London Loop Enfield Lock to Chigwell - 9 miles - Friday evening 30 May2014

I've decided to give the Thames River crossings a rest for a few weeks whilst I concentrate on completing the London Loop which I started some 5 years ago. Beverley has already dropped out finding the travelling too much for such short and boring walks. As it is I have about 30 miles to go, the section tonight, then next week Chigwell to Harold Wood about 10 miles and then the big one Harold Wood to Purfleet just over 13 miles. Whilst not really a long distance it is when you want to do it after work during the evening. I've gone for the next three weeks as the evenings will be the longest and then after that I will be on holiday and when I get back the days will be getting shorter, not by much I grant you to start off with. I expect I will split the last stage into two and combine it with a crossing of the Thames via the Dartford Tunnel.

It must be well over two and half years since I did my last section which was Enfield Lock to Cockfosters, that was on a really wet day and in the afternoon I went to Barnet see them thump AFC Wimbledon 4-0, so a bad day all ways round really!

Enfield Lock

So back to this evenings walk, I caught the 17:26 from Liverpool Street Station to Enfield Lock arriving at 18:00. I joined the Loop about 200 yards down the road from the station where the walk runs along side the Turkey Brook, a little stream hidden away in a deep cutting, however the first thing I saw was a Little Egret, I was so shocked it took me while to register and I was to slow to capture it on film, this was to happen again later in the walk whilst I was in Buckhurst Hill where half a dozen deer were across the road from some houses on the edge of Epping Forest, this time a little boy shouting scared them off!

Enfield Lock House

So what were the highlights of this walk, to start off there was the visit to Enfield Lock on the River Lee navigation, whilst not the most attractive of buildings, behind it was the former Royal Smallarms Factory where they use to make rifles (from 1854), of course this being Enfield and the River Lee you ended up with the Lee Enfield rifle, the stalwart of the British Army for years, and not forgetting countless CCF cadets of a certain age across the country who would have been familiar with the 303.

Then there was the marvellous view from the top of Stewardstone Hill looking across the William Girling and King George V reservoirs, a huge expanse of water which supplies a quarter of London's needs and apparently is home to 30,000 seagulls, who counted them then!

Reservoirs

Whilst not particularly interesting in itself I did walk through the National Scouting Headquarters at Girling Park, I only spied one person in uniform but I did hear a lot of screaming noises coming from behind a hedge, they must have been doing dib dib dobbing or play more likely playing football.

Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge

Chingford is place I've heard of but never been to as far as I can recall. In some ways it reminded me of Wimbledon Common, i.e. huge expanse of green and expensive houses but not quite as up market as Wimbledon Common I'm afraid. It does however boast the Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge which over looks the Chingford Plains and was used as a grandstand to watch the hunting in Elizabethan times. It was at this point that the sun came up and lit the building up nicely for me.

RodingValley Recreation Park Lake

Buckhurst Hill was another fairly attractive place in a Wimbledonesque way, some nice little cottages and of course the deer and the dear little shouting child.

Then down the hill into Roding Valley Recreation Park which has a huge lake which was lit up nicely in the evening sunlight. The lake was a gravel pit during the building of the M11 which I crossed before descending down into Chigwell to complete my walk.

Did I enjoy it? I prefer walking home in an urban environment. The LOOP attempts to be a country walk on the outskirts of London and in my opinion fails, unlike the Capital Ring which joins up the inner city with green spaces and is an excellent walk.  

Next week Chigwell to Harold Wood

Warming up for the World Cup - 28 May 2014

The first Close Brothers Table Football World Cup Finals took place at Bar Kick in Shoreditch with 19 of the worlds finest represented. There had been an early scare when both England and Brazil were unable to confirm flights to the finals, luckily James Brock and Arun Kumar step in with generous donations to make the trip possible. Unfortunately Argentina were not so lucky having got delayed in Gauchos. Iran represented by Mo Siddique turned up eventually and went on to qualify for the quarter finals with two wins and two draws in quick succession catching up with their fixtures.

There was a slight worry when it was discovered that three of the stadiums had not been completed and were unplayable which put the whole tournament at risk but some worthy negotiations by the management committee resulted in one of the grounds receiving a safety certificate in time for the tournament to commence.

