Day 146 On a Thursday afternoon the 16th June we attempted after table tennis to do the No 228.

 In order to expedite our arrival at The Central Middlesex Hospital it was required for us to to take two buses and three trains. We left after a short lunch at 1330 and managed to catch the 1358 from East Croydon to Clapham Junction. This meant we were in time for the 1421 to Stratford which deposited the wife and I at Willesden Junction at 1440 with then only a short wait for the 1444 Watford Junction  train to go one stop to Harlesden. From here we emerged and caught a No 260 bus to the hospital.

London United's 30028

Bus laying over at 1500

The bus operating the No 228 service was exactly the same type, a Wrightbus Streetlite, as my previous route. This bus used to be owned by Tower Transit but is now operated as London United's 30028.

Our No 228 heading for Maida Hill The Chippenham

Charmaine suitably dressed for the heat, boards the bus.

We departed at 1505 and the timetable at the bus stop suggested it should take 67 minutes. The route took us immediately back to Harlesden railway station and then onwards to Willesden county court along Acton Lane. This was exactly the same route as both the No 206 and No 226, but the bus then turned right to reach Willesden Junction railway station. 

Old Oak Lane

Building works for HS2, there was a fence preventing good photos

We continued in the same direction to reach Old Oak Common Lane where there was much evidence of the HS2 building works and we then went under the Great Western mainline to reach Brunel Road where many moons ago I had caught the No 7 bus to the British Museum and subsequently the No 72. The bus continued through East Acton to cross the Westway and further on we emerged onto the Uxbridge Road at 1533. Initially we headed east towards Shepherd's Bush, but turned left up Bloemfontein Road and then right into South Africa Road which took us past Loftus Road football stadium. 

Home of QPR, this is the only route to serve this road but it appears not to do so on match days 

as there were diversion signs to that effect

This road lead to White City Underground station where we turned right to go past TV centre and a little way after this we entered the White City bus station. The route then follows many to Shepherd's Bush railway and tube station before heading east along the A40 to Holland Park. Beyond this Underground station the bus turned left up Ladbroke Grove. To the north of this station the traffic became exceedingly slow and it was a struggle past North Kensington library with its anniversary hearts for 5 years since Grenfell. 

North Kensington library

After entering Ladbroke Grove Sainsbury's the bus took the Harrow Road eastwards and at this point (1614) there was an announcement that the terminal point of the bus had changed. It did not indicate to what as we continued along the Harrow Road towards Maida Hill. We were told on arrival at Great Western Road at 1621 that this was the final stop and we all had to get off.

Disembarkation at bus stop D on the Harrow Road

As it clearly shows just three minutes more journey to go-DRAT! I'll have to come back.

In pictorial form, we were at bus stop D there would appear to be bus stop E and two more only.

On inspection of the timetable on the bus stop I could see that this was only three minutes before the end of the route. The service was only every 20 minutes so I resolved to wait for the next one. However it was seriously hot and Charmaine was desperate for an ice lolly. It was very difficult to find an appropriate shop despite us actually waiting over 40 minutes for the next bus. By now it was nearly five o'clock and she had a booking for a talk near Chancery Lane starting at 6PM and then tickets for Oklahoma at 7.30 PM so I thought it best to abort at this stage and we walked to Royal Oak tube station and just about reached Chancery Lane at 6 PM.

Day 145 A short trip to do the No 227

 I caught the 1135 London Bridge train and then waited for the 1151 Victoria train via Crystal Palace to do the two stops required which meant I was at Crystal Palace at 1203. After a stiff walk up to Crystal Palace Parade I arrived just in time to catch WS127 a Wright Streetlite of London General at 1212.

Crystal Palace bus station with the TV transmitter mast behind

The bus smartly turned right onto the parade and headed towards Sydenham. As we arrived at the first roundabout it was evident that there had been an altercation between two cars but there was just enough room for the bus to squeeze past, to go over the next roundabout and then right down Crystal Palace Park Road. This took us past Little Dino's day nursey, a nod to the dinosaurs in the park, as we swiftly descended in the rain to Penge. Here we arrived at 1219 but thereafter progress became increasingly halting. 

A shop in Penge which my wife who worked in
Beckenham cannot remember being open, so not a victim of Covid.

It was 1229 before we reached Beckenham War Memorial and by the time it reached St George's church Beckenham it was full with 11 stranding. Passing Bishop Challoner school there was a lovely purple and white crown in the grounds ready for the Jubilee as we descended to Shortlands station where we arrived at 1242. Heading uphill from the River Ravensbourne we turned right into Bromley High Street at 1248.

A shop sign I am not sure I've noticed in
the almost 60 years of coming to Bromley

It was then a short trip past the town hall to deposit me at Bromley North station at 1251. From here I caught a No 246 to Biggin Hill.

WS127 heading to layover
before return

A very lucrative trip then followed to Biggin Hill where I had lunch and spent two hours where traffic 
was surprisingly frequent. Is this related to recent baggage problems at airports I wondered?!