GF seems bad in Hawaii.
Stop 5 – San Francisco – Arrive Monday, 24th May at 20:35
I’ll probably spend a day or so in San Francisco and then it will be a car all the way to New Orleans. I’m staying at the Orchard Hotel. Note that this is at 665 Bush Street and not the Orchard Garden Hotel, which is a sister hotel.
The first leg is planned to be a drive to somewhere around Bakersfield after visiting the giant redwoods and other sights in Calfornia
Stop 6 – Bakersfield – Arrive Wednesday, 26th May
This will only be an overnight stop.
Stop 7 – Route 66 Motel – Arrive Thursday 27th May
I had a very interesting stop here many years ago.
Stop 8 – Grand Canyon – Arrive Friday 28th May
There are places in this area that I want to visit again, like the Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon, Route 66, the meteor crater at Winslow and the ruins of the pueblas.
Stop 9 – Phoenix – Arrive Saturday 29th May
Phoenix is somewhere I’ve been before but only for a change of flights.
Stop 10, 11 – Las Cruces, Midland – Arrive Sunday 30th May and Monday 31st May
These are provisional and it all depends on weather and speed.
Stop 12 – Austin – Arrive Tuesday 1st June
If things work out, I’ll stay two nights here.
Stop 13 – Houston – Arrive Thurday 3rd June
Two nights here too.
Stop 14 – New Orleans – Arrive Thursday 5th June
I’ve never been to New Orleans, so I’ll drive from Houston. It may be that I get there a day later.
Stop 15 – New York – Arrive Tuesday 8th June
I’m taking the Delta direct flight on the day.
Stop 16 – Boston – Arrive Wednesday 9th June
I’ll probably take the train and hire a car in Boston, before driving to Cape Cod. Two nights there and one night in Boston.
Stop 17 – London – Leave Boston on Saturday, 12th June at 21:30
And then it’s back to London.
This will get filled out even more as the time unfolds.
Note that anybody who wants to see me, just contact me in the normal way. LinkedIn is probably the easiest.
New River Walk
The New River is one of London’s hidden treasures. It could be argued that the growth of London owes just a bit to this early seventeenth century feat of engineering to bring clean drinking water to London.
It is still used to bring water to London and most of the route is an easy walk. But from Stoke Newington onwards the river is now not used to provide water and in some places it has been converted into walks and parks. One such is the New River Walk at Canonbury.
New River Walk
Note the bamboo!
The Anonymous Widower 