Day 200 Two buses north of the river, but one so far north of the river it's wholly outside the Greater London area. The No 309 and No 310.

 The first 100 trips took me to the No 158 and 159 on the second anniversary of starting my Odyssey in 2019. It has taken 4 more years and two months to do the second 100 trips, obviously not helped by Covid lockdowns but also because of the more random nature of the numbering system.

This day started with my catching the 1035 to London Bridge. On arrival at London Bridge I found that there was no Jubilee line to take me expeditiously to Canning Town until 1500. Plan B was to catch the Northern line to Bank and there change to the DLR to Canning Town. Another option I could have chosen was the London Overground to Canada Water where I would again have found no Jubilee service. However, the DLR from Bank was only going to Lewisham so had to alight and get a different train at Westferry to Canning Town where I arrived at 1132.

The blue and white bus in the distance is a Jubilee line replacement bus provided by Ensignbus

Another replacement bus with
 no ownership markings

Two more usual buses at Canning Town both electric

The Green bus in the distance is First Essex 63464, another Jubilee line replacement

My mount to Bethnal Green

Stagecoach 37557

At 1138 I was boarding Stagecoach 36557 to convey me to Bethnal Green for the No 309. The bus initially headed west along the A13 but quickly crossed over the road to head northdown Abbott Road and then Blair Street. The bus then wriggled around Aberfeldy Street, Ettrick Street and others before burrowing under the A102M Blackwall Northern Approach before swinging left into Zetland Street and road through Burcham Street to reach Chrisp Street after crossing over the DLR from Poplar to Bow Church. 

Item in childrens' playground that looked like it had a Guy Fawkes hanging from it!

St Nicholas church Poplar

This was the bus type I was expecting for the trip

Leaving the market area at 1152 we took Cordelia Street as far as Bow Common Lane which we took until we went left at St Pauls Way. At Burdett Road we followed this right to go under the Fenchurch Street to Barking railway line and then wiggled back south to cross the river Lea as we met Ben Johnson Road. From here we headed NNW up Whitehorse Lane to reach the Mile End Road and then after a little jink at Stepney Green Underground station continued in that direction up Globe Road. At Roman Road we turned left to reach Bethnal Green Underground station.

At Stepney Green some Palestinian protesters were walking to the Underground station

Bethnal Green Gardens

After a short while heading north up Cambridge Heath Road past Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood we then immediately turned right along Old Ford Road and turned left up Bonner Road and terminated at 1212.

My bus heading for repose

New electric bus on the D3

My No 309 at Journey's End

I had earlier checked the map and decided the best way forward from here was to continue up Bonner Road until it reached Bishops Way where I could turn left and intercept Cambridge Heath railway station. I arrived here just as the 1220 train to Cheshunt was leaving and I had hoped to catch that train to Turkey Street and then board a bus to reach Waltham Cross. This is where it all started to go wrong. I thought rather than wait half an hour for the next train I could catch one to Enfield Town which I did at 1235 and arrived at 1303. Outside Enfield Town station I intended to take a No 317 to Waltham Cross and the timetable stated it should only be a three minute wait. By 1315 the bus hadn't come so I took the No 307 I caught yesterday as far as Morrisons in order to perhaps catch a No 217 to Waltham Cross. However, almost as soon I boarded this bus a No 317 appeared behind me and luckily I thought I would be able to board that at Morrisons. This I duly did only to be told as a No 217 whizzed by that the bus would terminate early and we would have to get the next one. I disembarked at Turkey Street station. If I had waited the extra 15 minutes at Cambridge Heath station I would have reached here at 1317 instead it was 1342. My chances of doing the three buses I had hoped to do were evaporating. The next No 217 arrived at 1356 and I arrived at Waltham Cross bus station at 1410, just having missed the No 310 I intended to catch. I quickly checked the bus timetable and saw the next one was at 1425 so went for a comfort break and to the bakery I had visited before to get a sausage roll and bread pudding plus drink.

The bus layover point at Waltham Cross with what I expected to be my No 310 in the middle

Waltham Cross is where a number of different
operators come together. This is a Vectare bus
to Epping.

The bus timetable to Cheshunt. the red buses are
No 242, the blue 251 or 310.

Finally an Arriva Herts and Essex bus No 6497 on route No 310 arrived at 1433 and we were away, this time turning left at the roundabout that all other routes have so far gone right. This took me behind the shopping centre and along the High Street past Theobalds Grove station and on into Cheshunt.

The 310 to Hertford

Arriva Herts and Essex 6497 based at Ware

The advertisement is for Fish Pools a furniture store I frequently
hear advertised on LBC

We continued basically northwards to Turnford where we briefly touched the A10 before turning back along the old A10 through Wormley which became Broxbourne and then Hoddesdon. At Hoddesdon we did a little circuit around the town before reaching the clock tower at 1510 in Amwell Street.

Entering Cheshunt next door to the dentists is Archangel Funeral directors

Loweswood museum Hoddesdon

High Street Hoddesdon

Hoddesdon Clock Tower

From here we went north for a short distance and then headed right into a housing estate which constituted Rye Park. Beyond this we finally got into the countryside after entering Stanstead Abbotts and turned away from St Margarets station and heading for Ware and Hertford running parallel with the New River.

Heading almost due west alongside the New River

An older Arriva Herts and Essex bus on the No 310

This was a very rural run along the A414 until we reached the outskirts of Ware and then on into the outskirts of Hertford where we terminated at the bus station at 1535. Had we arrived an hour earlier as I had hoped, I was going to go to Bishops Stortford, either by train or by the No 351 bus which only runs two hourly to ride the No 311. However, it was now too late as darkness would arrive afore I got there.

Arrival at Hertford bus station

I walked from the bus station to Hertford East railway station to find the train due at that time was delayed but by the time I had bought a ticket it had left. The next train was also delayed but I stuck it out and at 1620 I was on a train to Tottenham Hale where I changed to the Victoria line to Victoria and caught the 1730 Epsom Downs train home.

Two Great Eastern class 720 five car Emus.

The final insult even my train home delayed!