Erk's Northern Hemiwanderer, June 2014

[erkpod]

Part of Willesdean Green High Road (above) compared to Kilburn High Road (below).





I can get a taste of Brazil from my doorstep. All I can see is the 16 bus via Edgware Road.

 

[erkpod]

Some shops.

 

[erkpod]

Sign on the large waste bin at the lodge.



Chalkboard at Camden Town



Chalkboard at Hamstead Heath



Free balloon day in Hamstead Heath



This pub in Willesden Green may stay open longer than midnight if they have suitable staff.

 

[erkpod]

Meanwhile this pub in Willesden Green appears to be members only.



"Service" washes. *wink wink nudge nudge*



That's not a bus stand ...



... this is a bus stand!



The postman? What is it?

It's a person who delivers mail or parcels but that's not important right now.

 

[erkpod]

In the next edition, they'll tell us what they really think!



"Hi, I'm Erk & I like going to Tesco."



Not sure what this is about but the English love a good headline!



Back at the lodge, is this the portal to the next dimension?



One way or another, I'll get into my room at the lodge!

 

[erkpod]

Good to be in England, especially during the World Cup. Enjoy the rest of your trip!

The World Cup doesn't interest me that much. Tried watching some of it yesterday - boring.

 

[erkpod]

You'll be pleased that the lodge's pretend World Cup has been returned to the correct location.

 

[Mal]

Private bars are an interesting concept. Some are basically private clubs and there is no hope you'll be allowed to enter.
However the one above seems to be the genteel variety, ie they are just a regular pub who doesn't want certain people entering (usually pay TV representatives, local yobs, under 21s etc)

 

[erkpod]

Private bars are an interesting concept. Some are basically private clubs and there is no hope you'll be allowed to enter.
However the one above seems to be the genteel variety, ie they are just a regular pub who doesn't want certain people entering (usually pay TV representatives, local yobs, under 21s etc)

What about pubs with no pub food?

 

[jukebox333]

View attachment 29876

Caption me this....

Now where'd I leave my saddle?

 

[phily]

G'day Erk,

A few suggestions for a train buff in London:

1. Go to Baker Street tube station on the Metropolitan line. It's one of the oldest tube stations in London, built 151 years ago. Platforms 5 & 6 are the oldest IIRC.

2. Go to the Embankment tube station, to the southbound platform on the Northern line, and see the huge blue "rolladoors" that would slide down in case of major flooding.

3. I see that you've visited the TfL museum at Covent Garden. Given that you were sick that day, your ticket is good for 12m. I was disappointed with the lack of storyboards for many of the items, but there were some gems in the bookshop. I've bought two books that I recommend for any London train buff: "The story of London's Underground" (a history of its development), and "Secret Underground London" (documents most of London's disused tunnels, stations, air raid shelters, etc.)

4. Do a guided walking tour with "London Walks" that outlines the history of the London train system. Every Tuesday at 11.00 am. Meet at Baker Street Tube, at the Baker Street North exit. This tour takes 2.5 hrs, costs about £9, and includes tips 1 & 2 above. See www.walks.com

 

[Mal]

What about pubs with no pub food?

Pretty common these days. Cost vs return is usually not there. The traditional pub is dying in the UK. Too much competition from take away liquor sales, stupid tax rules, smoking bans, and the megapubs (eg wetherspoon) who get excellent prices for their purchases and massive economies of scale. The system where brewery owners lock pubs into overpriced agreements doesn't help either.

 

[OATEK]

G'day Erk,

A few suggestions for a train buff in London:

1. Go to Baker Street tube station on the Metropolitan line. It's one of the oldest tube stations in London, built 151 years ago. Platforms 5 & 6 are the oldest IIRC.

2. Go to the Embankment tube station, to the southbound platform on the Northern line, and see the huge blue "rolladoors" that would slide down in case of major flooding.

3. I see that you've visited the TfL museum at Covent Garden. Given that you were sick that day, your ticket is good for 12m. I was disappointed with the lack of storyboards for many of the items, but there were some gems in the bookshop. I've bought two books that I recommend for any London train buff: "The story of London's Underground" (a history of its development), and "Secret Underground London" (documents most of London's disused tunnels, stations, air raid shelters, etc.)