Group One was made up of England (James Brock), Australia (Rob Field), Ivory Coast (Richard Chadwick) Brazil (Arun Kumar), and Greece (Daz Domanillo). The group was dominated by Ivory Coast who won all four games including a thrilling 6-3 victory over runners up Greece. England's performance was disappointing if not unexpected winning one match against wooden spoonists Brazil 6-4. The Aussies fared slightly better, having won their first two games faded badly with two defeats to Ivory Coast and Greece.

Group Two included USA (Richard Hubble), Germany (Sean McCarthy) Iran (Mo Siddique) Spain (Gen Teo) the only female participant and Portugal (Andrew Forster). This proved to be a group of two halves, the good half and the not so good half. Portugal were unlikely not to qualify having not lost a game, winning one and drawing three, whilst Iran's late arrival did not stopping them pipping USA to top spot on goal difference. In fact the Iran v USA as you would expect ended up being a bit of a bomb fest ending 5 a piece. Meanwhile Spain put up a brave fight managing to score against both Iran and Portugal. Germany having lost to both Iran and USA were destined not to take any further part in the competition.

Group Three was made up of Honduras (Viktor Kazinec), Colombia (Nick Sensier), Italy (Aldo Caparco), and Mexico (Nirmal Sooknah). Italy romped home with three victories and a plus 16 goal difference, anyone who's brave enough to turn up in their national colours must fancy their chances otherwise they would look a right plonker!

Colombia were runners up having beaten their only rivals Honduras 3-1 in an exciting match of one half. Whilst Mexico put up a brave but ultimately unsuccessful campaign but did have the satisfaction of putting one goal past Colombia, well you have to be positive don't you.

And so to Group Four which ended up being the group of death. Netherlands (Mark McCarthy), Algeria (Connery Gibney), Uruguay (Francis Christopher, the only player with two first names - yes I know old joke), France (Gary Murphy) and Belgium (Peter Vidal). Netherlands, Algeria and Uruguay all ended up with 7 points. Netherlands  won the group with a 4 goal difference and the less said about Algeria and Uruguay's goal difference the better, the committee saw fit to see Algeria qualify to the determent of Uruguay, oh dear Louis Surez is crying again! Meanwhile France had a disappointing competition but did manage draws against Uruguay and Algeria. Whilst Belgium had a morale boosting draw against the Netherlands and a 4-1 triumph over France.

The Quarter Finals saw Ivory Coast edge past Algeria 7-6 on a golden goal, the game extending in to an extra minute of play. Late comers Iran finally found too many games in such a short succession was too much going down 8-5 to Colombia.

Italy proved to strong for Greece romping home to a 6-1 victory, whilst the Netherlands and the USA played out a thrilling 6-4 victory for the team in Orange.

The Semi-Finals saw Ivory Coast paired with Colombia and Italy with the Netherlands. In the first match Ivory Coast romped to an impressive 6-1 victory, meanwhile Italy rolled out 5-3 victors having gone from 2-0 up to 3- 2 down at one point.

Ivory Coast v Colombia Semi Final

Netherlands v Italy Semi Final

The Third and Fourth place playoff saw Colombia come back against the Netherlands from two nil to win 7 - 3 to claim 3rd spot.

The Final was played out between Ivory Coast and Italy, which saw Italy ultimately power to a more than impressive 8 - 3 victory. At one point Italy were leading 4-1and were more than comfortable until Ivory Coast pulled it back to 4-3, only for Italy to go up a gear to seal victory and the Trophy.

Italy v Ivory Coast Final

Everyone agreed that Italy were worthy winners having won all their games, scoring 38 goals and conceding only 10, let's see them repeat that in two weeks time!

The four finalists

So that's it for another four years, see you in 2018!

Thames Crossing No 8 - Masthouse Terrace Pier to Greenland Pier - Friday 23 May 2014

Hooray I didn't have to return to Canary Wharf Pier today, boo I did have to return to Greenland Pier, and return is the operative word as the Clipper from Masthouse to Greenland took me back on myself and added a good 30 minutes to my trip.

View from Masthead Terrace Pier towards Deptford Creek

I could have done Greenland to Masthouse but that would have involved crossing the Thames three times, Tower Bridge to get to the south, back to the north from Greenland and then back to the south via the Greenwich foot tunnel.

