17:29 to Guildford - Friday 26th September 2014

Shortly after returning from my summer holiday I attempted to travel on this service as I had noticed that it appears on the time table to run once a day at this time to Guildford, Monday to Friday. That time it terminated at Epsom so today I was attempting the trip again. I had checked the performance over the last couple of days, it was not encouraging, it was 12 minutes late on Thursday and last Friday it was cancelled.

I purchased my ticket on the way to work and was determined to demand a full refund should it be cancelled tonight, well it wasn't and it was advertised to depart from one of the new platforms at London Bridge, number 14.

Platform 14

I must admit I was not overally impressed with the new platforms, mind you there's still a lot of protection in place so you feel very enclosed and the platforms as a result are not very wide.

The train departed on time, Beverley phoned to see if it was running and I think she was a little disappointed to learn that it was,  apparently it was her train I could see leaving from platform 1.

The trip to Guildford was I uneventful, there was quite a crowd waiting to board but I think most of these were for the more local stops as by the time we arrived at Guildford a couple of minutes late I counted about 20 passengers disembarking. On route I was treated to quite a nice sunset but each time I attempted a photo the train went behind trees!

The 17:29 at Guildford

I was intrigued to find out what would happen to the train once we arrived at Guildford, the result was that the train formed 19:04 for Sutton. A handful of people boarded the train and again I had an uneventful journey, I watched John Betjeman's Metroland on and off as I dozed off and on.

Return destination

Arrived at Sutton at 19:49 and the train departed as empty stock to London bridge, now that would have been a useful link as it was I caught the 3 minute late 20:03 to Victoria and changed at Clapham Junction.

Sutton Station

I was taken back a bit when I had to take a double take as I thought my nicece Frankie was on the train, why would she be travelling to Victoria from Sutton, but of course it wasn't just a very striking resemblance.

On this trip I was treated to self important American women who had a really annoying voice, putting to right the wrongs that her companion was facing, And explaining in great detail how she had sorted out the problems of the world. Then there was a guy with deep voice complaining that his staff where being sacked whilst he was away and asking the person on the end to keep a eye on his desk, go into the office and sort it mate!

As an aside I must say the Southern trains I've travelled on are very smart, clean and smell very new, unlike the Bexleyheath pukemobils.

Very Smart trains

Having changed at Clapham Junction I immediately caught a connection to Waterloo where I had about four minutes to catch my connection to Falconwood at 20:35 and just made it. I was home 21:15.

Open City River Cruise - Wednesday 24 September

All my attempts to visit sites during the recent Open City weekend failed, everything I applied for was full, I was offered a slot early on Saturday morning in Beckton which was just too early and too far for me.

So what was I trying to visit? Mainly sewage works, water works, CrossRail works and waste regeneration works. I even tried to visit SS Robin in Royal Victoria Dock, but at least that has a happy ending as I've booked a slot in October. I did suggest going to Trinity House wharf but Beverley was less than under whelmed!

So having failed, I signed up with the Open City Architectural River trip from Greenwich to The Dartford Crossing (although in reality we only got as far as Erith). This was going to be interesting as it was a commentated trip leaving at 18:15 and let's face it its dark by just gone seven, so I was not sure how much we would see. Nevertheless it was a glorious evening weather wise and we were treated to a fairly good sunset.

Greenwich

The commentary was going to be provided by the magnificently named (and he must have taken some stick whilst at school) Benedict O'Looney, and I kid you not. He did a grand job talking us through the entire trip to Erith and back. Although on the way back, as I expected he was referring to sites we could barely see, for example the lock gates to the King George V dock, I saw it because I new where it was supposed to be, well I saw a dark murky shadow.

The trip was well supported

There must have been getting onto 100 people making the cruise and on a boat that accommodates 250 there was plenty of room. Most people rode up top in the open on the way out, with the current and against the tide, the return trip most people retired to the lower deck as we were now heading in to current, it was dark, and now pretty breezy.

Angerstein Wharf near Greenwich

As for myself I was switching from side to side and between decks. The return trip was slightly spoilt by a number of people who obviously found it a bit boring deciding to have a bit of a booze up, speaking very loudly thus making it heard to hear the commentary. The boat had a bar, and I was taken aback when I was charged £2.50 for a cup of tea! But this was softened slightly when I was given a complementary Snickers bar. The boat, whose name I can't recall, was similar in layout to a Thames Clipper, was very smart and well appointed and comfortable.