4. Do a guided walking tour with "London Walks" that outlines the history of the London train system. Every Tuesday at 11.00 am. Meet at Baker Street Tube, at the Baker Street North exit. This tour takes 2.5 hrs, costs about £9, and includes tips 1 & 2 above. See www.walks.com

A useful site for train spotters is UK mainline steam rail tours 2014

Looking at Sat 14th June for example there was a steam hauled special out of Euston that would have gone through Kilburn about 7:15am. Two A4 pacifics also had tours, one out of Kings Cross, and the other picking up at Barking and Upminster in the east.

You just have to click on the Times next to a particular train and it shows the schedule.

 

[zig]

Enjoyed your selection of signs Erk, you have a great eye for the quirky. I find I'm usually in too much of a hurry to notice those details, so appreciate seeing them through the eyes of someone who observes more than I do.

 

[erkpod]

Saturday 14 June
Day 12
London, England
London Podcrawl 2014 aka Erkcrawl II

Today was a day I was looking forward to - a pub crawl with a selection of English music podcasters.


I headed to London Bridge via the 98 bus & the Jubilee line. The line terminated at London Bridge due to planned trackwork.

Over time, various people & I met up in & around Southbank. There were lots of alcohol & lots of good times. There was some audio, video & photos taken but many of the discussions need you to know the people and/or context.

After starting at around 11am, there were 2 of us left at 6pm. We caught the Tube from Tower Hill to Embankment & had an interesting conversation with 2 officers from the British Transport Police. I asked one if his bobby helmet was heavy & he gave it to me to feel it for myself. I was surprised!

We headed over to Soho for a gig, surprising one of the artists we knew who was not expecting to see me.

After the gig we went around the corner to the Crobar for a drink before calling stumps at 11pm

I hate to think how much I had to drink but I can still type this on the top deck of the 98 bus back to the lodge - a little surprising.

Tomorrow is the AFF Roast Lunch in Limehouse. I'm looking forward to that!

 

[erkpod]

My trip on the Jubilee was fairly normal.

 

[erkpod]

Lots of construction around London Bridge station.

 

[erkpod]

The Shard



LET ME IN!
(Ok, it was 10.30am when the bar opens at 11am).





I was given some Iron Maiden beer.



Podcrawl starts now...

 

[Paddy55]

G'day Erk,

A few suggestions for a train buff in London:

1. Go to Baker Street tube station on the Metropolitan line. It's one of the oldest tube stations in London, built 151 years ago. Platforms 5 & 6 are the oldest IIRC.

2. Go to the Embankment tube station, to the southbound platform on the Northern line, and see the huge blue "rolladoors" that would slide down in case of major flooding.

3. I see that you've visited the TfL museum at Covent Garden. Given that you were sick that day, your ticket is good for 12m. I was disappointed with the lack of storyboards for many of the items, but there were some gems in the bookshop. I've bought two books that I recommend for any London train buff: "The story of London's Underground" (a history of its development), and "Secret Underground London" (documents most of London's disused tunnels, stations, air raid shelters, etc.)

4. Do a guided walking tour with "London Walks" that outlines the history of the London train system. Every Tuesday at 11.00 am. Meet at Baker Street Tube, at the Baker Street North exit. This tour takes 2.5 hrs, costs about £9, and includes tips 1 & 2 above. See www.walks.com

Thanks for the advice!

 

[PointyEnd]

I used to live in Kilburn- your pic's remind me how much I DON'T miss it lmfao!!! BUT, there is a plus side- you can get a pint of milk and a choccie at any time of the day or night (even on Christmas Day). Also, you can get a bottle of Moet & Chandon champers at your local corner store. They all seem to have it...
And probably the best Guinness outside of Dublin, seeing as though most of Kilburn is Irish.
p.s. Don't go wandering around Hampstead Heath at night. You might get propositioned by a 'gentleman' for some 'slap n tickle'....
p.p.s. If you're in the West End you have to go and have a pint at Waxy O'Connor's (http://www.waxyoconnors.co.uk/) Most of the pub is underground and has a tree right in the centre of it. Great place for a few jars!! After that go round the corner and in the Trocadero there is a 50's themed burger place called Ed's Easy Diner. Grab a burger and peanut butter & banana malted shake. You won't be able to move for an hour.
Have a great trip!