As it is was I was late leaving work, at 17:30 as I was preparing for the Close Brothers World Cup Table Football Competiton, this involved making up the laws and preparing the fixtures. We only have 20 people taking part so 12 countries have been left out. When we made the draw Mo pulled out Hondouras and wanted to know if they were a good country to have, well Mo that depends on how good you are at Table Football!

Anyway I digress, let's get back to the walk, I went my normal way via Hanbury Street which bisects Brick Lane. Hanbury Street where it joins Princelet Street used to house the Alma Public House, my favourite boozer, unfortunately it's now a block of flats. I remember celebrating Wimbledon winning the FA Cup in 1988 and getting totally rat arsed on Hoxton Heavy, and struggling home. I phoned home from a red pay phone, this was pre mobiles, and asked Beverley to pick me up, when she asked where I was I said I don't know and hung up. Somehow she managed to find me at Bellingham bus garage, I'm still not quite sure were that it is somewhere near Catford I believe.

Oh god I'm still digressing, back to the walk, the reference to Hanbury Street was because it boasts street art and is also the home of Atlantis, the art supplier not the mystical underwater empire which featured in Stingray. I noticed the other week that some of the street art has been changed, however the big bird is still there. I've quite often seen tours down here no doubt street art tours. I did think of training for a Blue Badge tourist qualification, but at £5,000 it seemed quite expensive and I what would I have done with it if I had passed? I also passed Alvin Lee's business premises.

Street Art - Hanbury Street

Alvin Lee ex Ten Years After

On route to The Highway I crossed Whitechapel Road, I was here yesterday taking photo of the day, I walked past the East London Mosque with its three minarets and dome. It is one of the largest mosques in the Europe, accommodating more than 7,000 worshippers for congregational prayers. It holds the United Kingdom’s largest Friday congregational prayerservice and hosts weekly attendance exceeding 35,000 worshippers, eat your heart out CofE.

East London Mosque

Shortly thereafter I passed St George in the East, a Church in Shadwell and I looked up and there it was with its three towers not dissimilar to the Mosque. This was one of 50 baroque churches planned during the reign of Queen Anne to improve the social well being of the local population as they spent all their time on the booze. These churches are all grand and dominate their localities even today, and would have especially done so back in the early 18th Century, this can be especially experienced at Limehouse where the entrance of St Anne's is still lined by the original buildings. Of the 50 churches planned I believe only 12 were built, quite a few were designed by Hawksmoor. I should know as I did the 1711 walk four years which celebrated the building of these churches.

St George in the East

To get to Moathouse Terrace Pier I walked along the side the River Thames which has all been developed with luxury flats, actually I don't know if they are luxury flats but they have interesting designs and are quite attractive, would I wish to live here, I don't think so. One thing I did notice was that quite a lot of people where using their balconies and verandas. I've walked along here a number of times and have never seen so many people out on their balconies and verandas, and the evening was not even as nice as last week.

SS Great Eastern Slipway

Just before the Pier is the site of the SS Great Eastern slipway where the ship was built.  The Great Eastern was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and built by John Scott Russell at his dock here in Millwall on e Isle of Docks. One thing I do regret is that I never took a trip down the Thames before the dock were closed and knocked down, but I did pick up a book at a second hand bookshop that has photos of the entire length of the Thames from the Pool of London of what the Thames looked like in the hey day of the docks.

Masthead Terrace Pier

Masthead Terrace Pier was deserted, it was rather eyrie. I paid my £2.70 for the single to Greenland and awaited the four minutes for the Clipper. Here it comes, it started to slowdown and then speedied up as if it was playing with me and was going to 'steam' right past. I shouted out and it docked. One other person hurried down the slipway to catch the Clipper. The trip back to Greenland took all of three minutes and I was the only person to disembark. On my way through Deptford I waled through Sayes Court Park the site of Sayes Court where Captian Benbow had lodgings. I finally got home at 21:30 later than usual and I felt particularly tied the upshot of a tiring week at both home and the office.

Here's a short film of the crossing.

Postscript - I read on the Pootling around blog that the Thames Tunnel between Rotherhithe and Wapping was open for tours over the weekend, one end to the other, but all tickets sold out - damn!

