Northwards in the sun
Tag: canal
St Pancras to München via Brussels
Early start at St Pancras means that I should get to München at a sensible time of 6pm local time. The ticket told me to be at St Pancras at ten to six. An early start.
We came to a stop. Announcements came periodically as the delay lengthened. The reason was eventually announced. A train had broken down in the tunnel so only one line was available. Trains were being sent in one direction and then the direction was being switched. Eventually we got going.
Eventually we made it to…
The next train left slightly late, a DB IC, heading for Frankfurt, but I was due to change at Frankfurt airport.
The ICE got further delayed so I bailed out at Köln, seeing that I could catch a slightly delayed train heading to München. This proved to be a good move as the train was mobbed at Frankfurt. I had a seat.
Arrived at München around 9 local time. Three hours late although the final train was actually early . A long day.
Met some interesting people on the way. The Portuguese lawyer working for the EU who can speak about 7 languages, and the group returning from a family wedding in Eritrea. All evidently having grown up in Germany as shown by German being their preferred language.
Reading to St Pancras via Didcot
A detour to Didcot.
Arrived at Paddington and to the closest tube station with a branch of the circle line. No trains running. Backtracked to the other circle line branch and finally caught the tube. It’s far simpler and quicker on the bike.
Linz to Paris
The train I was planning to catch already was delayed by 45 minutes, which was making the next connection tight. But I had arrived early at the station and so caught an earlier train, which way delayed by 7 minutes. It arrived on time to München.
There follows a rapid set of border crossings. Germany into Austria into Switzerland. This happens skirting the edge of the Bodensee or Lake Constance.
Crossing into Switzerland
Impressive buildings in St Gallen
The next leg is the longest of the day on the very rapid TGV.
The cycle across Paris is made interesting with the cycle ways being blocked by vans being used to pack away a market.
Four countries, four border crossings.
To the south west
How could someone design such an ugly ship?
I had to catch the lunchtime train to Inverness due to a reduced timetable.Time to kill in Inverness.
Were they playing or tuning up?
I had a seat booked in this train, which someone sat in- no point moving them as the seat next to it was free.
I caught the Penzance train here. A few issues. Firstly the train rolled past platform 5 to platform 6, leaving everyone rushing over to get on board. And it wax crowded.
Bridgwater is not particularly bonny, but I did find a picture to make it look good.
Insight 