R20, Z's 1,2 & 3 - Friday 28th August - Canada Water

[Mitchell&BrownLook]

Sorry for taking a while to respond Hassan, I've been very busy; however I now have the time to do a decent report. I’m afraid I don’t have the split times so John will have to post those, but I’ve purposefully left some of this account brief if he wants to add to it.

Needless to say we left Canada Water for London Bridge then turned South heading for Borough, then South Wimbledon, where we soon got across the road junction to get the bus to Wimbledon, all with Tom's team in hot pursuit. After consulting timetables we decided to stay on our Wimble-ware train to Paddington, passing through Southfields and Notting Hill Gate, losing the others at Earl’s Court, as there shouldn’t have been either an Olympia or Willesden Junction train for at least 6 minutes, however Tom’s team seemingly ambled onto one, showing that it wasn’t anywhere near running to timetable. We had decided early on that a Northfields double back would be unprofitable, so this wasn’t considered.

Our arrival at Paddington had to be the most memorable bit of the day, if not for John then for certainly me. On leaving the District train John was in the lead, which is always good fun to watch from behind as he has a highly impressive knack at getting through incredibly tight gaps on corridors, however this does mean that you get slowed up as people soon fill his little gaps! (Personally his vault over a pensioners shopping trolley was my favourite.)

So by the time I reached the down escalator for the Bakerloo line I had 3 people in front of me, the second of whom managed to enact a Mr Bean scene by tripping over the escalator handrail where it comes out of the ground, crashing to the ground on the metal plate that the steps themselves slide out from underneath. Slowly, after ensuring that he and his laptop were safe, the bloke hauled himself up by which time there were tons of people milling about at the top of the escalator, not helped by a group of 20 (I’m guessing) South Americans who were forcefully pushing others out of the way. I was 2nd after Mr Bean, and immediately tore down a now near empty escalator, with John out of sight. At the bottom I turned right to see the doors still open and John stood there, however by the time I got to the doors the gap was about 4cm wide, and neither of us could force the door open as the guard was stood watching us both. On the platform I started composing a text for Kevin, for him to send John’s number to me, which I sent as soon as I got out of the tunnel before Queen’s Park.

(The lesson is, get the mobile number of you team mate(s) prior to the competition and not via a third party when you need it desperately!)

I did wonder if he’d be on the platform at Warwick Avenue, but when he wasn’t I decided that I may as well concentrate on my phone until arriving at Willesden Junction where the options were to double back to Paddington, go down to Olympia or head east to either West or South Hampstead. After getting back into daylight I had an agonisingly long wait till I retrieved a signal, upon which I suddenly saw John waving from the rear end of Queen’s Park platform, while I was near the front of the train. I couldn’t figure out why he had got out here and thought some crazy bus route must be on the cards, but what had actually happened was that weirdly his train terminated at Queen’s Park after only starting service four stations before at Paddington thanks to the engineering works! Please explain that one TfL…

If our fellow passengers on “my” train didn’t think we were already weird, they did when we got to Kensal Green as we leapt out on arrival just to pile across the platform and into a departing Overground service. They looked disgusted that we were getting to the same destination as them, but quicker! As it worked out we soon got to Willesden Junction, and couldn’t have hoped for any better journey on the line factoring in all of the problems. If this was in doubt at all it wasn’t after spending all of 30 seconds at Willesden Junction before a Euston bound Overground service took us to South Hampstead, where the ticket inspector didn’t even try stopping us from pelting out of his station and up the short incline and in the back entrance to Swiss Cottage. We soon returned there after visiting St John’s Wood and Baker Street, as we once again took the bus, this time up the hill to Hampstead. Waiting for the bus was the enlightening bit of the day, as we spoke to a poor guy who had suffered a broken back and a replacement hip joint, who was keen to tell his trials and tribulations and wanting to hear some of ours. We didn’t explain all, but it was enough to wish us luck.

