If we imagine the year as if it were a motorway then autumn is fast approaching in the rear view mirror; August has (allegedly) dispensed its summery miles and September is now waiting its turn at the steering wheel. The WME photostream is a road without an ultimate destination but the fun is always collecting up different locations along the way, so let's confirm the calling points from the last four weeks...
The first major junction we reach during our journey is WME Sandwell with tempting turnings for Great Barr (the Red Admiral pub sign on Gorse Farm estate), Cradley Heath (the interchange at dusk) and Smethwick (a glimpse of the Engine Arm Aqueduct, a classic canal structure). Still in Sandwell, Great Bridge demands a detour so that we can scoop up pub pictures of the Old Crown Inn and the Beehive, the latter looking a little dishevelled on Brickhouse Lane.
Back on the main carriageway, we can tour our way through WME Birmingham for a cricketing call at Edgbaston. Some Specsavers stumps enter the fray here along with Messrs Ambrose and Hain batting against Hampshire, whereas the Covered Wagon musters a Moseley pub shot fresh from the Yardley Wood Road. An evening entry for the Redhill Tavern's picture sign at Hay Mills already has an archive quality given the pub seems to have ceased trading.
In need of further fuel, we trundle into the service station otherwise known as WME Dudley. Coseley Station's entrance hoop provides the lubrication to get things moving again and there are more lost pub memories courtesy of the Shakespeare on Stafford Street - the unspoilt interior there was one of my favourite Black Country settings, especially when the pigeon racing club was in attendance. Thankfully the Red Cow at Lower Gornal remains a firm example of traditional hospitality.
Next into the sat-nav is WME Wolverhampton closely followed by WME Walsall. Wolverhampton offers corners of Claregate (an autumnal view of the local park), Coalway Road (more tiled street sign action) and Sedgemoor Park (the Elisabeth Arms) while Walsall pulls over at a Granbourne Road bus stop slap bang between Lodge Farm and Bentley. The sat-nav voiceover also directs us momentarily to WME Telford to pick up a welcome sign for the Brookside estate.
Checking the route carefully, our final waymarkers among August's additions arrive care of WME Staffordshire. Burton and Chasetown join forces for our driving delectation with the Union Inn, the Coopers Tavern and the Cottage of Content (a vintage M&B sign) all lurking in the glovebox awaiting discovery. With that August prepares to vacate the vehicle and it will be up to September to continue the journey - I wonder which pictorial passengers we will encounter?
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