FNRttC Friday Night Ride to the Coast - Southend on Sea 7th November

[Aperitif]

Clarion's call...

 

[velovoice]

Nope you are wrong. Just check http://nationalrail.co.uk for Saturday afternoon. You will see lots of trains direct to Bedford/Luton and Brighton from LBG. Your linky applies to the NEXT phase starting December when they begin the Bermondsey Flyunder works and do the Herne Hill deviation. I'm definitely be back home by then. Et tu?

I'll have to look into this more carefully then! I use the Thameslink line every day, including weekends, and understood that these trains are not calling at LBG. I've been handed a flier by Thameslink staff at St Pancras to that effect and took their words at face value. I have not tried putting it to the test by actually staying on the train to see if it stops there or by going to the station. Hmmm.

 

[subaqua]

Can I just clarify here, are we talking real things or a game of Mornington Crescent?

real things.
that should make LBG a better station

 

[srw]

@StuartG - you are making the elementary mistake of assuming that a change of trains is not undesirable after a night ride and a drink or two.

True story. The last time I got on a train at London Bridge intending to change - one stop later, at Waterloo East - I woke up in Erith.

As it happens, direct trains home are a fairly short stagger away, at Aldgate. And as long as I get the right one I can fall asleep and be woken up at home by the driver.

 

[StuartG]

real things.
that should make LBG a better station

@clarion, @velovoice, @subaqua, @User and fellow trainspotters. A comprehensive round up of what happening and not happening LBG-wise. Looks like reality and gameplans don't always quite work out:
http://www.londonreconnections.com/2014/study-sussex-part-6-approaches-london-bridge/

 

[Aperitif]

Meanwhile...it is the final countdown - 4
Often seen ducking and diving at Southend is Chris the original subaqua...

The water. Fascinating power, and a vital element of the Friday Night Rides to the Coasts. We all know Whitstable's windmills o'er the sea, but I was always struck by the equal loveliness of Cleethorpes and the Gower...

The Gower

Cleethorpes
Further around the bay of Cymru y Cleethorpydd it becomes a little butch...

And then the Friday destination, Southend...

or, perhaps something a bit more exotic- The Rainbow Riviera - beautiful Brighton (and Hove )

The industrialised reaches of the Thames always provide many glimpses of continuously billowing chimneys - here's another daffodillian view

Port Tatabot (I think)
And, not quite the destination either, but an essential ride to 'bank' was the Humber Bridge - roughing it with Northerners on their patch is sometimes worth enduring - I love you all really.

And, over the years, intrepid rouleurs have found themselves all at sea for different reasons. Act in Hastings and repent at leisure so the saying goes.
Hastings was a dump, like Blackpool, but at least there was a boat on a roundabout somewhere...

Hastings - all at sea on a Saturday of the Republican Ride
All in all, an a salt on the senses. The sea that put the see in FNRttC

 

[srw]

Yup. I'd gone out for lunch at 2:30 and the restaurant wanted its table back at 7:00. Jolly unreasonably, I thought.

Changing at Waterloo East wasn't even the second quickest way to get home.

 

[AKA Bob]

But... no links to Paddington.... which may be @srw 's point?

Apart from the fact that Marylebone is more direct....

 

[Aperitif]

Apart from the fact that Marylebone is more direct....

...but ask him the way to a 'gare du Nord' and AKABob's your Mother's brother!
PS The Service machinist had downed a 'few' shandies before attempting to embroider sergeant's stripes on M'lud's 'pull'.

 

[subaqua]

@clarion, @velovoice, @subaqua, @User and fellow trainspotters. A comprehensive round up of what happening and not happening LBG-wise. Looks like reality and gameplans don't always quite work out:
http://www.londonreconnections.com/2014/study-sussex-part-6-approaches-london-bridge/

ooooh that sort of shows the "increased capacity" claims to be nothing more than weasally words . yes more capacity but less useful services.

 

[srw]

Talking of beer...

Mrs W has just told me she isn't really very good at daytime drinking - and that we both have to be on form on Sunday. Well yes, but I'm clear until the evening. You all have to be extremely nice to her and persuade her to come for a quiet drink in London (or for a snooze in the corner of a pub).

 

[subaqua]

Talking of beer...

Mrs W has just told me she isn't really very good at daytime drinking - and that we both have to be on form on Sunday. Well yes, but I'm clear until the evening. You all have to be extremely nice to her and persuade her to come for a quiet drink in London (or for a snooze in the corner of a pub).

you have only just realised this ? how long have you been together. will do our best to convince, or failing that kidnap the pair of you

 

[mmmmartin]

Mrs W has just told me she isn't really very good at daytime drinking

Surely it is just a matter of time before @User pops up to point out that this precisely a very good reason to obtain some practice?

 

[dellzeqq]

Adam B
Adrian C
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Andrij B
Angus L
Anna D
Anne H
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Arthur C
Bruce R
Carl P1
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Stuart A
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Thom F
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Tim O
Titus H
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Xi C
Andrew H

 

[thom]

Has anyone suggested All Bar One, Shad Thames?

Has anyone suggested the Paperworks ?
Newington Causeway - 3 mins down from London Bridge en route to Elephant.
They have lots of space and minders on the gate - all very civilised...