Had to do my normal cross London commute today so jumped onto the train
to Kings Cross with my faithful Brommie. Train was as crowded as normal
for the time of day although most of the people got off at Finsbury Park
- maybe because of the problems with the Tube at KX
KX itself inside was much like any other day but the moment I stepped
out the door the place was packed with camera crews. Michael Brunson
was stood doing an interview for ITN next to about five other crews, the
Japanese had set up a pavement encampment across the road while the
side roads were crammed with TV vans of every type. A minutes pedalling
took me away from all that, that is until I hit the first road closed
signs.
I had naively forgotten that many of the streets round KX would be
closed and it provided an interesting navigation challenge to work my
way across to Gower St through all the closures and cordons. Russell
Square seemed to have a two way system around it that vanished part way
round leaving traffic going the "wrong way" with nowhere obvious to go
and facing puzzled and unexpecting traffic going the normal way. Easy
for me, jump off the B, cross the road and take the cycle path that goes
the wrong way down a one way street. For the drivers behind me the
solution was not obvious.
Central London was back to pre-congestion-charge levels of traffic and
congestion and there were notably a lot of people out on bikes of
various types that did not look to be regular London cyclists. Perhaps
there is a silver lining.
From Long Acre on, traffic levels apart, everything was pretty much as
normal. Popped into M&S at Waterloo Station and was approached by the
Manager who said it would be easier for me if I left my B by the door
and then proceeded to stand guard over it while I got my lunch and paid
for it. Personal service indeed and when I commented on it he told me
to let them know next time and I'll get the same bike-minder service again.
Off onto SW Trains, everything running dead on time for the whole journey.
Life goes on and a luverly day to be out and about.
--
Tony
"I did make a mistake once - I thought I'd made a mistake but I hadn't"
Anon