Strike One, Strike Two

Here we are on tube strike #2. The London commuter world has become a war zone for the next 48 hours. Queues (or as you know them, lines) thrown out the window; every man and woman for themselves; elbows and running, pushing and shoving become a necessity.

For reference, our house is A and my work is B on the map above. Normally, I take a bus to the tube, then transfer where you see the gray Jubilee mark (this is also the stop that Aaron gets off at for work). I continue on a different line until Canary Wharf. I am basically going across the central part of London and actually pass under the river twice. It takes me about an hour, door to door.

So after my first strike experience last time, this second round I was a little more prepared for the madness. I bought a roundtrip ticket ahead of time for the Thames Clipper and caught the boat near our house. I traveled all the way through central London on the river, and it dropped me off just in front of my work.

It still took me 2.5 hours this morning and 1.75 this evening, but it was easy, scenic and couldn't be overcrowded. It was definitely better than stressing and sweating out the other modes of transport. Plus, did I mention the boats have a bar? : )

Yes, during a tube strike, I will take the boat over this any day: