ARRIVAL IN LONDON.

This is where the timing is really getting to be weird. I arrived at eight Saturday morning. This was 3pm Singapore time. I had arranged to check in to my accommodtion around 11am. Plenty of time to take things slowly. Because this is such a busy airport it took me 45 minutes in the line to customs. Lucky I visited the tiny room first. I had planned to catch a cab but as that would cost about $70NZD I figured a train would suffice. My instructions were to catch the Piccadilly Line train to Barons Court and the District Line train to Kew Gardens and the apartment would be just around the corner.

First there was a line as many people tried to get their train tickets. The first line I was in didn't take cash payments. Got in another one and bought an Oyster card -evidently much cheaper transport. Cost £5 for the card and £3.10 for my ride. Evidently I will get the £5 back when I hand the card in. TM10. Great – off to the train.

Got to Barons Court and was about to get off when I heard an announcement that the District Line trains were not running from there today and to go to Earls Court to get a connection. Next stop Earls Court so I got off there. No lifts or escalators I could see. Walking up stairs with two suitcases is not too easy. Lucky someone near the top lifted my big bag the last few steps. TM11. There I discovered that I needed to get back on the Piccadilly line to Turnham Green. That meant going down stairs with my two suitcases. Not quite as difficult. 

When I arrived at Turnham Green I got trapped going through the exit gates. Evidently those things have a timer on them. Got my suitcases through and then it clamped me in place. Lucky there was an attendant close by who was able to release me. TM12.

From there I caught a rail replacement bus to Kew Gardens. When I got off the bus I asked a lady who was getting on if this was Kew Gardens Road. She assured me it was so I started walking. The bus stop was at number 274 and my address was 18. When I reached 106 I was at Richmond village. Obviously the wrong place.

 A guy in a store where I bought some much needed water looked for my street on his phone. He told me to go back up the street where I came from [Kew Road] and Kew Gardens Road would be a couple down on the left. Back I went. Obviously he had not zoomed in too far on his phone to see all the other streets before my one. When I got to the Lion Gate of Kew Botanical Gardens I asked a young couple who were about to go into the gardens if they knew where my street was. Out came their phone. They zoomed in more and told me it was a few more streets up the road. TM13. It was actually just beyond the bus stop I had got off at originally. 

All this time I was walking in my flattest shoes. It was a warm day. I had been flying for over 14 hours. The foot paths are very rough. Each road I crossed had those pavers so blind people would know where they were. And I was pushing, pulling two suitcases.

Shoes nearly worn out

I finally found the address I was looking for after walking 5.2kms when I could have walked .3kms.