Tate & Lyle Refinery

So what did I gain from my two and half hour trip, quite a lot really, it was very interesting, some I already knew, some was incorrect and some was new to me.

Benedict was very enthusiastic as you would expect, he is an architect himself, has his own practice in Peckham called O'Looney Associates (titter, titter schoolboy style) and he delivered his words either off the cuff or pre-prepared. He's not what I would call a natural public speaking but he knows his stuff especially the architects who designed a lot of the building we saw. He was guilty of trying to use one too any superlatives and sometimes found it difficult to conjure up the right one, but I don't want to put him down as he did a great job and kept me interested, neither I'm not going say rather him than me because I would love to do something like that.

Thames Barrier

So what did we see, well loads as you would expect. We started with the Greenwich Navel College, now Greenwich University, The Queens House, Greenwich Power Station, Trinity House Hospital, Millwall, the Isle of Dogs and we hadn't even got round the first bend in the river!

The Woolwich Ferry

I was really chuffed to "sail" past the Tate & Lyle Refinery and get a good look from the river, I was interested to learn that Thamesmead was never completed as originally planned, I overheard one table state 'Thamesmead, that really rough' and I wouldn't disagree at all. I refereed football matches down there a couple of times, my god that was uncomfortable, in the end I refused to referee down there.

View upstream towards the City

Then onto Canary Wharf and all the building architects got a good airing, mainly Americans although one of the taller towers was a Norman Foster effort. The Ravensbourne College on the Greenwich Peninsula was pointed out, this now explains it's wonderful colour scheme. There's a Gormley statue near Greenwich Yacht club and the Dome which Benedict pointed contains the shape of Gormley when looked at in the right way, just like one of his metal men. I've seen this statue a number of times and this evening was the first time I had noticed his shape - wonderful!

Erith Waste Centre

The Dangleway apparently cost £43million, my god! The Thames Barrier was expected to be raised about ten times a year when originally planned, my god! There's an indent around the barrier housing which indicates the water level at Westminster, if the water raises above this indent at Woolwich it means Westminster is being flooded! Apparently it's not just a case of raising the Barrier, there's a sequence of closures involving Barking Creek and the River Darant amongst others. We went past the sewage outfalls or at least where they used to be under the London sewage extraction scheme created by Joseph Bazalgette which included his two huge swear outlet pipes from London following the big stink. We could just make out the Crossness pumping station where there is one, if not two, working beam engines, well worth a visit.

Former Ford Dagenham wharf

We were now at Erith and here we have the modern Human waste processing plant, and a waste incinerator which turns waste in to electricity, but most fascinating was the nut oil factory (actually I don't know if that's factually correct) it has a number of concrete silos which date back to 1916, amazing.

Canary Wharf

I was fascinated to learn about the Beckton Gas works which was apparently enormous, and whilst all gone now, the metal piers which supported the jetties and wharfs still remain firmly embedded in the river shore, looking like sentinels guarding the foreshore in the semi darkness.

More Flats being built

We went up close to the site of the former Ford Motor works at Dagenham and what a site that must have been it even had its own blast furnace at one time, the only one in Southern England. At the time of passing there was a huge ferry boat and I mean big, I don't know what it was doing as they don't make cars at Dagenham anymore.

Canary Wharf

So all in all a good adventure, the only downside was getting home, which took me an hour, two buses and a walk and it's barely four miles away. I will certainly be booking up for more of these trips.

Thames Crossings - The Woolwich Foot Tunnel Friday 12 September

"Today I'm re-sitting my BCS Specialist Certificate in Change Management exam which I failed by one mark back in June, this gives me a a great opportunity to re-attempt my assault on the Woolwich Foot Tunnel as the exam kicks off at 14:30 and last only a hour and a half which means I should be on my way by 16:00.

As it happens I complete the exam in an hour and a quarter so I'm ready to be on my way by 15:45. Incidentally the exam went well and if I don't pass I think I will give up taking exams. At my age why I'm I doing it, self esteem I guess.

It's a really lovely afternoon, the suns out and it's warm, after the disappointing August, September is proving to be a real gem of a month let's hope it keeps it up as I'm on holiday at the end of the month!

