The Dash to Heathrow

Now, getting from Harwich to Heathrow should not be that difficult. After all, the train station is just out the front door of the off load area of the cruise ships. It might be smoother and quicker if, just saying now, the train station had a ticket machine. In stead, there is one very nice polite lady who was selling tickets one at a time. It took us two tries to get across what we wanted (train to Liverpool Station then the Tube to Heathrow – £34.20 to be exact. So when she gives us a price over £100 I am concerned. No, I don’t want the Heathrow Express (tube to Paddington then Train to Heathrow) I want to just take the Underground. OH! she says and sells me the ticket for the correct price. Either way, for two people it was still cheaper than RCI’s offer and completely avoided the Orbital.

I was a regular customer on SW Trains. Let me tell you that there are both extremes of people on the East Anglia Line. Some really nice guys with whom we chatted and then there were the ranging a*’s who were not happy about all the people with luggage on *their* commuter train for which they paid *thousands of pounds each year* and did not seem to think they should stand.

Now, it was none of our faults that no one was able to catch the 0658 train (see ticket agent above) nor was it anyone’s fault that three trains were out of service dumping everyone onto this one train. The isles are so narrow that I have to walk sideways to get through – leaving a suitcase there was out of the question. Since the stations alternate train sides – leaving luggage in the entry/loading area is also out of the question. We (as well as other travelers) piled things up as best we could. But nasty? Oh my. And the ones with the Undergrounds new “Baby on Board” pins were the worst, demanding seats in the handicapped area.

I don’t mind if someone is obviously pregnant. Been there, done that, don’t care to stand in a train getting tossed around from the outside while the passenger whales away from the inside. However…..

Cherie and I grabbed the Central Line at Liverpool intending to change to the Picadilly Line at Holbron. Wrong idea – connection is closed till 1000 due to construction. Can’t get there from here. We wedge ourselves back on the Tube and get off at the next station. Northern Line to Leicester Square then to the Piccadilly. Yes, we manage. No it was not fun since both Cherie’s suitcase and carry-on have wheels. Next time, she swears, she will not accept spouse suggestions on packing and will bring about 1/3 as much (i.e. only the clothes she actually wound up wearing!). Not his fault we skipped all the fancy stuff.

These stations are in the older portion of the Underground. There are no lifts. There are no escalators; just sets of stairs that only vary in length and challenge. Unlike the train, we ran into over a dozen people, both men and women, who insisted on helping with luggage on the stairs and cheerfully went on their way.

Londoners vs commuters? Who knows, but we were glad to get to Heathrow and I was even happier to find that my flight was also out of Terminal 1. Of course, since Cherie was checking into BMI and I was looking for United, we managed to lose each other. After a couple of circuits, I settled for heading through security and toward my gate. It might not be posted, but United knows which gate they are using.

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5 Responses to The Dash to Heathrow

  1. Margo says:

    Wow, what a saga!

    Was wondering what you would say about Harwich – that was ‘our’ jumping-off point for the 11 years that Bob and I lived in Colchester. Basically, one of the best things about Colchester was its proximity to Harwich, which made possible economical short breaks in Amsterdam and beyond. However… the London Tube saga sounded extremely painful – you were incredibly brave to even attempt it with luggage!

    Loved the cruise blog – probably still not enough to get me to do it (I’ve got problems with the idea of deep water and with the reality of motion sickness), but it does sound like an amazing way to spend time, meet people, think, and see the world.

  2. Carmen says:

    I have heard nothing but horror stories about security at Heathrow and about public transportation in/into London (and about food and filth there).

    Not on my list. Wishing them well with the Olympics.

  3. Ann says:

    Let me get this right…you sailed East from the New World to the Old, then flew back to San Francisco? Way to go! Do you ever spend time in Germany these days? Have a great time.

  4. Alison says:

    So you didn’t go Orbital?

    So when you say George picked you up, you mean here! Are you in your
    house in Berkeley?

  5. Helen says:

    Sounds like a challenge! You are definitely making me wish I could afford to travel though!

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