Thames Crossing No 7 - Canary Wharf Pier to Greenland Pier - 16th May

For todays Friday walk home (EC2 to SE9) I made a return visit to Canary Wharf Pier to enable me to catch the Thames Clipper to Greenland Pier (for Surrey Quays). I thought last week was a very pleasant evening, well today was even better, so much so that I was able to walk in 'shirt sleeve' order, unfortunately I had left my earphones at home so it was a music free walk, I thought this would be bit, of a downer, but actually it enhanced the walk as I could take in all the sounds that the city had to offer, shouting, horns, cars, buses, shoppers etc etc etc.

I made a quick get away from the office, certainly no later than 17:10 and headed off towards Brick Lane and Whitechapel as normal ( ah Whitechapel, Monopoly, Photo of the Day - now that's another story!).

I decided to, walk around the back of Commercial Street as far as I could, this is the home of the Bengali community and there was a time when I could walk down Brick Lane and be welcomed into the restaurants and shops as a valued member of the community, but that was a long time ago and was due to my status as the Assistant Manager at the local Branch of NatWest.

My route took me along my old cycle route when I used to cycle to work everyday, the last time I did that was almost seven years ago, it's amazing how many people cycle that route now, in fact its one of these new fangled cycle super highways and to think I used it as my route of choice years before Boris and his boys got the blue paint out.

It did not take long to arrive at Canary Wharf pier, I must have been earlier than last week as there was a queue for tickets, the indicator board said the next Boat would be in 5 minutes. Hurry people I need to film the arrival of the Clipper and use the facilities. In the end I gave up and used the ticket machine, only after the ticket seller pointed it out to me!

The Hilton Clipper was chugging backwards and forwards and there seemed to be an awful lot of people down one end of the pier, I wondered why that was, but I went off to the other end so I could film the Clipper arriving, and here it comes!

Standing Room Only

It's at this point that I realise why there were so many people down the far end, that's where the Clipper docks and it's standing room only! The Clipper docks and the deckhand announces that they are full and can only take as many people on as get off, that happens to be 34. He invites those who arrived first to move to the front, hmm not much movement there. Whilst I wasn't one of the first I was certainly earlier than a number of people, but hey, the sun's out, it's warm I'm by the River, the views are good so I don't care, I'll wait for the next one, "ten minutes" the deck hand announces for the next Clipper.

Monsoon Clipper departing for Greenland

I should point out at this time the cost of my fare £2.70 with my Oyster discount, that 5p more expensive than last week when I travelled the shorter trip to The Hilton Hotel.

Eventually the Clipper arrived, it was more like 18 minutes but to be honest I did not care, it was so pleasant. In fact the Pier became a scene of high nautical activity as the Hilton Ferry arrived and so did two Clippers my 'all stops to Woolwich' and the express to somewhere else either Greenwich or Woolwich. The express had to wait off pier for us to depart.

Again the Clipper was very busy, with people, standing on the outer deck with beers, the Clipper has a bar, but I think this was in preference to sitting inside. I had no problem getting on board and made my way to the front. Damn the front seats were taken by tourists, in fact most of the seats appeared to be taken by tourists. But what's really grating is that they were not filming the journey, as I wanted to, or even looking out of the windows they were too busy looking at their phones.

Great view of Docklands

I sat as close to the front as possible, and very quickly they were announcing our arrival at Greenland Pier, so I made my way to the disembarking area. The journey took a little over 3 minutes, quicker then the shorter trip to the Hilton Hotel last week.

Greenland Pier

So that's that, and off I walked along the the river front past Greenland Dock, named so because most of the Greenland Whalers. Needless to say I stopped off at the Dog and Bell for a quick beer with Erik and Rose and then on to Greenwich Park passing the statue of Peter the Great with the small head. Apparently he came to the Deptford Shipyard to view boat building techniques incognito. Apparently Captain Benbow (later to become Admiral, hence the Blog title!) sublet Sayes Court to the royal party.

Peter the Great with a small head

Whilst walking through Greenwich Park I was asked to take a photo of a couple of guys in front of their toys, a big bike and a flash car, having completed this I then said can I take one and they were a little taken aback when I took their photos!

