Happy New Year! 2022 is knocking on the door wanting to get in but before we power into the future with unbridled enthusiasm, it is customary to take stock of what the previous twelve months had in store. There's no two ways about it, 2021 was a strange old year - not perhaps as Covid-disrupted as 2020 that's true but it began under lockdown and ended with the spectre of restrictions being reimposed...
January: a low-key start to 2021 proceedings saw my exploration horizons scaled back out of pandemic necessity, hence my contingency approach involved a steady diet of local items to keep me out of mischief. Wintry weather gave familiar scenes a fresh lick of white, especially around Finchfield and Merry Hill, while the furthest afield I ventured was Dimmingsdale Lock on the Staffs & Worcs Canal.
February: there wasn't much of an improvement come February either although I did manage to get as far as Trysull and Wombourne when utilising the canal again along with the South Staffordshire Railway Walk. Even closer to home, Penn sparkled somewhat in bright but chilly sunshine as I collected pictures of Wakeley Hill, St Bart's Church and Penn Fields shops.
March: now this is better, the fledgling glimpses of some Hub Marketing activity albeit minus any liquid refreshment stops. Chairman D9 and Secretary WME initially joined forces for a homage to Ocker Hill Power Station plus a River Tame ferret that had us resurfacing near the Midland Metro tram depot; fast forward a couple of weeks and it was Coseley Tunnel's turn to be graced by the presence of a certain bald spot.
April: headline news in April is that the pubs are back open (hurrah!) BUT only if you sit outside (boo!). This strange state of affairs was first put to the test at Wolverhampton's Claregate, a solid suburban setting for my opening pint of the year (Banks's Amber being the tipple in question). The al fresco approach was then evident when Mr D9 and I surveyed the Anson Branch via pints in Darlaston, Reedswood and Birchills, while Nick and I took things to another level by enacting a 'Beer Garden Safari' around Lapworth and Lowsonford. Prior to those pub quests there were two notable dry days during which 'Towpath Turpin' tackled the Grand Union from Solihull to Knowle, and Andy excitedly bagged himself the Key Hill Closet in the Jewellery Quarter.
May: inching ever closer to normality, there was a welcome return to blog dispatches for the Beardsmores thanks to a Wyrley Branch wander north of Bloxwich. Wombourne made a second appearance of the year only this time with added Orton (and some New Inn pints) while the Hub Marketing bandwagon rolled into Wellington for a rain-afflicted roam around Hadley and Ketley. I should likewise mention a Brum afternoon with HRH, collecting the Colmore and pondering the pinball machines in Tilt.
June: a mammoth month that made the most of our gradually-returning freedoms. Top billing goes to a family holiday in Kendal that had me lapping up lashings of the Lake District; I spent my birthday in Carlisle and also uncovered Ulverston gems, specifically the Swan Inn and a fascinating stretch of canal. Rail Rover Week was a total triumph that took me from Wales (Wrexham) to Leicestershire (Barrow upon Soar) by way of Hatton and Kidsgrove. In other news, the Chip Foundation traversed the heights of Sedgley Beacon (a slurp of Ruby Mild being ample reward for those exertions) and the prospect of a ram-related sculpture trail lured the Hub team across to Derby for a classic day that introduced us to Ilkeston.
July: those Derby rams deserved another airing so I staged a solo sequel with a nudge along the Normanton Road - I was similarly solitary when seeking out the Shrewsbury Canal, getting up to Uffington before dropping in on Ditherington during the return leg. The Chip Foundation were meant to go to Hagley until train troubles intervened so Stourbridge stepped in as our very able substitute, even if George the cat completely ignored us!! One of the most eagerly anticipated trips of the year was the Hub Marketing Board's Smethwick reprise, belatedly marking ten years since our inaugural 2011 adventure.
August: deeper into summer we go with Worcester entering the spotlight thanks to not one but two trips dedicated to elephant extraction - the Chip Foundation perused the Big Parade in honour of Nick's birthday and then I returned individually to mop up the remaining sculptures. A soggy Saturday in Shell Corner had its compensations (namely beer and cobs in the Swan) whereas Wednesbury offered drier conditions for a 'Tone' tour that saw Hub Marketing Board members donning disguises - the Nutan Club was a Darlaston discovery that day.
September: late August into September can only mean one thing - cricket!! Warwickshire were on the march towards the County Championship title when Stephen, Mr B Senior and I spent a week in Altrincham, our base for attending the Old Trafford clash against Lancashire. That particular match ended in a draw but the Bears would soon go on to claim their crown. In other September snippets, George the Stourbridge Junction cat couldn't resist D9's Dreamies bribery as Hub Marketing matters focused upon Lye, and Gospel End was in my solo sights prior to a perfect pint in the Beacon Hotel's beer garden.
October: another epic month with outings coming thick and fast. Shirley's modern micropubs kept Nick and I entertained first off, with HRH subsequently confirming his exceptional tour guide credentials when putting together a wonderful day around Whitnash and Woodloes. The Beardsmores and I happened upon Hednesford (complete with a Chadsmoor pit stop) and the Hub brigade were similarly Staffordshire-bound for their Fenton feast - I still haven't forgiven the Chairman for beating me at table skittles in the Terrace Inn. There were then some spooky goings-on in Kidderminster with a Halloween haunting for Stephen's birthday.
November: autumn in Arleston ensured adequate Telford representation for the year (the old village centre being one of those atmospheric corners I love to stumble across by accident), and my Rowley Village rummage prepared me well for remembrance reflections. Besides all that, I was delighted to be able to attend CAMRA beer festivals again - Kidderminster's event was a lovely means of getting back into circulation while the Dudley Winter Ales Fayre lived up to its always excellent standards, aided of course by having D9 and Nick in tandem. Sprinkle in some Birmingham snowmen and I feel almost ready for Christmas.
December: which brings us neatly onto my recent festive flourishes whereby a Coventry Quiffmas caper yielded more snowman selfies plus wrapping paper headpieces and a proper cafe breakfast. Not to be outdone, a Leamington-based forage with Nick comprised Lillington Library, Cubbington considerations and a very firm Santa hat, I kid you not!
So what can we draw from that little lot? 2021 was certainly an improvement on the drudgery that was 2020 albeit Covid has continued to be a constant worry, a situation that doesn't look like changing anytime soon. Vaccines and boosters are playing their part so there is hope that we'll see off this virus eventually. My thanks as always go to those misguided fools esteemed people who have contributed to my adventures and otherwise helped maintain a sense of fun during this wretched pandemic - especially D9, Nick, Stephen, Mr B Senior, Dad and Ken - so here's to a happy and healthy 2022!
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