Elsie's Challenges
Posted: 31 Aug 2016, 14:16
Living in Derbyshire, it's not going to be easy for me to do these any more than once in a blue moon ... but at least I have done 4 in the Bottle, Zone 1, All Lines and A-Z. If (or rather when) i try this again I will be in better shape. I cannot believe how exhausting these exploits are!
The Circle Line Bottle Challenge - Sunday 28th Aug
I bought Z1-6 travel card and went to Paddington to start the Bottle Challenge from Praed St at 14:42
Edgeware Rd – Used the lift up and walked to the other Edgeware Road. Just missed a train. This will be a continuing theme of mine where running would’ve got me on a train. Departed on a Bakerloo south at 14:50 - Marylebone 14:51 - Baker St 14:53 got off at Regents Park and went up in the lift before walking to Gt Portland St and catching a Circle Line train at 15:01. Euston Sq 15:03 - KX 15:06 - Farringdon 15:08 - Barbican 15:10 and changing at Moorgate to Northern Line. I messed up here There is working going on and the escalators are closed but when I finally worked out that I had to go down the spiral staircase, there was a big group in front.
Got onto a train and went thru Old St 15:19, Angel 15:21, KX (again) 15:24 and changed at Euston to try and find the Charing Cross branch – and failed miserably. It seemed to take an eternity to find the right platform but I eventually did, leaving at 15:32 via Warren St 15:33 – Goodge St 15:35 and arrived into a chaotic Tottenham Court Road. I wanted the Central Line West but all the exits for the CL appeared to be closed. I ended up having to (almost) leave the station and work my way back down, along with 1000’s heading to the Notting Hill Carnival.
The train was absolutely packed and left at 15:42, going through Oxford Circus 15:44 - Bond St 15:45 - Marble Arch – 15:47 - Lancaster Gate 15:49 and I got off at Queensway but this was difficult as the train was so full. I came out via the lift but the streets were filled with Carnival. I was so hot that I bought an ice cream and water before walking down to Bayswater. People everywhere; at least they were all happy!
Not long to wait for a Bayswater (circle line) train which left at 16:03. It passed through (but did not stop) at Notting Hill Gate – HSK 16:06 – I changed at Gloucester Rd to the Piccadilly Line east but had to go down another set of spiral stairs. At least it was down, not up! Leaving Gloucester Road at 16:14 we went through South Ken 16:16 – Knightsbridge 16:19 – HPC 16:21 – Green Park 16:23 – Piccadilly Circus 16:24 - Leicester Sq 16:26 – Covent Garden 16:28 and Holborn (where I changed to the Bakerloo) 16:30 to do Russell Square and double back (very quick change) to the Central Line - Holborn 16:38 - Chancery Lane 16:39 - St Pauls 16:41 - Bank 16:43 - Liverpool St ... oh fiddlesticks!
I knew I needed to head west now but I had forgotten that before I go west I needed to go EAST to Aldgate. I realised the mistake when I heard “The next stop is Moorgate”. I doubled back back at Moorgate. Changed to Circle line at 17:03 heading in the right direction but this wasted nearly 20 mins. Aldgate 17:05 - Tower Hill 17:07 - Monument 17:09 - Cannon St 17:10 - Mansion House 17:11 - Blackfriars 17:13 - Temple 17:15
Changed at Embankment onto Northern Line up to Charing Cross – and did a very quick double back to Embankment straight away (doors were closing as I jumped on!) I just missed a train at Embankment but left at 17:24 - St James Park 17:27 - Victoria 17:29 - Sloane Sq 17:31
I finished with a pathetic time of 2hr 52 mins.
A pic of my ugly ass at the finish ... https://goo.gl/photos/X2mtCLz9xckiF1xd8
A video of the route - https://youtu.be/SybyYHyXVMs
My ankles and feet are banging; I’ve been on feet for most of the journeys as the trains were VERY busy, VERY hot. I need to buy and carry more liquid. Took Victoria Line from Victoria to Tottenham Hale to see friends and their new baby. Back to Watford via the Overground and then Metropolitan.