Boys with Toys

Arrived home 21:30 just in time to watch HIGNFY.

Crossing the Thames - No 6 - The Hilton Hotel Ferry - 9th May 2014

Today's walk from EC2 to SE9 took me across the Thames via the Hilton Hotel Ferry, which operates seven days a week between Canary Wharf Pier and Hilton Docklands Riverside Pier. During peak rush hours the service is every ten minutes otherwise it's 20 minutes. It's operated as part of the Thames Clipper Service.

I had a leisurely stroll down to Canary Wharf, the slowest yet, and as I approached I could see the Ferry going backwards and forwards, I was obviously in time for the rush hour service, not that there were many people rushing about on this most pleasant of late spring evenings.

The Ferry Twin Star

Canary Wharf Pier

Waiting for the Ferry

Destinations from Pier

I'm not sure how many commuters the ferry serves but a few people got off and a few people got on with me. The ticket cost me £2.65 with an Oyster Card discount, you get a massive 10% discount.

One really good bit of news is that I discovered that the Canary Wharf pier has public toilets. Quite often walking home I have the need and normally have to wait until I get to Greenwich but now I have this option.

The Ferry(the Twin Star) has ample internal accommodation plus a few seats on the decks at the bow and stern, I think there the right nautical terms. Whether you can access the stern seats I'm not sure as I never ventured that far. I stood in the bow below the Captain in his little bridge and enjoyed the trip. The actual crossing takes about one minute plus a further minute each end to manoeuvre in and out etc. The views were good, up river towards the City, and back across to Canary Wharf. Looking downstream you could just about see Greenwich.

The view up stream to the City

On approaching the Hilton Hotel, as the tide was going out, or maybe in, a sandy beach had be revealed which was being enjoyed by a number of dogs and their owners.

The Captains Bridge

The Sandy Beach

To exit the Ferry you have to go via the hotel where there is a desk where they collect and sell tickets etc.

It took me a rather longer to complete my walk this evening, not getting home until 21:30 having left slightly later at 17:30. I did stop off for a beer at the Dog and Bell in Deptford, but I've done that before without slowing myself down, and I did stop off at Deptford Creek to film the Bert Prior unloading, maybe I just walked slower tonight.

It only took 22 years! - We've finally walked up Pen-y-ghent

Back in the summer of 1992 our summer holiday was a three centre affair, a couple of days in the Dales, a week in Scotland and a week in the Lake District.

Our stay in the Dales was our first and last visit until now, at the time Sarah, our daughter, was almost 3 years old and Beverley was eight months pregnant with Emma. We were only stopping off  in the Dales to break our trip to Scotland.

We stayed at South House Farm a short distance from Horton-in-Ribbleshead for two nights. I can't remember too much about the stay, I do remember walking into to Horton in the evening for a beer whilst Beverley settled Sarah down, please rest assured I went with Beverley's blessing!

Beverley and Sarah 1992 - Horton Station

There were pigs at the farm and we thought Sarah would like to see them, well she did and she didn't. Having seen them she found the smell too much and ever since she has had a dislike for pigs, and meat come to that!

It was from this point in time that we had a desire to walk up Pen-y-ghent, but with a small girl who was now too big for the back pack it was just not an option, instead we caught the train to Dent and walked up the valley for a short while and returned to Horton and played down by the river Ribble.

Over the years Pen-y-ghent was never far from our minds along with other peaks we had not been been able to conquer whilst the girls were growing up, the Cheviot, the Old Man of Coniston, Ben Ledi just to name a few. In later years when we visited the Lake District and walked the fells we often looked towards Yorkshire, and could see what we mistakenly thought was Pen-y-ghent (I now think this was Ingleborough) and so finally we decided to incorporate the climb with the AFC away game at Accrington Stanley.

Beverley ascending Pen-y-ghent

I booked a lovely B&B in Carleton just outside Skipton and on Friday 2nd May we set out early to catch the 09:27 train from Skipton to Horton-in-Ribblesdale on the Settle / Carlisle line. Both Beverley and myself were slightly wary of the walk, me because it would be the first major climb since a knee op last September, whilst Beverley has no confidence in her ability to do the climb, the first since last summer in France, not withstanding the number of peaks she has managed over the years.