Incidentally whilst walking to my exam across Tower Bridge I was held up as it was opening for a Thames Barge, full of City types all boozed up and shouting and jeering as they went under the bridge. Also passing under the bridge was the London City corporation rubbish tug returning with empties from Purfleet, I had seen that depot whilst walking the final leg of the LOOP.

I sat the exam at the QA centre in St Catherine's Dock so the first part of my walk was through the dock to enable me to get on to the Highway, as today's walk which is all about getting to North Woolwich as quickly as possible. I'm aiming for 18:00 as the tunnel should be fairly busy then. My route takes me along the Highway past St George's in the East, and the a diversion into Shadwell Basin, but I'm soon back on the Highway.

Shadwell Basin

A few people are about, mainly young women with small children in pushchairs. It's then through Limehouse, lots of cyclists on their way home from work or whatever. I need to keep my wits about me or I will get runover!

Then it's past Westferry DLR station and now I have to follow the busy A1261 Aspen Way along the top end of Canary Wharf. I past the futuristic Canary Wharf CrossRail station in the making, looks a bit like a chrysalis.

Canary Wharf CrossRail station

Then past Billingsgate Market, the smell of fish is quite strong, strange to think that when they moved out here I doubt there was very much here, one of the reasons they moved was traffic congestion, I don't expect its much better here now.

Billingsgate Market

I pass Popular DLR and before I know it I'm at the Lower Lea Crossing, the views from the bridge are improved with the nice weather and today the tide is in, very impressive. I make my way to the Dangleway on The Royal Victoria Dock stopping off for a few minutes to film the DLR at Royal Victoria.

DLR at Royal Victoria

I walk along the side of the dock as I did a couple of weeks ago. This time I cross by the footbridge at the end of the City Airport. I notice today that the planes are taking off and landing the opposite way to two weeks ago.

Royal Victoria Dock

I stand by the dock for a few minutes waiting for a plane to arrive but can't stay long as sped is of the essence today. This footbridge brings me out near the airport terminus and a huge sculpture in the middle of the roundabout of a impression of a naked lady called Athena, looks quite impressive against the blue sky unfortunately my photo does not do it justice.

So it a a mile and half from here to the ferry along Albert Road, does not look as bad as last time, I'm still fascinated by the Tate & Lyle refinery and manage to grab a photo from the middle of the road. Again not many people about, a couple of guys I overtake in deep conservation amble along. But before long I have to stop something is rubbing on my foot, a couple of weeks ago, when I was down here for the DLR crossing at George V I tripped I did not think much about then but since I've realised  I've not exactly twisted my ankle but strained my shin if that's possible. Anyway before I left home I had strapped it up, but now it was giving me grief. I stopped to check it out, oh dear a blister, I quickly pop it but  I also remove the skin so I've now got an exposed blister, not good. I don't put my bandage back on as that caused the problem. I will just have to see how I get on. As it happens no problem, although it was sore the following morning.

Tate & Lyle from Albert Road

I return to my walk passing the couple of guys I had passed previously. North Woolwoch does not look so bad in the early evening sunlight and with the trees in leaf although beginning to turn. This walk is quickly becoming my favourite, mind you I don't think I will do during the winter, but hey who knows!

Woolwich

North Woolwich

I arrive at the foot tunnel, the Ferry does not look busy, well what I mean there's no huge queue! I descend into the bowls of the earth and walk along the tunnel. What can I say about a walk through the tunnel, it's round, it's long, it's echoey, it's bright, it has white glazed tiles and it looks similar to the Greenwich foot tunnel. It also has a mid point marker. Theres a few people walking along it not taking much notice of the keep left convention, not many bikes, one I think. I'm soon across the other side and it's barely gone six, I'm  making really good time.

Towards North Woolwich

Towards Woolwich

So it up the hill out of Woolwich. Vere off at the Academy and up Red Lion Lane. Beverley phones me and let's me know the trains were up the creek tonight so I had chosen a good day for it!

Soon I'm home with plenty of time to get ready for tomorrow's trip to Accrington.

Video of the walk through the tunnel.

Thames Crossings - Greenwich Foot Tunnel

With a bad back, a sprained ankle and an early start tomorrow (04:45 for a trip to Carlisle for the footie) I decided to keep it simple today to ensure I got home as quickly as possible. This coupled with the knowledge that the Tall Ships would be on display at Greenwich and apparently Canary Wharf I decided to walk home via the Greenwich Foot Tunnel.

