Tiring York

Briar Rose Hotel. My 1st floor room above black car

Lovely walk from hotel to station and when train arrived there was the perfect seat vacant: window, table facing travel. Window was large too.

Then things started to go downhill. Twice a food trolley came through the first class carriage without stopping. After about an hour - it's a two and a half hour journey - I could hear a woman reciting the food and drink options, many times. I thought there were some people behind me who were very slow decision makers. But no. She was taking orders from each individual and then disappearing to return somewhat later with their order. It was over 90 minutes from Birmingham before it was my turn.

Finished the Metro cryptic before any refreshments arrived

At York I was expecting to see many signs directing me to the railway museum, but no. I should have done my homework last night because I followed signs to the main exit, platform 1, only to discover the museum was accessible from the bridge over platform 11. I'd arrived on platform 10. 

York station, the pub's just beyond the footbridge

Retraced my footsteps via two lifts then had to descend four flights of stairs to the footpath to the museum. It seemed endless but maybe only half a kilometre. I was exhausted before I entered.

The only seats I saw on my trail around the museum were at two cafes but - and this saved my life - visitors could go inside the Shinkansen carriage where there were plenty of seats. 

I rested for quite a while then continued around the museum and on my way back asked the receptionist about transport to the station because I'd just seen a mini road train leaving. Apparently that only goes to the Minster, non-stop. There are no buses along that road. She offered to give me the number of a taxi. I declined.

On my return I passed two people in wheelchairs and I wondered how they'd managed the four flights, then I noticed two uniformed men at the steps, one at the top one at the bottom. I suppose they carry the wheelchairs up and down.

There's light at the end of the tunnel - a pub on platform 3 of the station. Had a lovely pint there, rested and cooled off before returning to Birmingham on a train an hour earlier than planned, and a good window seat too. 

Tea and snacks arrived very quickly. Just what I needed.

It was curry night in the hotel. I ordered two extra papadoms with mine not knowing it came with two, but I managed them anyway. 

There were lots of young folk there, all with very loud voices so quickly back to my room to write this.

Tomorrow its Eastleigh and Bournemouth.