A number of people left the train at Horton, but by the time I had filmed the departure of the train all the other walkers had departed, never to be seen again each going their own separate way. The day was sunny, but with a chill in the air, but great walking weather. 

Map trouble

Beverley walking down from the Station

We ascended via the Brackenbottom Scar, very easy walking with great views across the dale, although the expanse of the Arcow Quarry was unwelcome. We spied a couple of freight trains on the railway below us. Soon we joined up with the Pennine Way, were we turned left and ascended the steepest part off the climb. There was a small be of scrambling, which was quite fun. We then joined a pavement to the summit which has been recently laid by the path conservationists, this made the walking very easy indeed.

So the summit was reached by about 12 noon, there were a few others up there, it was pretty windy but the views were good. It was too early for lunch so we made our way down heading for Hull Pot where we intended to have lunch. It was a nice walk down no steep steps which put pressure on your knees, we could see the Ribblehead Viaduct in the distance, appearing as a shadow in the valley.

Me on the summit

Hull Pot proved to be a big hole in the ground which Hull Pot Beck drains into. Although at this time of year the Beck was going underground quite some way up stream, you could however hear it gurgling into the Pot beneath. I expect in times of high rain this Pot gets pretty full.

It was a pleasant enough place to eat our lunch, occasionally watched by the sheep. From here it was a couple of miles back to Horton and a welcome cup of tea the Pen-y-ghent cafe, an aladdins cave of all sorts of things to do with walking, hiking, caving etc.

Branchline Weekend - Embasy and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway - 3rd May 2014

So the last day of our mini break before we return home suitable disappointed following an abject performance against Accrington Stanley no doubt. But before that we still have a morning of joy before setting off to Stanley Park.

So what would Beverley like to do this morning, a spot of shopping, a wander around the Market, or maybe a nice cup of coffee down by the river sitting in the sun? I know what the Embasy & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway are having a Branchline Weekend, the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway is having a Railway Children Weekend and heavens only knows what the East Lancs Railway is putting on this early Spring Bank Holiday.

So it ws off to the Embasy & Bolton Abbey a few miles the other side of Skipton. I 've never come across a Branchline event, mind you I've never come across any of the weekend specials (apart from the Diesel Gala the other day). The idea is that the Railway runs a timetable which resembles a Branchline, so that should be five trains each way between early morning and mid evening, with a pick up goods, that would be enjoyable then wouldn't it!

Well actually in this case it meant 15 trains from Embasy to Bolton Abbey and 15 the other way, plus a further 14 trains running down to Low Bridge Loop (no station there) all between 10:00 and 17:15, that's a lot of train movements. The trains were to be made up of a Parcels service, a Pick-up Goods, Passenger service and a Vintage Service (that's made up,of carriages that are more than 100 years old and comprises of Great Eastern Railway numbers 14 and 37,Great North of Scotland Railway No 34 and Lancashire & Yorkshire No 1 and a very impressive rake it was to!)

The trains in service were as follows:

12322 - Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway A-Class (No 1300), built in 1896 running in LMS colours.

Beatrice - Hunslet 16" saddle tank, recently restored to service following a long overhaul. Formerly worked in collieries.

68005 - 'Norman' whilst in BR colours it spent all it's life in the collieries. It was built by RSH.
Having got home it appears I never saw this engine!

20 - Hudswell Clarke side tank locomotive which worked at Samuel Fox & Co Ltd. sorry don't know who or what they were!

Class 31 D.5600 - in BR Green Livery, a last minute stand in form 31119 which needs an engine rebuild.

The first train departure from Embasy was the 10:00 Goods, whilst stimustainsly the D5600 departed from Bolton Abbey with the Parcels service, we missed both arriving in time to see the Parcels departing into the sidings.

But next up was the 10:30 Passenger service for Bolton Abbey hauled by 12322, which we joined for the enjoyable trip to Bolton Abbey, we had good views towards Embasy Crag, at which point Beverley revealed her true wish for the morning and it wasn't travelling on the 10:00 to Bolton Abbey but a brisk walk up Embasy Crag, which if truth be told I would have quite fancied, problem was we did not know Embasy Crag existed until we went to the Branchline Weekend! Neither could we walk to Bolton Abbey as we did not have time and I had the wrong shoes on.

