Time now for the final three episodes from Exploration Week, which include a Black Country local along with visits to Worcestershire and Staffordshire...
Friday 6th November: Rog and I meet in Dudley and set off to Holly Hall for a walk around Woodside taking photos of the local park, the Woodside Inn and the old Harts Hill Garage. For reasons best known to himself, Rog then led us on a tour of Brierley Hill industrial estates in the hope of finding the business premises of an old associate of his. Needless to say we couldn't find the place, but did at least get a bacon sandwich by way of compensation. Next is a look around Pensnett, a place I've long wanted to get photos of so I was in my element taking shots of the Fox & Grapes, war memorial, High Oak and the Four Furnaces. Lunchtime sees us in the Kingswinford, where we meet up with John for a quick chat, then its a trio of traditional pubs in the afternoon. The Lamp Tavern in Dudley was a classic Bathams as the rain set in, the Swan in Amblecote had a selection of Halloween themed ales from which we chose Demon Drink, and the Robin Hood on Collis Street was preparing for the big Stourbridge v Walsall FA Cup tie by offering Hackett's Ale in honour of the Stourbridge manager.
Saturday 7th November: The Worcestershire leg of the week, but first its a few piccies of Kingswinford and Stourbridge - it had been a while since I'd done a proper bus photo session at Stourbridge bus station, so it was good to be back. Into the trip proper and we catch the 228 bus down to Kinver to join the Staffordshire & Worcestershire canal. Our walk takes us all the way to Wolverley, with welcome pub breaks at Caunsall (The Anchor, a real gem) and Cookley (the Eagle and Spur). I really liked Cookley, a charming little village with plenty of photographic interest including the canal tunnel, a traditional post office and a selection of pubs - sadly the Red Lion had closed down, much to Rog's dismay as he had fond memories of the place. Lunch arrives courtesy of the Lock pub in Wolverley, where we tuck in to gammon and lasagne respectively, but the walk back to Cookley almost finishes Rog off completely. We recover in the Bulls Head, where one of the locals treats us to his array of Cookley memories and anecdotes. With Rog still worn out, I indulge in some solo exploring heading back along the canal for a final few bridge photos as the light begins to fade. We meet back up in Kinver, where The Cross pub provides the venue for our pool tournament decider - I take victory, but only after about twenty attempts at potting the black!
Sunday 8th November: A short and quiet outing to finish off an epic week. We meet in Kingswinford, where the Remembrance Sunday parade is in full swing. The 255 takes us to Swindon, where we attempt another canal walk but it is clear that Rog is still suffering from the previous day's exertions. We get as far as Hinksford Bridge before turning round and heading into the Green Man, where Rog enjoys a pint or two of Old Empire whilst I devour a homemade roast pork sunday lunch - at £4.95 I was very impressed. Dessert involves more local photos of Swindon, focusing on the Old Bush and Greyhound pubs, both of which also looked most inviting. We continue to Wombourne however, where Rog is determined to track down the Mount Pleasant despite his ankle getting increasingly painful. The pub is situated on Ounsdale Road and provides our final drink of the week whilst preparations for a bonfire party continue around us. From Wombourne we then catch our buses home as the final curtain fell on a week of fine exploring and classic pubs - as they say, all good things must come to an end...
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