Arrived at hotel 21:30, absolutely knackered.
The Circle Line Bottle Challenge - Sunday 28th Aug
I bought Z1-6 travel card and went to Paddington to start the Bottle Challenge from Praed St at 14:42
Edgeware Rd – Used the lift up and walked to the other Edgeware Road. Just missed a train. This will be a continuing theme of mine where running would’ve got me on a train. Departed on a Bakerloo south at 14:50 - Marylebone 14:51 - Baker St 14:53 got off at Regents Park and went up in the lift before walking to Gt Portland St and catching a Circle Line train at 15:01. Euston Sq 15:03 - KX 15:06 - Farringdon 15:08 - Barbican 15:10 and changing at Moorgate to Northern Line. I messed up here There is working going on and the escalators are closed but when I finally worked out that I had to go down the spiral staircase, there was a big group in front.
Got onto a train and went thru Old St 15:19, Angel 15:21, KX (again) 15:24 and changed at Euston to try and find the Charing Cross branch – and failed miserably. It seemed to take an eternity to find the right platform but I eventually did, leaving at 15:32 via Warren St 15:33 – Goodge St 15:35 and arrived into a chaotic Tottenham Court Road. I wanted the Central Line West but all the exits for the CL appeared to be closed. I ended up having to (almost) leave the station and work my way back down, along with 1000’s heading to the Notting Hill Carnival.
The train was absolutely packed and left at 15:42, going through Oxford Circus 15:44 - Bond St 15:45 - Marble Arch – 15:47 - Lancaster Gate 15:49 and I got off at Queensway but this was difficult as the train was so full. I came out via the lift but the streets were filled with Carnival. I was so hot that I bought an ice cream and water before walking down to Bayswater. People everywhere; at least they were all happy!
Not long to wait for a Bayswater (circle line) train which left at 16:03. It passed through (but did not stop) at Notting Hill Gate – HSK 16:06 – I changed at Gloucester Rd to the Piccadilly Line east but had to go down another set of spiral stairs. At least it was down, not up! Leaving Gloucester Road at 16:14 we went through South Ken 16:16 – Knightsbridge 16:19 – HPC 16:21 – Green Park 16:23 – Piccadilly Circus 16:24 - Leicester Sq 16:26 – Covent Garden 16:28 and Holborn (where I changed to the Bakerloo) 16:30 to do Russell Square and double back (very quick change) to the Central Line - Holborn 16:38 - Chancery Lane 16:39 - St Pauls 16:41 - Bank 16:43 - Liverpool St ... oh fiddlesticks!
I knew I needed to head west now but I had forgotten that before I go west I needed to go EAST to Aldgate. I realised the mistake when I heard “The next stop is Moorgate”. I doubled back back at Moorgate. Changed to Circle line at 17:03 heading in the right direction but this wasted nearly 20 mins. Aldgate 17:05 - Tower Hill 17:07 - Monument 17:09 - Cannon St 17:10 - Mansion House 17:11 - Blackfriars 17:13 - Temple 17:15
Changed at Embankment onto Northern Line up to Charing Cross – and did a very quick double back to Embankment straight away (doors were closing as I jumped on!) I just missed a train at Embankment but left at 17:24 - St James Park 17:27 - Victoria 17:29 - Sloane Sq 17:31
I finished with a pathetic time of 2hr 52 mins.
A pic of my ugly ass at the finish ... https://goo.gl/photos/X2mtCLz9xckiF1xd8
A video of the route - https://youtu.be/SybyYHyXVMs
My ankles and feet are banging; I’ve been on feet for most of the journeys as the trains were VERY busy, VERY hot. I need to buy and carry more liquid. Took Victoria Line from Victoria to Tottenham Hale to see friends and their new baby. Back to Watford via the Overground and then Metropolitan.
Arrived at hotel 21:30, absolutely knackered.