Very early start. Out of Weston on the 0640. Pretty sleepy - even managed to doze part of the way to Paddington. The westbound Circle Line was in a mess due to signal failures at Tower Hill, so crept around to Victoria via Earls Court. Onto a slam-door unit (I never know how to figure out what kind, shamefully enough) for Hastings. Long slow journey due to line closure between Haywards Heath and Brighton which seemed to be causing some congestion around Three Bridges.
Once onto the coast, things ran a little smoother, but the weather was deteriorating. On arriving in Hastings at midday, it had barely managed to get light. What of hastings? Not unlike Weston in some ways - a little run down, a busy centre, the oft-repeated seaside town fault of making the main esplanade a primary route. Wandered a little, shopped for the new Belle & Sebastian single, tried in vain to find food - but found beer instead.
Headed back to the station, which was in a pretty awful mess, being half way through a reconstruction. Finally found my way to the platform for the 1333 to Charing Cross - a 375 unit. Very speedy run through ever darkening Kent countryside.
Hopped off at a drenched London Bridge. Explored Southwark Cathedral a little, and wandered around Borough Market. No sign of rain stopping, so headed over London Bridge and into the City. Got thoroughly soaked wandering to St. Stephen Walbrook, along London Wall to All Saints, and finally to Smithfield and a well-earned coffee in Cowcross Street. Circle still in chaos, so onto the Hammersmith & City at Farringdon, and hence to Paddington and home.
Long, wet and tiring day. Wandered around Weston a little, later on. Need to resist the urge to disappear again tomorrow...
Lost::MikeGTN
I've had a home on the web for more years than I care to remember, and a few kind souls persuade me it's worth persisting with keeping it updated. This current incarnation of the site is centred around the blog posts which began back in 1999 as 'the daylog' and continued through my travels and tribulations during the following years.
I don't get out and about nearly as much these days, but I do try to record significant events and trips for posterity. You may also have arrived here by following the trail to my former music blog Songs Heard On Fast Trains. That content is preserved here too.
