It was good to meet you all. Sorry, I didn't actually introduce myself - I'm Hassan. It was a shame I had to dash off soon after I arrived at the Horse & Groom, but I had to be in South Kensington at quarter-past-five. No matter - hopefully next time I will be able to relax at the pub for a bit longer
.
So, here's what happened to me on my first challenge:
At
Earl's Court (0:00:00), when the timer started I realised I had forgotten to bring a pen! A quick run to the newsagent in the station solved that problem, and I quickly circled all the stations on the map. It was either Hyde Park Corner or Westminster first. As I ran down to the Eastbound platforms I saw a District line waiting. Without thinking I took it towards
Westminster (0:15:11) and changed at Embankment, where I was completely out of place for the change to the Bakerloo line. By the time I managed to get through the crowds, a Southbound Bakerloo line train was at the station, and I just caught it! Changed at
Elephant & Castle (0:28:18) for the Northbound Northern line to Bank. Ran to Monument and caught the Circle line Eastbound to
Aldgate (0:43:13) and
Liverpool Street (0:45:11). Got off at Liverpool Street and took the Metropolitan line Westbound to
Finchley Road (1:03:13).
Up the stairs, across and down again, and I just missed the Metropolitan line train going back into the city. I was tempted to jump on the Jubilee line to Baker Street, but the next Metropolitan train was in a minute, so I decided to wait. At Baker Street, I took the Bakerloo line Westbound to
Maida Vale (1:30:39), and a beautiful cross-platform change to the Eastbound service saw me back in Paddington (Bakerloo, Circle & Disrict) for a run to Paddington (Hammersmith & City), where I just missed a Westbound train! Next train was "within 11 minutes"! I was going to change at Wood Lane and run to White City for the Central line, but a quick change of plan saw me take an Eastbound train instead from
Paddington (Hammersmith & City (1:45:45) to Edgware Road, where I ran to the bus stop and caught the number 16 to Marble Arch. From
Marble Arch (1:59:47) I took the Westbound Central line to
Shepherd's Bush (2:08:24), followed by another beautiful cross-platform change to go back into zone 1. A change at Tottenham Court Road for the Northbound Northern line saw me into
Goodge Street (2:27:27). I realised I was on the Edgware branch, so decided to get off at Euston - this was a bad idea! I should have changed at Camden Town. I got another Northbound Northern line train to
Kentish Town (2:40:00).
Like Richie, I was going to run to Kentish Town West and take the Overground to Caledonian Road & Barnsbury, but after realising that Caledonian Road isn't that close to Caledonian Road & Barnsbury, I thought it would be better to take the Northern line to King's Cross St. Pancras. I changed onto a Northbound Piccadilly line to
Caledonian Road (2:57:18). I then got on a packed Southbound Piccadilly line train (thanking the stars for the Victoria line's existence on other days!) to
Russell Square (3:08:38), and then finishing in
Hyde Park Corner (3:21:26). Three hours is enough time to spend on the tube, and I was sick of it, so I decided to take a combination of buses to Great Portland Street instead!
I think, had I taken the Piccadilly line to Hyde Park Corner, and then a bus to Victoria, I would have been a bit quicker. I also should have done Caledonian Road and Kentish Town first before Finchley Road. Actually, I should have finished at Finchley Road.
The highlight of my day came during my journey back from the pub. Two guys asked me what the train's destination was. "There isn't one," I had to answer, "It goes around in a circle." It turns out that they wanted to go to Shepherd's Bush Market, and had got on the wrong train at Edgware Road. It's an easy enough mistake to make, but I wonder how much confusion will be brought about once the Circle line becomes a teacup.