- This year's quiff unveiled -
An early start sees members rise from their coffins and journey to Coventry where Chairman D9 wastes no time in revealing his carefully-selected themed disguises for the day. A witch's hat and a mummified mask are scary enough, but surely the most hideous is the paper towel quiff that enters the action during a drive on the 8 from the railway station to Pool Meadow.
- Coventry Canal Basin -
A fiendish ferret is frequently top of our morning agenda, and this particular example commences at Coventry Canal Basin where we try not to frighten the statue of James Brindley too much. The basin is the terminus of the Coventry Canal, a waterway that connects with the Trent & Mersey Canal at Fradley Junction by passing near places such as Bedworth, Atherstone and Polesworth.
- Bald Spot at the Garage Gates -
A favourite Coventry custom of ours is to pay tribute to notable bus driving characters including Rocking Ron West (hence the quiff). Today this involves a homage at one of the old Coventry Corporation stomping grounds, the former Sandy Lane Garage where buses in the distinctive local maroon and cream livery once graced gates now being bothered by a bald spot.
- Bridge 6, Stoney Stanton Road -
Further canal ferreting awaits as we rejoin the towpath at Foleshill Road for a meandering stroll up near Edgwick and Stoke Heath. Twice we pass under Stoney Stanton Road - firstly at Priestley's Bridge and then Navigation Bridge - before we arrive at Old Church Road (Bridge 7) in Little Heath. Along the way, our Chairman decides to become part of a waterside artwork but that photograph was far too petrifying to be presented here!
- A Big Banger Brew -
We leave the canal again so as to seek out breakfast as amply provided by the Big Banger Cafe. Secretary WME is tempted by the 'Full Irish' here (which would include fried spuds and white pudding) but decides to be slightly more restrained while Chairman D9 loads up on cups of coffee and admires the Routemaster wallpaper.
- Jardine Crescent -
Time for another bus ride with the 6 soon on hand to collect us from Proffitt Avenue for a cross-city jaunt to Tile Hill North. We alight on Jardine Crescent where a classic concrete closet block requires D9's attention, as does the local shopping precinct as an example of functional urban design. Other neighbourhood facilities include a branch library, a youth centre, a children's play area and the Black Prince pub, the latter having a proud Coventry City FC allegiance complete with an accumulation of Sky Blues shirts past and present.
- Devilish Darts in The Vale -
Our opening Worthingtons in the Black Prince is followed by some Greene King IPA in the Vale, a Sizzling chain pub on Nod Rise in Eastern Green. An unoccupied dartboard is all the invitation we need to throw some arrows with the Secretary plotting his way to a narrow 3-2 victory despite Mr D9 concocting an impressive 68 checkout in leg three.
- WME Witchcraft? -
Two pubs down and two Hallowe'en haunts to come as both the Maudslay and the Nursery Tavern give us an excuse to don our disguises. Wicked Witch WME made the acquaintance of a toy rat who just so happened to be perched on a cobweb-covered fireplace in the first of those establishments, while D9's mummy mask attire there will surely give the local children nightmares for years to come.
- Domino Distress -
The Nursery Tavern meanwhile was decorated partly for Hallowe'en and partly for the Rugby World Cup final, the pub having a long-established affinity with the oval ball. Our sporting segment here involves not rugger but dominoes, with poor old D9 finding himself bamboozled by the scoring system while that crafty Secretary successfully pegs out on the cribbage board to cement games honours for the day.
- Old Clarence Closet -
Darkness is descending as we make our way towards Hearsall Common where a suspicious shadowy object lurks in the undergrowth near the Old Clarence pub. Fear not dear reader - the feature is none other than a disused toilet block, meaning the gleeful Chairman's prized bald spot glows like a ghostly apparition in the fading light. With that our Coventry exploits are ended as we catch the train back from Canley, but there are still many mysterious matters to attend to in Birmingham before the night is out.
- The Beast of the Bartons Arms -
Top target in Brum is the Bartons Arms, a stunningly ornate piece of architectural opulence found on High Street (the A34) in Newtown, Aston. The pub serves ales from the Oakham Brewery (based near Peterborough) and also contains a popular Thai restaurant, but it's the general majesty of the interior we are here to see, from snob screens to glazed tiles and a feature staircase. The Chairman is so overcome by the thought of it all that he resorts to wearing mask and quiff at the same time, a truly terrifying combination.
- With Willow in the White House -
A trio of Hockley taverns round off this tale of trepidation as members call in on the Gunmakers Arms (up for sale and potentially set for residential conversion), the Queens Head (for party lights and a bag of scratchings) and finally the White House, the Holdens pub on New John Street where Willow the cat becomes our latest feline friend. A Metro ride home then completes this spot of explorational sorcery, so all that remains is to wish you a Happy Hallowe'en from the Hub Marketing Board.
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