Soon after bounding down those 300 odd stairs to the train a Charring Cross one appeared, which we planned to get off to head for Farringdon, then Old Street where we would be on time for a train to Highbury & Islington. However at Camden Town, our train (and one opposite) failed to leave, and once we saw that the electronic board just said “here” rather than “due” we decided to take the short run to Camden Road which is of course just 2 stops from Highbury & Islington, as we knew this train was nearby.

We then headed to King’s Cross St Pancras for the 1st of 2 brief visits in quick succession, returning only after visiting Old Street then Farringdon, in reverse of our original plan. Then it was down the Piccadilly to Green Park, passing through Covent Garden and Leicester Square, before taking our “Passport to Pimlico”. We easily caught a train from Vauxhall to the vast yet desolate corridors and platforms of Waterloo, which meant that our tally of visited stations was looking far healthier. We were expecting problems here, after all we knew this stretch of the Northern line had been struggling and had experienced this at Camden Town first hand not long before, while we also expected a packed train as the Bakerloo line was suspended. As it happened, we were two of very few who caught the train which arrived within a minute of our arrival, taking it just to Embankment so we could visit Temple.

We then went across the bridge, just missing a Circle train, instead catching a District to Earl’s Court, where again we had been studying the timetable only to once again decide that there would be a 6 minute wait for the Olympia train, so this time it was us who were going to be ambling off the train. However just before the doors we both sub consciously read the destination board on the train across the platform, Kensington Olympia, which didn’t register to begin with, and then it hit us – peg it before the doors shut! Once at Olympia we made it along to nearby Barons Court where a Richmond train greeted us meaning that to reach our destination via Stamford Brook, would be a two stop strategy with a minimal wait at Turnham Green, but a longer one at Acton Town prior to arriving at Northfields, where we had another sub 30 seconds change, even if we didn’t need it.

I have to say that at the time we were both a bit despondent, as we had received Kevin’s text (telling us that the Horse and Groom was full of darts players so we would instead be meeting at the Angel in the Fields) soon after Barons Court, so we thought we could only really hope for 2nd place at the best if Kevin had set such a stonking time. The train back was a subdued one, John tried to find solace in the London Paper’s cryptic crossword, while I failed to help. It was only once we had heard Kevin’s tale of woe that there was a possibility of winning, so to actually do so was a tremendous surprise. Once again thanks to Kevin for organising the event and for lending me some darts - not that I had any consistency with them - yet hopefully if the enigmatic challenge itself is made annual John and I can aim for some consistency there instead!

[Starkey7]

Not sure what to add to that!

It came as a surprise to us when Kevin said that he'd had problems straight after London Bridge. We had headed down to South Wimbledon blissfully unaware of the problems developing at Kennington.

I was very nearly feeling like a run from South Wimbledon to Wimbledon when no buses came for a while, but it started raining and I decided not to.

I didn't realise that I wove between people in corridors like that! I always try to take corners and tight spots carefully actually, and apply the "slip through unnoticed" technique over the "Going Underground all guns blazing" approach. Although yes, the leap over the suitcase was a case of "oh for goodness sake".

To correct Phil, it was at Queens Park, not Kensal Green, that we changed trains. In fact, the Overground train was running late up towards Watford Junction. (How, though, I don't know, since it had only left Euston nine minutes beforehand!!!) This meant that Phil's Harrow and Wealdstone Bakerloo caught me up, before the Overground even arrove.

The Overground coming back down was also late as it arrove at Willesden Junction, although for us two it was a very sexy interchange (considering they only run every twenty minutes).

I couldn't help but think that St Johns Wood to Hampstead would have been quicker purely by Tube, in hindsight. Similarly for the Camden to Highbury business. Again, we weren't to know.

Charging down three hundred and twenty steps on a spiral staircase is dizzying.

Seeing an Olympia train at Earls Court off schedule is dizzying too.

[Garion]

Use the lift my friend..I was there yesterday

[Starkey7]

You should know that I get ants in my pants waiting for a lift; I invariably take the stairs simply out of impatience.

