Bus Challenge No 62!!

As my brother was in the UK for a few days, for meetings in London, I decided to use it as an excuse to head up to the capital, spend the day in Chelsea, and then meet up with him and travel home together. Had a rubbish night’s sleep (after receiving some upsetting news), so my day out was rather spoilt by my lack of energy, which was further compounded by the day’s events!

- Very early bus into Bath
- Big bus (coach!) to London – arrived half hour late due to heavy traffic, journey took 3hrs 35mins!
- Bus from Victoria to Chelsea Embankment and Albert Bridge (main photo)
- Walked to Carlyle's House: the former home of Thomas and Jane Carlyle, a Victorian writers’ shrine in Chelsea, now run by the National Trust
- Walked to the Michael Hoppen Gallery to see the exhibition 'Frida' by Ishiuchi Miyako (2013), a photographic record of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo's wardrobe and belongings, curated by my Mexican Sister-in-Law
- Walked up King’s Road (extra photo 1) to the Saatchi Gallery, housed in the The Duke of York's HQ at Sloane Square, only to find that it was closed for a private function!!
- Changed plans and visited the well-known Peter Jones department store for a spot of retail therapy to cheer myself up!
- Scenic double decker bus ride to Charing Cross, passing Westminster Abbey amongst many sights (extra photos 2 and 3)  – had to wait 25 mins for bus to turn up and then due to diversion, journey took 50 mins instead of 25 mins – so no time to visit Covent Garden
- Walked to the Strand Hotel to meet my brother
- Taxi to Paddington Station
- Heathrow Express train to Heathrow
- Shuttle bus to car hire company – stood for 55mins waiting for shuttle bus!! Only after a phone call was bus sent to pick us up, all sorts of excuses (lies!) were made, and no word of apology!! Stiff letter to be written to a certain car hire company!!!
- One and a half hours after arriving at Heathrow, picked up hire car and headed West, into the setting sun…
- Arrived home, 13 and a half hours after walking out of the front door that morning, and collapsed in heap with very large glass of wine!!

Bus journey time to Chelsea = 4 hour 10 mins
Waiting time in between buses = 25 mins
Total journey time = 4 hours 35 mins