One for "embattled" and "frustrated" commuters a Journey from London Victoria to the Isle of Wight off the South Coast of England which comes as a highly recommended destination for a holiday for those living stressed out lives. It's the psychology of the 30 minute boat journey that does it and by the time you get off the boat the pace of life has slowed to that of the late fifties. Mobile phones are allowed but what's the point you can send a postcard to the office. A car is useful but the crossing is expensive. In Summer there is a good bus service but as with everywhere the prices have gone up though unlimited travel day tickets are available. Oh and one modern development - they take Euros on the busses but give change in Sterling. Oh and an interesting development the bus company run clubber's specials at weekends that run all over the island after the clubs shut. A welcome move in what is a very rural area.
The island enjoys some of the best weather in England and is near the top of the league for sunshine hours and there are sandy beaches on the Eastern side. As well as being a location for family holidays for fair skinned people smart enough not to take their children to Greece or Spain or make them endure long and hot journeys to France it is also popular with "day" sailors with the stretch of Sea known as The Solent being calm except for when the wind blows in a certain way then it can be seriously rough. Consult local guides for more information.
There is a well planned round island cycle route of around 80 km which a fit cyclist can do in a day although most of it involves climbing and coasting so lots of gears are essential though there is a flat section from Yarmouth to Cowes (pron. Cows.)
Oh and the pubs are of top quality usually serving food and with some offering locally caught fish.
Here we see the front of the Apollo Victoria Theatre which after a long run with the innovative Starlight Express is hosting a production cashing in on Britain's curry boom called Bombay Dreams - Byriani a ticket and Popadom along if you like but the idea is as about as original a motorway service station Chicken Tikka.
Not my joke by the way someone at my former company but all jokes are the same really.
A flower stall by the commuter platforms for South London, Surrey and Sussex so that husbands can make amends for being late home from work again.
A newer sliding door train going to somewhere like West Croydon via Crystal Palace or was it East Croydon via Selhurst - welcome to the gateway to South London and if you can't understand the trains don't even think about driving in. Marriages have ended with less.
Note trains to famous English names departing from platforms 5 & 6. Check the rugby fixtures list if travelling on a Saturday. If England are playing use alternative routes. There's never any trouble but when they get together they can be very boistrous, pompous and nationalistic.
After seven minutes of cruising through up and coming Batersea we find ourselves in the subway of Britain's busiest railway station Clapham Junction the inspiration behind Up the Junction late seventies to early eighties band Squeeze.
I Never thought it could happen me and this girl from Clapham
..
Now I'm really Up the Junction
Trains from Waterloo to the South West suburbs and Hampshire cross with those from the Victoria high platforms with a few through connections from Watford and Nort West England as well as Gatwick Airport though the Express from Victoria does not stop here. A better place to change for Gatwick if flying out on a Saturday than Central London as the tube is crowded.
The view towards platform 9 for fast trains to Hampshire including Southampton and Portsmouth.
The board advertises the choice of speciality coffees available from the kiosk. London's interpretation of a trend that originated in New York. The place doesn't change really we've had Sam Smiths / Firkin pubs, Karaoke, Tapas, tables outside, foreign bottled beers, Sushi and now this. Still the improvement in licensed premises is continuing with some new establishments opening on the South bank of The River.
Change at Woking the join the fast train to Weymouth as it turns out it doesn't stop at Clapham - I didn't think it did but it was better than using the tube when time wasn't critical. For the ferry to Yarmouth you have to change trains again at Lymington ...
These Slam Door trains will be replaced next year so it may be the last time I get to ride in one for the short journey to Lymington Harbour.
Off the train at Lymington Harbour and the boat is waiting at the far end of the platform.
The wooden platform just out into the harbour which gives us a chance to take some shots of a few boats. It looks as if the place has gone upmarket since I was last here.
Before you say I am statirising the holiday postcards you see at places like Schipol with blue skies and clear water with the blue filtering of this shot. You get the idea how easy it is to step onto the boat. They take cars as well but it used to be the most expensive car ferry in the World (per mile that is.)
The ferry has to navigate it's way through the narrow channel between the moored boats.
During the day there is one boat every thirty minutes but the entrance to the harbour only has room for one because it needs deeper water so the incoming boat has to wait.
We say goodbye to England for a bit and as you can see we are in open sea. New York is to the left Rotterdam to the right or is it starboard.
After a short and pleasant crossing we prepare to enter the port of Yarmouth.
Back on dry land and the small town of Yarmouth with church.