[greatkingrat]

Would you have taken the stairs if you were going up instead of down?

[Mitchell&BrownLook]

Firstly I'll concur with all that John's said there. I'm not at all surprised that I got the details partially wrong for the Paddington to Willesden Junction section, it all happened at high speed which was compounded by how both your arrival and that of the Overground train were totally unexpected. I also ought to add that you were a fab team mate, and as I said before, we should team up again!

Garion: I would estimate that there were somewhere in the region of 20 to 30 people waiting at the top for a lift which already looked pretty full (so nearly all those wouldn't fit in that lift). While I know this isn't the best piece of evidence ever, I did notice that we got to the platform before a zimmer frame clad woman who was at the back of those waiting for the lift. I've no idea whether it's a trek from the bottom of the lift to the platform, as it wasn't for the stairs, but it certainly was a gratifying sight after leaping down all those stairs in an elephant like manner, and not feeling grand for it either. And anyhow, why not do it for the hell of it anyhow?

As for going up too: I wouldn't be surprised if that's easier on both mind and legs, as 2 at a time is a bit easier and more controllable when going up rather than down!

[Garion]

You should know that I get ants in my pants waiting for a lift; I invariably take the stairs simply out of impatience.

Well I prefer the lifts at Hampstead lol. Nice and fast I remember the first time I used them... lol

And I dont mind using the stairs, but I hate getting dizzy at the top/bottom after going round and round and round and round and round and round and round and round etc.

[mps247]

Strangely, I find it easier to go up a spiral staircase than down one. At Covent Garden I wait for the lift to go down, but take the stairs to run up the 15-storey building...

[Starkey7]

Actually, yes, I would take the stairs up (and do), unless the lift is right there.

I didn't even notice a queueue for the lift; I just instinctively went for the stairs. Stairs are more controllable than a lift.

[hwolge]

Strangely, I find it easier to go up a spiral staircase than down one. At Covent Garden I wait for the lift to go down, but take the stairs to run up the 15-storey building...

I guess I could do some more detailed research, but it's my impression that most central London Tube station platforms are at around 60-70 feet depth (hence "66 Feet Under"). That roughly translates to a 6 storey building ... Does anyone remember the number of steps at any stations? I think a standard step should be around 6"-7". This would translate to 120 steps - is this a fair number? Or another way to put it - 20 steps per storey in a typical building...

[Garion]

Covent Garden = 193
Hampstead = 320

I think, dont quote me on this...

[greatkingrat]

Lift heights can be found at http://www.davros.org/rail/culg/vdetails.html

Hampstead is the longest lift on the network at 181ft while Covent Garden is 112ft

[Going Underground]

I exited Hampstead for the 1st time on this challenge and had no intenion os using the steps, I knew there were a lot but not the exact amount. That lift sure goes up at a rate of knots

[mps247]

Strangely, I find it easier to go up a spiral staircase than down one. At Covent Garden I wait for the lift to go down, but take the stairs to run up the 15-storey building...

I guess I could do some more detailed research, but it's my impression that most central London Tube station platforms are at around 60-70 feet depth (hence "66 Feet Under"). That roughly translates to a 6 storey building ... Does anyone remember the number of steps at any stations? I think a standard step should be around 6"-7". This would translate to 120 steps - is this a fair number? Or another way to put it - 20 steps per storey in a typical building...

You could well be right - I was quoting the station announcement from memory as they warn people not to ascend on foot power alone during busy times. Either TfL are exaggerating, or I have incorrectly remembered the number of storeys they quote.

It never feels like 15 though... having said that, I don't recall climbing a 15-storey building so I don't think I can gauge what it feels like.

[mps247]

Lift heights can be found at http://www.davros.org/rail/culg/vdetails.html

Hampstead is the longest lift on the network at 181ft while Covent Garden is 112ft

Sorry, I just read your post more carefully - maybe a 12-storey building is a closer representation of Covent Garden's depth.