Anyway back to the 10:30, on route we passed the 10:30 Goods from Bolton Abbey, made up of fifteen assorted wagons and very impressive to. I've never seen a train run like this before and it makes an interesting addition to the timetable.

With trains basically ruining every 15 minutes there was a lot of comings and goings as trains arrived, ran round loops, took on water etc so that left little time to look around the station in case I missed something. Eventually we squeezed in coffee and some very scrumptious cakes (the mini-break has been good for cakes).

Unfortunately there was not as many punters at the event as I would have expected but with all the other events taking place locally I'm not surprised, in addition to the railway ones above, there's Skipton point to point, a Canal Boat parade, not sure how that works, just to mention two.

There were a number of grandparents with their grandchildren, two little boys found the noise of the steam and whistle too much to bare and burst out crying, and when grand mum suggested lunch ( at 11:40) he brightened up and said 'Burger King'! I think Grandma had tea and cake in mind from the station buffet.

Then there was the seventeen year old station sheep dog.

Soon it was time to leave, so we boarded the 12:30 Passenger Service hauled by the D.5600 to return to Embasy, this service took on a prototypical service in that it was held up at the loop waiting for the passing 12:30 Vintage service and tee then waited outside Embasy for a good 15 minutes whilst heavens knows what was going on, but I expect it looked good with various trains moving backwards and forwards, we arrived a good 30 minutes late and the rest of the days timetable must have been in ruins.

It was a lovely way to spend the morning, the weather was kind, sunny and quite warm, although not conducive to taking photos as the sun was in the wrong place or should that be the trains or more precisely I was in the wrong place! 

For £15 each unlimited travel, varied stock, lots of movements this was money well spent, better value than the Football the same afternoon, but then that's not comparing apples with apples is it.

The one thing I do regret is that I should have based myself at Embasy as there was more action there and you also benefited from the footbridge, lesson learnt maybe?

And then it was off to Accrington

Some things never change - defeat again at Accrington

We have played Accrington Stanley six times since we made it back into the football league and I think we have only managed two draws against them in six matches and they were both draws at home.

Today we continued our good form against Stanley going down 3-2 in a one sided performance where we looked second best and not very interested. Stanley were worthy winners. This is disappointing as last weeks 3-0 drubbing at home to Morecambe and the lost of 3 points owing to the registration farce has brought the season to a very disappointing end. Thank god it's over and long may the summer last, I can't say I'm that keen on the football season returning.

A view from the Away End

We were one nil down after four minutes when Wil Antwi failed to take control of a very short pass by Bennett, the Stanley centre forward nipped in to slotted the ball past Ross Worner. Antwi had plenty of time to deal with the situation, in his defence he may not have known the Stanley striker was bearing down on him and calls into question communication on the field, who warned him  - no one me thinks.

This was doubly disappointing as we looked quite good for the first three minutes! On twenty minutes we found ourselves 2-0 down when the ball was headed in from a corner. We did not improve as the half proceeded.

The travelling AFC fans

The Away seating - not very much leg room!

The second half kicked off and we found ourselves 3-0, another header from a set piece, very poor. We pulled a couple back, a Midosn penalty and another goal which at the time of writing I have no idea who scored, in fact no one realised we had scored the linesman having given the goal. Maybe the football league show will show what happened but I won't be rushing to watch that! Kwesi Appiah in fact headed the goal from a Hylton cross.

A good turnout of Dons supporters given last weeks farce, no direct trains and our record away against Stanley P3 L3 F3 A9. So we end up fourth bottom thanks to the 3 point deduction and a lot of poor performances especially at home, awful attacking play, some crass personal defending errors and some poor tactically decisions by the Manager, and I know these things because I'm a football supporter and I've been to all the games!

Now what was that I was saying about seasons end, Tuesday's the London Senior Cup final!

Post-script I travelled to Thames Ditton to see the London Senior Cup against Met Police. Nice ground, nice bar, nice facilities and a good performance by the youngsters all under 21 apart from Chris Arthur and Seb Brown. A 2-1 win, but an awful trip home only one train a hour I finally arrived home at midnight.

Imber Court - London Senior Cup Final