Wednesday around Walsall

And so the exploration bandwagon has rolled onto Wednesday, an occasion that Rog and I decided to mark with some wandering across Walsall...

• A bright and early start sees me safely onto the 333, riding up through Portobello, Willenhall, Lodge Farm and Bentley.
• I alight at Pleck for a few bonus photos, mainly focusing on the local library and the landmark Brown Lion pub. Rog then joins me fresh from a ride on the 313 and we head down to Walsall Town Centre.
• Further local exploring follows in the shape of The Butts, situated right on the edge of the town centre. Targets here include the Fitters Arms on Hatherton Street and the Butts Tavern, whilst an imposing schoolhouse on the corner of William Street also catches my eye.
• By this stage its turning into a fine and sunny morning, so we make the most of the weather with a stroll around Walsall Arboretum. Sadly the Illuminations are no more, but Hatherton Lake still looks most elegant and the trees are as stately as ever.
• Weaving our way through a nearby estate, we pass the Dilke pub and arrive at Longwood Junction. This is the meeting place of the Rushall and Daw End Canals - we join the latter and savour the more rural setting as Riddian Bridge provides a fine discovery.
• Our next port of call is the Manor Arms pub, although we have to negotiate a further stroll by Winterley Bridge whilst waiting for the pub to open. First pint of the day is a taste of Old Thumper, and very nice it was too. The pub is quite charming even though we got asked if Bonus had any ID!
• From Rushall, the 346 whisks us off to Pelsall just as the rain sets in. We brave the flurries of drizzle and catch the 348 to Pelsall Wood terminus, where I was saddened to find that the Free Trade pub remains closed.
• Another 346 ride conveys us to Bloxwich, where the rain gets heavier as we plod down the High Street. It is here that Rog gets worryingly mistaken for a blonde-headed Jesus, so its with much relief that we find the Lamp Tavern pub. This Holden's house is classed as being in Bloxwich although we were practically in Leamore by the time we got there! We enjoy a relaxed drink whiling away an hour or so with some more seasoned regulars.
• Back into Bloxwich Town, and that dreaded bladder curse strikes again. The Spotted Cow comes to our rescue, with Rog also taking control of the pub jukebox. His playlist included the usual favourites (Metallica, Bowie, Bon Jovi and Queen) along with more eclectic choices, Max Bygraves and Judas Priest, and the plain frightening - sorry mate, there was no excuse for inflicting Mr Blobby on everyone even if it was a Christmas Number One in 1993 or whatever.
• Beating a hasty retreat, we hop on the 560 to Wolverhampton and finish off a fine day in the Great Western. Here I introduce Rog to the horseshoe gammon accompanied by homemade chips, a dish that is rapidly becoming my favourite pub meal. A pint of Dragon's Blood (a Holden's special ale brewed with a Halloween theme) completes proceedings, but only until we start all over again tomorrow morning...