Peterborough - London

I have to admit I approached today with a little trepidation, because there were lots of variables that may have been out of my control. It was my last day of driving in England and part of me was relieved and part of me was a bit sad, because despite all  the dramas and problem solving, that little car had done me well and taken me lots of places...

So I packed up the cases and loaded the car and set out for  Standsted airport, where I had arranged to drop off the car. I had deliberately chosen somewhere out of London and somewhere where I could get to London easily.

Today's route Peterborough - Stansted Airport

The things that were bothering me were things like ...

•  I had to remember to fill the car up with petrol
•  I had to go to an ATM
• Would I be able to find the car rental returns easily at Stansted
• How would I manage my heavy cases
• How would I get them onto the train
• How would I manage going to the toilet with my cases (always a worry!)
• How would I get from Liverpool St Station to my hotel in Earls Court

 I shouldn't have worried, because for once I had a day without drama... can this be possible...???

There were no "services" (eg petrol) on the road between Peterborough and the Stansted turn off, so I had to do a little diversion to find the petrol to fill up. You should have heard little GMaps squeak!!! But it all turned out OK and I handed the car back intact (thank you Jesus!!) and the nice young Avis man, loaded my cases on the shuttle bus that took me straight to the terminal. Found an ATM inside and it worked!!! 😊
Also found the disabled toilet so I could take my bags in with me!!!

I had a couple of extravagances today, but they were all in the cause of making the journey easier...

Have to admit I booked a Business ticket on the train, because I wouldn't be sure of how I would manage my cases... needn't have worried in retrospect, but it certainly made life easier!

My luggage enjoyed first class

Me on the train!

Liverpool St Station

The next extravagance was getting a cab from Liverpool St to Earls Court. I probably could've done it via the Tube, but I wasn't sure how the stations would go with steps versus lifts etc... and looking back, I'm glad I made that choice. But the trip across London took 45 mins. I couldn't believe how chockers the traffic was! But it was interesting to see where things were "on the top". I usually have travelled London via the underground and had no idea where things were in relation to each other. Usually I've just popped up out of the Tube and gone to a specific place, without realizing where it was in relation to other places...

Anyway, I arrived safely at my hotel and got myself organised.

What to do next...???
I knew I was meeting Karys and Jess - 2 nieces of my friend Kerry  in Perth who are now living in London. So I had a couple  of hours...

On Saturday, I'm taking the Chunel to Brussels and I was a bit wary of whether I could get to St Pancras by the Tube. So I thought I would  do a dry run today, without the cases, to see if I could manage with the cases.  And I discovered I could. There are enough lifts and ramps  so that I can hopefully manage the cases via the Tube route on Saturday morning.

So, once I'd done that  I thought I would  hop off at Leicester Square and see if I could manage to squeeze in a show whilst I was in London. But alas and alack, they don't do matinees on a Friday, and I really didn't want to be wandering around London in the night, so that was the end of that theory.

In the meantime, I wandered through Leicester Square....

Leicester Square

Leicester Square

It was a funny feeling to be walking through a public place in London... I have to admit I was  a bit wary of the potential for something to happen. I was just conscious that any public place in London carries that potential for an incident, so I was just keeping an eye on what might go on around me....

Anyway... I hopped back on the Tube and back to my hotel in Earls Court, where I met with Jess and Karys for dinner in a little pub called The Blackbird. It was lovely - both the pub, and meeting the girls and talking Australian things!!!

Jess, Karys and me.

So, on a day when I was expecting drama and the unknown, it actually turned out OK...!!! In fact I had a lovely day.

Wattle Wanderings are certainly full of the unexpected!