Erk's Northern Hemiwanderer, June 2014

[erkpod]

Various Tube train pics.

 

[erkpod]

I went to the Transport Museum Gift Shop & could have spent so much coin. They have so much merch!



I have been to the Museum before (but I was really sick) but will go on a rainy day.



I was a little surprised to see a Westbus in the centre of London. Westbus used to be my local bus company until the international buy out & then losing the contract.





I saw this old double decker Routemaster doing a 15 so I jumped on. The conductor tapped my Oyster card & I went through to the end of the route near Tower Bridge.

I have seen but need to photograph & ride the new Routemasters.

 

[Grooba]

Overall I probably wouldn't come back as a stand alone destination but good as a layover. I'd want to check out Dubai, too.

I'm in exactly the same situation as you Erk however the other way around - visited Dubai for a few days to check it out and most certainly wouldn't intentionally go back unless transiting. Haven't been to Abu Dhabi and would quite like to (pretty much to see Ferrari World).

Loving the report and selfies, keep it up.

 

[erkpod]

I was going to leave Kings Cross/St Pancras & head back to the ranch. I headed to the Picc & I had stuck in my head that I needed to get that line to get back to Willesdean Green (partly correct).

I headed towards coughfosters (wrong) but realised that I was going the wrong way after the train left.

I decided to stay on the train until coughnal #erkisa13yearoldboy.

Cleaning up my trip at coughnal, I remembered I needed to change at Green Park (and Green Park only) for the Jubilee (the Jub?) back to Willesdean Green.

Instead, I got off at Covent Green to see why it is exit only right now. Then I remembered this is the station is so underground that London Underground recommend you catch the lift.









A bus pic & a food photo to finish today's report. I did ask for no salad - then people wonder why there's wastage!

 

[erkpod]

I'm in exactly the same situation as you Erk however the other way around - visited Dubai for a few days to check it out and most certainly wouldn't intentionally go back unless transiting. Haven't been to Abu Dhabi and would quite like to (pretty much to see Ferrari World).

Loving the report and selfies, keep it up.

If I wasn't in the VA universe, it probably would have been Dubai rather than Abu Dhabi.

Even though I was in J, 14 hours in the air is about my limit for flying I reckon.

The EY IFE has a doco about the building of the F1 track & Ferrari World.

If I was in AUH longer, I'd get somewhere closer to doentown/Yas Island but considering my extended transit, the Premier Inn was excellent..

 

[erkpod]

I love Aqua Duck tours. Did one in San Francisco & Singapore on the last trip.

I asked my favourite Canadian receptionist if she knew of such a tour. She does know of it but doesn't know any more about it.

So I searched & found an Aqua Duck tour. The Aqua Duck drives around the city.

So far so good.

Then you go into the water ... by getting off the Aqua Duck & onto a regular Thames boat. Who cares!

Worst. Aqua Duck. Tour. Ever.

 

[OATEK]

<SNIP> I decided to stay on the train until coughnal #erkisa13yearoldboy.

I was last at coughnal when the Gunners played Napoli last September. The access tunnels are fairly narrow, and they erected a cage-like barrier that allows those people going against the crowd on match day to go single file one-way while the crowd surges the other way. Always like to get to a match at Emirates when in London.

 

[markis10]

I love Aqua Duck tours. Did one in San Francisco & Singapore on the last trip.

I asked my favourite Canadian receptionist if she knew of such a tour. She does know of it but doesn't know any more about it.

So I searched & found an Aqua Duck tour. The Aqua Duck drives around the city.

So far so good.

Then you go into the water ... by getting off the Aqua Duck & onto a regular Thames boat. Who cares!

Worst. Aqua Duck. Tour. Ever.

They have had a few problems in the past:

Tourist terror as amphibious duck bus carrying 31 people sinks in Liverpool's Albert Dock for the SECOND time in three months | Mail Online

 

[erkpod]

They have had a few problems in the past:

Tourist terror as amphibious duck bus carrying 31 people sinks in Liverpool's Albert Dock for the SECOND time in three months | Mail Online

We will not be amused if this thing sinks...

Seriously though, that's not good. No wonder the London version doesn't appear to go into the water any more.

Interesting to note the issues only seem to be getting in & out of the water. To coughise another Englishism, maybe it is the wrong type of water.

 

[Flashback]

You can get the 24 or 38 from Victoria Station - pretty much only get the new busses on those 2 routes. 9 to Kensington is 50/50.

 

[erkpod]

Day 5, Saturday 7 June
London, England



A French start to the day?



Rainy start



Nice birds!



I found an empty black cab nearby.



I was able to repeat yesterday's bus arrival photo with better results.

 

[erkpod]

I ended up catching the 98 to near Piccadilly Circus where I caught a 10 to Glammersmith on the new Routemaster. It is a very good bus & has really improved the standard of London buses.

 

[erkpod]

I even got to see some sort of VIP police escort through the streets.







The bus spotters were out. This guy & his bus spotting dog were out & after lunch in Glammersmith, I sat behind 2 others on a 9 back to the city.





I did do some bus spotting at the bus station on arrival at Glammersmith.

 

[erkpod]

After watching an interesting conversation between a bus information guy & a passenger, I headed down to the shopping centre below.



Funny how no matter where I go, people think I am an information source. Has happened twice today & even in Abu Dhabi.



I saw a locksmith so I thought that I could buy a new TSA key to replace the key that is broken in the lock. No such luck.



A pub lunch soon followed. I had lunch there for my birthday in 2011.





Riding the 9 back to town, I spotted several older Routemasters. The 2 bus heads sitting in front of me were busy noting every Routemaster bus (new and old) that they passed.

 

[erkpod]

The earlier rain stopped & the sun came out.



When the bus terminated, there were paramedics who transported a lady to hospital. The bed lift is awesome!







I then caught an 11 to Liverpool St where I checked out the rear platform on the new Routemaster & the custom rear doors.

 

[erkpod]

Checking out the action at Liverpool St.

 

[erkpod]

I then caught one of the new S stock trains from Liverpool St to Finchley Rd on the Met & then was able to go
across platform to the Jubilee there. These trains were in the early stages of delivery during my last visit here in 2011.

I'll have to get some interior shots when the train isn't filled with tween/teen girls heading to Wembley to see One Direction.

 

[erkpod]

I thought I'd be able to change for a bus somewhere else to head back to the hotel but I got the stations mixed up for a direct bus. But a change of bus was no issue & I got back ok.



I checked in for the 3rd time at the same accommodation & am in my final room for my London stay. I shared the Liverpool Aqua Duck story with my favourite Canadian receptionist who agreed with my disappointment. I was also able to replace a faulty adaptor that I purchased in Singapore.

 

[erkpod]

I was last at coughnal when the Gunners played Napoli last September. The access tunnels are fairly narrow, and they erected a cage-like barrier that allows those people going against the crowd on match day to go single file one-way while the crowd surges the other way. Always like to get to a match at Emirates when in London.

The English are certainly a lot more vocal & passionate when it comes to supporting their sport teams compared to Aussies. Imagine if the Tube was newly designed & not a system designed in ye olde times!

 

[erkpod]

An Australian, an Austrian & a Croatian walk into a bar.

Oh, there's no joke. But the Australian hopes to see more of the Austrian.

Got to love co-ed accommodation! In this part of the world, it seems more acceptable.

Brings back memories of Amsterdam 2011.