Realised with some surprise that I only really have a couple of spare weeks left this summer where I haven't planned some sort of trip or event in advance. No bad thing in many ways, but even so it's nice sometimes to make some sort of spontaneous trip to unexpected parts. Using another set of the cheap tickets First Great Western have made available to season ticket holders, decided to head for London. Specifically I wanted to head into North West London - revisiting the Chiltern Lines and covering bits of the Metropolitan Line which has always lain in the mysterious 'extra zones' which made Day Travelcards so expensive!

To maximise the value of the day in the capital, we set out on the 05:50 and travelled via the customary change at Weston onto a London-bound HST. Diverted again via Filton and Hullavington as per last week's trip. A fairly quiet, uneventful journey spent trying to puzzle out exactly what FGW buffet staff had been told they could hand out to First Class passengers these days! On arrival at Paddington, straight on to the Underground and a slow journey to Baker Street. Started to think my guess at getting the 09:18 from Marylebone was a little optimistic. In the event, made it and rebooked and dashed for the gate in time to settle into the rather comfortable Class 168 seconds before departure. Having been pretty consistently rained on since leaving the house this morning, noted things seemed to be clearing a little as we headed into the suburbs and eventually began to speed through open country. Next stop was Princes Risborough where we changed for the short single-line branch to Aylesbury. I recalled very little of my previous visit here, and not much more from a railtour which did this branch in reverse on a pitch dark evening back in February 2007. Sadly, Chiltern Railways aren't using their bubble car on this part of the network anymore. However, as we curved towards Aylesbury a line up of no less than five departmental numbered bubble cars, presumably acquired for spares and training, were lined up near the station.

A brief wait and a refreshment stop at Aylesbury as we awaited the next service to Aylesbury Vale Parkway. This station, opened in 2008 on a loop off the line to Quainton Road, was little more than a shell and a platform when I last saw it photographed. Happily, the modular building has taken shape and now a buffet counter, toilets and ticket machines are in evidence. The station and it's vast car park were perhaps unsurprisingly deserted on a Saturday morning. It was so quiet that the member of staff on duty was opening the automated doors for passengers as they walked in, and the buffet staff appeared to be greeting everyone individually. Felt somewhat uncomfortable in this very isolated spot! Eventually back on board for the run back towards London, this time using the branch which is shared with the Metropolitan Line from Amersham onwards. Stayed on the train as far as Harrow-on-the-Hill, where some confusing mucking about eventually saw us back on the platform, Oyster card's duly swiped and heading for the next Uxbridge train. These branches off the Metropolitan confuse and intrigue me in equal measure. Having done a little research into their origins and service patterns I was even more curious. A pleasant surprise too to have my memory jogged on arriving at the wonderful art-deco period train shed at Uxbridge. Could happily have spent some time examining the place, still packed with authenticity - including it's hanging globe lighters. Hard not to imagine Betjeman stalking these halls, and I'll confess to a little quotation being uttered, much to others' disdain.

Back to Harrow again, then on to a Watford train. A rather too warm, lazy trip to a terminus practically in the middle of nowhere. Whilst it could have been possible to walk to Watford Junction, the journey seemed extremely pedestrian unfriendly. Hence reboarded, and headed back to Moor Park to complete the plan by visiting Chesham via a change at Chalfont & Latimer onto a four-car Metropolitan set departing from the short bay platform here. On route, managed to finally figure out which were fast trains, and after the briefest of visits to the rather neat old station with it's signal box, made our way back to Moor Park, then onto a fast train making only a couple of stops before Baker Street. Another TFL line completed!.

Having struggled through the amazingly large crowds blocking platforms on the half-closed Circle Line, finally found my way to Euston. Here the plan was to head out on a fast train and back by the slower DC lines. Booked a ticket and just made the 16:24 which made short work of the WCML and soon deposited us at Watford Junction. Watched trains for a while at the busy and always interesting spot, before boarding a Class 313 heading back to Euston. After the curve out to the High Street (and the former Croxley Green line, perhaps one day to become the Croxley Link) the lines closely hugged the WCML, crossing underneath a little before Wembley Yard. Soon back in Euston, and heading for the Underground once again.

Again caught the 17:00 Taunton train which brought me directly home, after an expected diversion via the Berks & Hants line. Interesting to watch a micro-soap opera developing with a small group of apparently very drunk young women on board - which included theft, break-ups, money and men. Otherwise, the journey was pretty odd - with a malformed HST set including coach B locked out at the end of First Class and a missing buffet. Indeed the buffet steward didn't want to budge from Coach A at all and practically announced this! A relaxing trip nonetheless, after a busy and tiring day.

I wonder if those girls ever made it to Exmouth last night?