Red Bus Standstill

Yesterday I was on a red bus going down Oxford St, something one should avoid if possible. Generally it is faster to walk, that is if you are up to shoulder to shoulder combat making your way through the crowds. We were left with no choice yesterday as the red buses became gridlocked the entire length of Oxford St.

What a sight. Passengers had abandoned every bus in favour of street combat, drivers were standing outside their buses scratching their heads in bewilderment and tourists were taking photos of the spectacle.

On a bright note, don't the flags look grand. London is dolling herself up for the Jubilee celebrations the first weekend of June.

For any visitor to my site who does not know what the jubilee celebrations are about, shame. Our queen has been on her throne for 60 years and not a whisper of early retirement.

Three Girls:
An update to yesterdays post. The three girls made good time to Dover. The wet and cold was manageable, the dodgy roads, dead squirrel and dead duck were minor hazards. Constantly starving and trying to satisfy the hunger a different matter.

The ferry ride to France was a welcome rest, but they hadn't counted on the hour long ride once they reached the other side at 10:00 pm.

Today they have a 75 mile ride ahead of them in the pouring rain and gusty winds.

The Outcome

Get too romantic today and this is likely to happen.

Take a number 9

You can catch one of the old routemasters on both the number 9 route and the 15 route. The number 11 route, a modern bus, will take you past most of the tourist attractions.

How Things Were

Mayor Boris promised to rid us of the bendy buses and replace them with the old Routemasters. Londoners loved the Routemasters for a number of reasons. Not the least of which was the open back that allowed you to dodge paying the fare by leaping off the back and into the path of the following traffic, thus escaping the conductor. A health and safety issue -of course. Really dangerous? Probably still not for the faint hearted or wobbly on their feet even though most days you travel around inner London at about 2 miles an hour. The last Routemaster ran in 2005. However, if you long for a bit of how things were there are two heritage routes you can take, and you can also hire them for your own private party.

Route 9 Royal Albert Hall — Hyde Park Corner — Piccadilly Circus — Trafalgar Square — Strand — Aldwych.

Route 15 Trafalgar Square — Strand — Aldwych — Fleet Street — Cannon Street — Monument — Tower Hill.