My "boxing day-tube strike-one time I wish I had a car" adventure

I feel this warrants a blog post.

There is a Tube strike on the day I need to travel across London to heathrow airport. I know it isn't personal, but it is annoying timing!

9:30. Going to attempt the tube. Central line running from leytonstone to white city. Next train in 9 minutes. Oh my. They are normally every two minutes. Sitting on a train in the station is so odd. Praying the district line is running from mile end to hammersmith.

9:45 it's not. Next plan. Stay on central across London, change at queensway, book it across the park, get on high street kensington. I hope this works!

10:21 arrive at queensway.

Walk across Kensington gardens to high st Kensington. I felt like a momma duck. A few other people apparently wanted to try the same but weren't sure of directions. They figured I looked confident and followed from a distance.

10:40 I cant believe it only took me 20 minutes. Wait for the train which thank the lord is coming at 11:00 because there are only three an hour. I'm the only one on the platform. This will get me to earls court where I can change once more to my final line, the Piccadilly. That takes me to heathrow!

10:53 I'm literally praying blessings on the tube drivers who are working today. Thank you so much for not striking like everyone else! The district line train arrives and we can at least get on the train to wait until it leaves in 6 minutes. It looks like i could get the Piccadilly at earls court but I'm not sure the Piccadilly is running that far, so I think I will play it safe and stay on district until Acton town.

11:03 plans change again. the train pulls into hammersmith and I see a piccadilly line across the platform. Grab my bags and dash across, getting on the train half a minute before it leaves. I had just enough time to glance at the board to make sure it was to heathrow. It is!

12:00 I'm sitting in the waiting area, through security and now with two hours before my flight begins to board. For the love of all that is good and kind! I can't believe it took me two and a half hours to get to the airport, to wait another 2.5 hours for my boarding, all for a 1.5 hour flight to Edinburgh! And my family thought they had it rough when they came to see me! I'm so glad I've gotten to know this city well! At least I've got time to browse the duty free shops and decide between Giraffe and Cafe Nero for my morning coffee!!