The Anonymous Widower

92 Clubs – Day 37 – Swansea

This was one that I thought would be simple.  Just a return on a Sunday to one of the furthest clubs from London; Swansea.

But I knew there would be problems because of engineering works on both the Underground and the trains to South Wales. So I decided to start early and just took a Super Off Peak Return to Swansea, having booked a seat on the 08:00 from Paddington. I had elected to take my chances about getting a seat on the return journey. But I thought I’d have a reasonable chance, as the train started its return journey in Swansea and I knew there was an unreserved coach.

So it should have worked out well and mostly it did.

Because there was no Underground trains to Paddington, I had to take a couple of buses.  Which wasn’t too much of a hardship, but the journey wasn’t as easy as it would have been on say a Monday.

When I got to Paddington, Marks and Spencer wasn’t yet open, so I couldn’t buy any sandwiches for the trip. As they are the only place to buy any gluten-free food in stations and there is nothing on the trains, I would have to wait until Swansea.

The journey was uneventful except that it took just over four hours instead of just under three. This was because it had to go via Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway, rather than straight through, because of the engineering works.

On arriving in Swansea, I walked straight to the Liberty stadium in about half-an-hour.  There were no signposts for either walkers or drivers until you could see the stadium.

Swansea share the ground with the rugby club; The Ospreys, as you can see from the picture.

The Liberty Stadium, Swansea

I think I caught the remains of a car boot sale, so I thought I’d get back to the city centre and try and locate some food.

I did get a bus, but of course I had to pay for it, as English bus passes are not valid in Wales. Are we a United Kingdom or not? I don’t mind paying incidentally and feel that a UK wide scheme with perhaps a small charge outside your home are, would be the fairest way to do it.

But I couldn’t find any food.  Marks & Spencer told me, that they had no gluten-free sandwiches, although they do stock them.  but they are not the best of sellers! In the end I get some EatNakd bars from Holland and Barrett. They may be nice, but coffee and chocolate bars isn’t the best diet, even if it is gluten-free!

So I got back to the station and took the 14:00 train home. Paddington was in chaos because of the Underground engineering works, so it was buses to Oxford Street and then the Central line and another bus to Islington for supper in Carluccio’s.

All I say is roll on CrossRail, as this will make getting to Paddington so much easier; engineering works or not!

As an aside, I took this picture of the stadium from the train from London.

The Liberty Stadium from the London Train

It strikes me that this is a ground that could benefit from its own station.

It was a day though that showed me the problems of travelling as a coeliac unless you plan ahead and take your lunch with you!

November 7, 2011 - Posted by AnonW | Food, Sport, Transport/Travel | 92CCBB, Buses, Coeliac/Gluten-Free, Crossrail, Football, Trains, Wales