- All aboard the Stourbridge shuttle -
Tuesday 20th February is the allotted date for this enterprising excursion, and the unit gathers together aboard a Stourbridge-bound train at Smethwick Galton Bridge. Thankfully the weather is pleasant sunshine rather than anything from the Antarctic, so at Stourbridge Junction we can change onto the Dodger shuttle for our connection along Britain's shortest branch line to Stourbridge Town.
- A Kinver welcome -
Reaching Enville's extremities next requires a bus to Kinver, specifically the 228 via Wollaston and Stewponey. We alight at White Hill terminus (near Potters Cross grocery store) and commence a two mile hike, keeping spirits high by discussing pheasants, kitchens and university tuition fees. Nick and Captain WME forge ahead along the lane while Messrs Beardsmore and May bring up the rear, keeping watch for passing motorists and farmyard dogs.
- Scoreboard Stephen -
Arriving at Enville before noon, there is an investigatory interlude involving the driveway to Enville Hall. Sporting facilities that require discovery along here include Enville Athletic Social Club with its cricket and football pitches. The cricketing concern is watched over by a rustic scorebox where Stephen monitors the number of overs while Nick gets to grips with the unexpected appearance of a random cock (a turn of events that would inspire a steady stream of innuendo for the entire afternoon).
- Contemplating the Cat -
The Cat Inn is base camp for the day, a homely village pub which showcases ales from the Enville Brewery alongside carefully selected guest beers. Our adventurers' thirst is slaked by respective pints of Enville Gothic (pleasingly stout-like with a hint of honey) or lemonade and blackcurrant, the public bar proving the perfect setting in which to recover from our labours thus far. A real fire adds a nice warmth to proceedings as the conversation turns to the mysterious appeal of David Mellor.
- Staffordshire Sleuthing -
It is now time for the return trek to Kinver so we precariously plod back along the A458 (looking out for lorries) and then retrace our footsteps down Enville Road. The expedition log book finds plenty of photo specimens to record in Kinver village centre - the British Legion office and the local High School among them - but we weren't expecting to spot a Big Sleuth bear in the wilds of South Staffordshire. The sculpture in question is 'Sunny', a leaf-themed design which was previously sited at MAC in Birmingham's Cannon Hill Park.
- Royal Exchange, Stourbridge -
In need of further refreshment, the unit makes plans to stop at two Black Country Ales establishments in swift succession. The Cross at Kinver (just below St Peter's Church) supplies sustenance in the welcome form of cheese or ham salad cobs - plus Black Hole's Supernova golden ale - after which the Queens Head in Stourbridge provides an encounter with some Celtic Hill Porter. The latter pub is a few doors along from the Royal Exchange, a traditional Bathams boozer where the portrait of Queen Elizabeth I entreats us to sample the resident Mild and Bitter.
- Some Barbridge Deception -
Two more Stourbridge stopping points serve as our reward for safely re-entering the West Midlands. The first of these is the Old Bank, a landmark former financial premises that nowadays operates as a grand bar; Pardoe's Bumblehole is eagerly obtained from the ale selection here as a Coventry Street cock emblem smiles down knowingly (cue more innuendo at Nick's expense). We move thence to Barbridge for our foray finale, partaking of Abbeydale Deception and a curious stout that tasted remarkably like smoky bacon crisps - an acquired taste indeed. Evening's onset means expedition's end as Nick and Ken boldly make tracks for Birmingham whereas the 256 suffices for WME and Stephen (by way of a Kingswinford chip shop pit stop).
Another Chip Foundation chapter is thus chronicled and we now await our next assignment - cheers!
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