The big detour to Doncaster

 19 July

The freak heat-wave with temperatures over 35degC cancelled most trains going south. My eventual route is marked in red above (Darlington, York, Leeds, Doncaster)

Sadly I'll have to abandon my coastal plans and just concentrate on getting to Doncaster tonight as all advice says no trains are going beyond York at all today.

The timetable lists the only Doncaster train of the day being 08:35, so I set 6am alarm and went for that.

 View from my room this morning

 Room no good  but I like the quote on the wall "whisky is by far the most popular of all remedies that won't cure a cold "

 This place has seen better days

 No 0835 to Banbury, it was never listed on departure boards, not even as cancelled.  I enquired but they were puzzled too. So I went for the 08:40 to Leeds via York.  Leeds is closer to Doncaster than York.

 The 0840 to Leeds

 River Tyne. I'm going south, at least. 

 Now at York, Leeds next stop

There are normally dozens of trains Leeds to Doncaster. I'm hoping one will run, eventually

 Guess where this train's going! I changed platforms and the train was already sitting there waiting for me, or so it seemed.

  See screen

 Approx. 11:30am. Now in  Red Lion a Weatherspoons pub/hotel and, yes, that's my pint. (Can't check-in until 2pm)

 Lunch, then checked in. This is the nicest room of the tour. AND the coldest. 35 outside, 19 in here!

Pints here are £1.99 to £2.99 and my favourite Erdinger is cheaper than the supermarket in London

Double gammon and egg with Erdinger = £7.95 (special promotion).

I'm thinking of moving in permanently!

Continue