Birthday Bling

Saturday 11th July saw Rog and I celebrate the Chancer's 33rd birthday with a tour of Smethwick, Hockley and the Jewellery Quarter...

• Meet at Galton Bridge just after 10:30, then its off to join the Old Main Line Canal.
• Our walk takes us to Rabone Lane via Summit Tunnel, Smethwick Locks and Pope Bridge. We also have a look at the New Navigation pub on Lewisham Road.
• Metro time, beginning at Handsworth Booth Street with a ride to Soho Benson Road.
• The first pint of the day comes courtesy of the Black Eagle on Factory Road. Cracking pub and great service as we sample What the Fox's Hat from the Church End Brewery.
• Back on the Metro for the short leg to Winson Green Outer Circle, where we get some photos of the stop entrance before catching the bus.
• The 11A takes us down to Bearwood passing Winson Green Prison, the Acorn pub and Summerfield Park.
• At Bearwood we make a beeline for the Bear Tavern, where we enjoy a spot of lunch whilst trying to keep tabs on the F1 qualifying via a snowy reception. The Ashes were showing on the main pub screens, but the Aussies are marmelising the England bowling and I'm not brave enough to watch.
• With Mark Webber cementing pole position, Bruce makes an appearance - how could we not get a shot of him at the Bear? We then walk to the bus station via Wigorn Road and Lightwoods Park.
• Next its the 82, heading up past the Barleycorn and through Cape Hill - the old brewery is now being turned into a housing estate. We alight at Spring Hill island for a look around the imposing local library.
• The stroll continues as we wander into the Jewellery Quarter, enjoying some unexpected sunshine as we admire the Chamberlain Clock. Then its into the Rose Villa Tavern for a swift half - the pub has a great period interior with lots of green glazed tiles and an old fireplace, but also provides bad news from the cricket as Mitchell Johnson has just got Alastair Cook out lbw for 6, ouch!
• I couldn't risk England losing further wickets, so its onwards down Warstone Lane before branching off for a look at St Paul's Square and Church.
• We seem to be running well ahead of schedule, so we pay a quick visit to St Paul's Metro Stop and Rog gets propositioned by a Goth girl looking for underage booze.
• Making a quick getaway, we find ourselves in the Church Inn enjoying garlic bread amongst the West Bromwich Albion shirts. Another great pub.
  
• Its now off to Jewellery Quarter Station, my first ever visit here but we don't stay long. The train is imminent so we dash down several flights of stairs and just have long enough to pose Bruce next to a running board.
• We have a spare couple of hours before heading back to Stourbridge, so we alight at Rowley Regis and sample some Ashes Ale in the Britannia pub at Rowley Village.
• The 241 provides a short ride to Dudley, where Rog finally gets the chance to sample the Station Hotel. We decide to have a best of three pool match, which I won by default because Rog accidentally potted the black in off!
• We conclude matters in traditional style with a drink in the Rock Station where I was pleased to have a chat with Mr Wood and arrange some future outings.

A busy day then, cramming in canals, buses, trains, the metro, some pubs and a few local photographs too. The trip provided some fine discoveries and great memories, thus ensuring we celebrated Rog's birthday in appropriate style...