This took me back to the route I used to follow when walking home, first started when I was in training for the Caledonian Challenge 10 years ago. The route takes me via Whitechapel, Limehouse, Canary Wharf and then along the river to Greenwich, under the river, through Greenwich Park across Blackheath and on into Eltham.

As I walked along the river I expected to see the Tall Ships, Canary Wharf was passed, no ships, Deptford was passed, no ships, Moathouse Pier no ships but there was an impressive tug Portwey, Falmouth.

Steam Tug Portwey

Tall Ship

Isle of Dogs Entrance

Didn't look as if it was going anywhere but it was steaming. As I began to turn the corner and Greenwich came into sight I saw some sails. Yes, a Tall Ship in the middle of the river, tacking and splicing the main brace ready to repeal borders.  

Then I spied a couple of other ships, these were only small ones on the far shore doing nothing. Well at least I had seen some, but not the host I had expected. I'm going "up the Shared" on Sunday, travelling by the Thames Clipper so hopefully I will see more.

There's quite a Festival going on this weekend including a firework display tonight and trips and visits to the ships themselves.  Greenwich was quite busy with people coming and going there were a lot of tents on the open space by the Cutty Sark and also int the grounds of the University. Parking had been suspended, not that many people where taking much notice of this. There was even parking on Blackheath, not very well patronised.

But I'm jumping ahead of myself what about the Tunnel. What can I say about a Tunnel, you go down by the stairs or the lift (when it's working) and walk along the tunnel to the other side.

Avoiding the cyclists. Cyclists have always been the bane of the foot travellers, even when I used to use the tunnel by bike at the turn of the century. They have tried all sorts of things, including barriers midway through the tunnel. The Greenwich Tunnel unlike the Woolwich Tunnel is always busy basically it starts somewhere and finishes somewhere, people want to go to Greenwich and even the Isle of Dogs!

Greenwich Tunnel Entrance

If you interested you can details here about the tunnel.

And here's my video of the crossing, almost as exciting as DLR one last week!

Thames Crossings - Woolwich Foot Tunnel Opps I mean DLR from George V to Woolwich Arsenal - 29 August 2014

I had planned to cross by the Woolwich Foot tunnel, but got held up in the Albert Dock and taking photos of City Airport I did not want to walk under the tunnel at 19:30, I was too scared! So that's postponed until 12th September.

Today I left work at 17:00 and walked my normal walk, blah, blah blah, fast forward to the Lower Lea Crossing, so unlike last week instead of turning right into Dock Road I crossed the dual carriageway and made my way towards the Dangleway (Cable Car) and followed the side of the Royal Victoria dock as far as I could, which was in fact to the part of the undeveloped part of the  former Royal Albert Docks site just after the Newham Council building (Building 1000) famous for its appearance on Benefits Street (I think that's what its was called).

Building 1000

Anyway this building had been empty for years, mind you it is in the middle of nowhere. I remember when I was working in Scotland and flying from City Airport that this building was unoccupied and that was in 2000. It's good to see they have spent rate payers money well with two exotic trees in the atrium. Forgive me I'm getting ahead of myself. Where was I, oh yes the Dangleway following the docks.

I'm used to the older docks in the Isle of Dogs and on the southern side of the river. Greenland Dock and South Dock, these are much smaller than the Albert and Victoria docks which are huge, let's face it they swallow up City Airport and that not a small place. Built for the big ships, but now prime sites for re-development, business and residential, no wonder they built the DLR this way.

The views are impressive both up and down the docks, there's even a bridge, well in fact three bridges, across the docks, two of which are for pedestrians and cyclists one of which is a swing bridge the other is a lot taller accessed by lifts if your on foot.

Royal Victoria Dock

These docks see a lot of traffic with Cruise ships and the like visiting, he says with the authority of someone who knows, like hell I do! There was one ship berthed, a hotel, but it looked pretty permanent given the stays attaching it to the dockside, the Sunborn, don't know if that's the ship or the hotel anyway pretty impressive, all the benefits of a cruiser without the sea sickness!

As you walk along the docks across the far side is the Spillers Millenium Wharf, this pre dates the year 2000 and I would guess this was built in thirties given it's Art Deco design. It's impressive if somewhat derelict. If I'm not mistaken Ashes to Ashes TV series used it as a backdrop. In front of the wharf is an old lighthouse ship (Lighthouse 93) and what appears to be an ocean going tug raised out on the dock on a pontoon, this is the SS Robin and I'm visiting it in October.

