Xmas Park Challenge - 21st Dec 2010

[Going Underground]

I got 2 buses to work without problem today, sorry no skis GWR rules apply

Looks like there may be more brisk walking than running but for those that can still get along it is still ON...

[Edgemaster]

I was tubing around on Saturday - it was absolute hell. Looks like its improving though...

[tubeguru]

There is currently a large front of snow stretching from Cornwall to Kent, moving north across the whole of the south of England. It is currently depositing itself on Reading. Tomorrow may be interesting on the tube ...

[Going Underground]

This makes it a proper Xmas Park challenge this year

[Sam]

I predict someone will end up on their bum tomorrow

[Nigel]

Sorry we not going to be able to make this one after all. We've all been a bit unwell, and still too many Christmas things to do yet.

[palkanetoijala31]

I will wait until 7am tomorrow morning before seeing what conditions are like for coach or train before making decison whether to attend we might just come along for darts perhaps.

[tangy]

Right, I am coming along for this.. now taht the boss said I could have my remaining days of booked holiday off, I wonder who will fix the gritter lorries now then...

[Going Underground]

I predict someone will end up on their bum tomorrow

Must be odds on

[palkanetoijala31]

I predict someone will end up on their bum tomorrow

Must be odds on

Kevin evens
Tangy 2-1
Steeevooo 2-1 especially if he is drunk as he said he was getting
Sara evens
me 10-1

[palkanetoijala31]

Well that was fun our journey started at 07.50 train was 30 mins longer than usual so was about 10m late getting to Newbury Park once there our comedy of errors just kept going.

Deciding on going Westbound i did have a cunning Barkingside DB planned but was not to be i got into Carriage 1 then thought no im in the wrong position so changed the carriage as i did so the doors closed and Sara was left behind on the platform with me waving from the carriage.Being only with Phil Brown i texted Sara to say i wait at Stratford for her on arrival at Leytonstone i pulled a sneaky switch and left Phil behind pure luck its the 1st time it has worked for me in a situation but arriving at Stratford it came to zero anyway has no train leaving for 4 mins so dutifully waited for Phil in the door to help him and waited for Sara whom now had been joined by Steveo on the train behind.

Having a bit of a chat up to Elm Park we ran out and back into the station and saw one of Steveo friends whom i met at Dean Court where i even made the Daggers Magazine going up the stairs if we hadnt moved for the exit for the station sign i think Steveo could of had about a 40s db here just missed .

Taking out Upton Park Steveo left us to take JUBILEE LINE where we continued on we took a leisurely walk from Bank to Cannon Street by switching at Mile End exited St James's Park and as we did Steveo runs out of station 3 mins behind so we were dead chuffed.Walked across a lovely snow covered park nearly past Buckingham Palace waived at the Queen and took out Green Park and Hyde Park Corner in 1 swoop.

And took Piccadilly Line to Finsbury Park another station i have not exited before spotting a KFC we took the oppurtunity to have a gorgeous snack box each just before a number 4 bus turned up RESULT all the way to Tufnell Park.Taking out Woodside Park Sara already at this point was suffering a possible Kidney infection.?we quit after taking out Regents Park on the way to Horse & Groom where we played 23 games me winning 15-8 before the rest turned up my success was mixed with winning after that but a fine end to the night with a 3 dart checkout of 40.

[Steeevooo]

It's certainly an interesting challenge this one - a lot of running and route planning involved, especially with the requirement of needing to photograph every "park" station! I worked out that on street level runs I ran over 6 miles and that's before you include the platform to platform/platform to surface elements too.

Highlights of the day:
Seeing team Andi/Sara's start - it really was pure comedy
Telling a group of guys at Moor Park station who had just asked why I wasn't taking a photo of them that it was because I didn't want to break my camera, much to the amusement of the other people coming out of the station at the time
Bumping into a fellow Dagger at Elm Park station

Lowlights of the day:
Getting completely lost at Finsbury Park, which resulted in running in a complete circle around the outside of the station
Having a run of 5 or 6 consecutive connections whereby I got onto the platform just as the train was leaving followed by a 3 or 4 minute wait for the next train
Nearly ending up at Mill Hill East - I got on a High Barnet train to tick off Woodside Park, only for it to be diverted at Finchley Central onto the shuttle line. Problem being that I was so engrossed in an article in the Metro that I was reading that it was only as I heard the driver say "This train to Mill Hill East is now ready to depart" that it clicked and I just made it off the train in time!

All in all though it was a good challenge despite the weather I'm sure Antony/Kev will post the times up in due course.

[Going Underground]

Greetings everyone and I hope you are all enjoying the festive season

Nice to see a decent turnout for the "Park" again and the 1st time I had tried this solo which meant I had to get the photo's taken as well...
We set off at "staggered" times and having seen everyone else away I was last to start my watch and take external Newbury Park picture at around 1138hrs

One of the funniest tube challenge starts I have seen with Sara suddenly appearing on the platform followed 2 seconds later by being on the outside when the doors closed and Andi inside

My day had been going rather "swimingly" with some very nice bus connections and some rather "slushy" runs thrown in which showed with all the crap splashing up on the back of my trousers...

Unfortunately the Met and Jub line did for me late in the day and meant that I finished at least an hour later than anticipated half way through the day
Both lines were in complete meltdown by the evening with services in complete chaos, trains changing routes and some platforms at certain stations being closed...

Here are the final placings and what was most enjoyable if very tiring day...

5th Completed 10 Park Stations; Andi & Sara
4th Finsihing at Canons Park; Tangy in 9hrs 17mins 47secs
3rd Finishing at Woodside Park; Philip Brown and Max Laverack in 8hrs 50mins 20secs
2nd Finishing at Woodside Park, Kevin in 7hrs 59mins 21secs
1st Finishing at Wimbledon Park, Steeevooo in 7hrs 38mins 27secs

We arrived somewhat strung out at the pub and had an enjoyable evening being joined by Antony, Ryan, Jamie and our old friend Jonny

[dudey]

What say ye to a traditional Xmas Park Challenge in the year of 2011?

I'm on enforced 2 weeks leave from work from Wednesday 21st Dec. Looking at engineering works it seems the intervening week between Xmas Day and New Years is out because of a closure of the Northern Line from Camden Town all the way up to High Barnet all week. What about Friday 23rd?

[Going Underground]

What say ye to a traditional Xmas Park Challenge in the year of 2011?

I'm on enforced 2 weeks leave from work from Wednesday 21st Dec. Looking at engineering works it seems the intervening week between Xmas Day and New Years is out because of a closure of the Northern Line from Camden Town all the way up to High Barnet all week. What about Friday 23rd?

Yes I was discussing this during the full network on Friday and 23rd December works well for me... Will start another thread for this, I was thinking Moor Park start this year?