In preparation for the June 2nd event (and for something to do on my week off), I decided to come down and have another crack at a Zone 1 challenge.
The day started badly. I gave myself 90 mins to drive the 50 miles to Tamworth station, with the train at 09:01 I got to the car park (for which I had already pre-paid online), at 08:40 only to find no room at the inn.
I found the nearest long stay which needed £4.50 ... and I didn't have enough change. I ran to the nearest shop, bought water, got change and ... the car park ticket machine would not accept new pound coins.
A kind soul took pity on my and not only swapped the coins so I could get a ticket but also gave me a lift back to the station. I was running over the bridge as the 09:01 pulled in, just made it! From here I found out very quickly that 1st class on a London Midland is not in any way, shape or form comparable to that on Virgin. Got to Euston to find the loos closed and everyone being diverted to 'orrible portaloos on platform 18. No thanks! Decided to make my way to Baker St as there is a Weatherspoons right outside, coffee, bacon butty and the loo would set me up nicely - but I didn't get there.
As I got to Euston Sq, two ladies with back packs asked me "How do we get the train to Bath?".
"I believe you'd go from Paddington", says I."
"That's what we want. How do we get there?" One asked.
"On the Hammersmith & City line", I responded ... to their blank looks.
"What's that?"
At this point, I knew the Karma Gods were looking at me, expecting me to repay my debt after I had been helped in Tamworth.
"Have no fear ladies; I shall (if you would like), be your personal guide to Paddington Station"
So off we went into Euston Sq, I helped them buy tickets and they followed me to the platform. Turns out Linda and Mary (both mid 60's) are from Canada and on a European Tour. They'd done a cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Madiera, then been onto Italy and France, coach up to Paris and then Bruge for a couple of days, coach to London. Now they were on their way for a couple of days in Bath, before a trip to Bournemouth (I love the way North Americans call it Born-Mouth!) - no, it's pronounced Bornmuth!, and then Southampton to get the Queen Mary II back to the states. I got them to Paddington ticket office and bade them farewell. Good deed returned Karma Gods, take note! Finally got my loo break, had something to eat and made my way back to Euston as that's where I'd planned the route from.
Zone 1 - Starting at Euston at 12:15
Euston
KXSP
Angel
Old Street
Moorgate, change to H&C
Moorgate
Barbican
Farringdon
Euston Sq
Grt Portland St
Baker St
Edgeware Rd
(CD) Paddington (CD) walk
Paddington (Bakerloo)
Edgeware Rd (Bakerloo)
Marylebone
Regents Park
Oxford Circus change to Victoria
Oxford Circus
Warren St change to Northern Line
Warren St
TCR change thru a maze of tunnels to the Central
TCR
Oxford Circus
Bond St
Marble Arch
Lancaster Gate
Queensway - Only one lift working, just missed, walk to Bayswater
Bayswater
Notting Hill Gate
High St Ken
Earls Court change to Piccadilly
Gloucester Rd
South Ken
Knightsbridge
HPC
Green Park
Piccadilly Circus
Leicester Sq
Covent Grdn
Holborn
Russel Sq - Dbl back to Holborn
Holborn
Chancery Lane
St Pauls
Bank
Liverpool St
At this point I messed up. A Met train to Aldgate pulled in and I should have caught that, walked to Aldgate East and then got a District to come around the bottom loop but Oh no, I thought I can't do that, it'll break me plan!. What a twonk
It took ages for a H&C to come along and after the walk back to Aldgate, it took another eternity for a Circle to appear. I'd left Holborn at 14:06, Liverpool St (after NOT catching the Aldgate Met) at 14:19 and didn't move from Aldgate until 14:36. That's a pitiful 30 mins to do 6 stations with one short walk and 2 changes. Anyway, back on it ...
Aldgate
Tower Hill
Monument
Cannon St
Mansion House
Blackfriars
Temple
Embankment - change to Bakerloo
Embankment
Charing Cross dbl back
Charing Cross
Embankment
Waterloo
Lambeth North
E&C change to Northern Line
E&C
Borough
London Bridge change to Jubilee
London Bridge
Southwark
Waterloo
Westminster change to District
Westminster
St James's Park
Victoria - Victoria south
Victoria
Pimlico
Vauxhall
dbl back to Victoria
Vauxhall
Pimlico
Victoria C&D west
Victoria
Sloane Sq .... End!
As I stepped off the train I stopped my watch at a pitiful 3hr 19m 24s. Which, while it is the fastest time I've done I'm still annoyed with. The change at TCR really messed me up. I had wrong door position and the signs took me in one bloody loop back to the platform I'd just come off. I can't run (which obviously doesn't help!) but my stupid decision at Liverpool St and with the Aldgate trains really put the kibosh on the whole thing.
After this, I made my way to Haymarket for a rest in the Virgin Money Lounge (free tea and coffee!), got changed there in their awesome loos and used on of the free to use iMacs to email the parking company asking for a refund!
I'm looking forward to the real cup on June 2nd but as I made such a mess of a planned route, I've got no idea on what my time is going to be on something I have to make up on the fly!