Spillers Millennium Wharf

I must say I was enjoying this walk, it would have been even better if the sun had be out, there were a few people walking up down taking in the views, a trio of young Asian girls sitting on the dock (or should that be Dock of the Bay, having a shifty fag, a further two young Asians sitting on the staff benches outside the Newham building having a cuddle until I spoilt their privacy!

The dominating feature here, apart from the dock it's self is of course is the Tate & Lyle refinery which completely dwarves City Airport in front of it, whilst City Airport completely dwarves Tate & Lyle noise wise. I stood and watched the planes for quite awhile, it's non-stop they take off and land east to west, well they did tonight, one taxi's up the runway, whilst another prepares to land, once it's landed the other one takes off. It was great, really good views of the planes and some pretty good photos given it was getting dark and was overcast.

Plane Sugar

It was at this point that things began to get difficult, I knew at the time I was making a mistake but I still followed my heart and entered the confines of the former Royal Albert Dock and notwithstanding the warnings that this was private etc etc etc. This is a very large expanse of waste land that was the former docks, old railway tracks are embedded into the ground, there are platforms where the dock building were.

Royal Albert Docks

The only buildings left standing appear to be the docks orginal administration buildings, these looked more like a country retreat. As they have been left standing I guess they must have listed building status, it will be interesting to see what becomes of them. Rather bizarrely there's a road sign inside the docks where the exit used to be directing you to the MI and M25.

Exit from the docks

Having walked the length of the docks and not having found a way out, I tried to climb the fence but gave up. Not being as young as I was once and also in fear of ripping my trousers I gave that up a a bad job and retraced my steps, with a jarred back to boot (and I'm paying it for now)!

This added about 30 minutes to my journey and it was about now that I began to have second thoughts about using the foot tunnel. I've used it before, but not many people use it any more as it's in the middle of nowhere and the DLR is far quicker, I just felt uncomfortable and as I had the DLR on my list anyway I thought I would chicken out. I will come back on the 12 September as I will be able to leave early as I've got an exam that afternoon (what am I doing taking exams at 57!). I will make a special effort to go direct without any divations and get there about 18:30, although only an hour or so earlier it will make all the difference. When I told Beverley she was pleased as she was rather concerned with me using the tunnel.

Having retraced my steps I now had the pleasure of walking along the busy A1020 Royal Albert Way all the way into North Woolwich. This runs along side the University of East London, and I know for a fact you can walk inside their campus by the dock but you need to be below the A1020 where the DLR runs to Beckton, but there was no access from the road.

The A1020 swings a right and crosses the entrances to both the Royal Albert and King George V docks and here is the piece de la resistance of this walk, you get an uninterrupted view along the length of the docks and City Airport towards Canary Wharf.  A magnificent vista and at this time of the night with the sun just breaking through the clouds a very fine view.  Here I had a great view of  the planes landing and taking off.

Finding George V DLR station proved a challenge as it's well hidden with very little signage directing you there, however the route did take me into the centre of North Woolwich. This has been completely re-built, mind you I don't know what was here previously but the building are fairly new, it's laid out I a cross with lots of shops and street furniture, quite pleasant really.

The DLRis at the end, I was surprised how busy the station was, and even more so when the Woolwich train arrived which was pretty well damn well full up, no chance of film the journey from the front of the train. I understand that Woolwich Arsenal is one of the busiest DLR stations on the entire network, just makes you wonder how the underground would be patronised if that came out to SE London, although under Boris' 30 year plan the Bakerloo Line is due to arrive at Hayes (Kent) in 2044, mind you I'll be dead by then!

The trip to Woolwich takes 4 minutes, my film is pretty crap, I'm not keen on filming directly into people's faces and the view through a tunnel is mainly reflections of me filming!

Having arrived at Woolwich I took a new route to Shooters Hill via Burrage Road and then some shorter local roads and through a series of alleyways and unmade roads, step but pretty quick, I arrived at Eaglesfield Park with views across the Thames Valley, this is more or less the highest point inThe Royal Borough of Greenwich.

Video of plane at City Airport

I finally arrived home at 21:00 pretty sore and stiff, but on checking I discoverd I had walked almost 13 miles, not bad for a evening stroll after a hard day at the office!

Video of DLR trip between George V and Woolwich Arsenal