Month: January 2022

The Cottage Spring, West Bromwich

Pub #2474:

More hard scrabble bar than what traditionalists might call a pub, the Cottage Spring was an outstandingly friendly house to this stranger with the ridiculous accent and sweaty workout kit (everyone who stepped out for a smoke paused for greetings as they passed me).

I got a lager because the mild was an industrial abomination but, 14 miles into the day’s runs, any source of carbs and micronutrients were welcome.

Leaving, I passed an absolutely spectacular Vespa that I think belongs to one of the barkeepers. I’ll find out on another visit, I’m sure.

Rail Runs #32 and #33: To Selly Oak and From Tame Bridge Parkway Stations

The run to Selly Oak was like a commute and, to spice it up, I tried to find some paths previously undiscovered. The wind was howling but was generally either with me or not against me.

Some joy in that, too, as I recovered some streets I have only otherwise travelled in the opposite direction discovering treats like the old Grove Cinema (a grand old structure inappropriately repurposed thereby reminding me of myself) down below the new hospital and making my first visit to The Reservoir.

After that, I still needed five miles to make quota so I caught the train toward Walsall with the plan to bail out at Perry Barr but the station is closed for pre-Commonwealth Games tarting up (University Station, btw, is building an entire new station while the old one is still used but I think fewer poor people live near the Uni).

I settled on Tame Bridge Parkway and a visit to some canal sections I haven’t been to in a while and a visit to a pub, the Cottage Spring, I’ve never done before. Success, despite facing these cold, powerful winds channelling up the waterway.

The Bridge you see is actually a canal viaduct.

Hill Top Fish Bar

Ticking off my chippy per month pledge, this time between Wednesbury and The House.

Still running, I was suddenly desperately hungry as I topped the hill at Hill Top. The Hill Top Fish Bar was open and no queue (because, frankly, the prices are extortionate). The product is good, but not worth the price except on rare occasions like today when it is.

The United Kingdom, Lane Head, Willenhall

Pub #2473:

The first pub I spotted on the day’s run was the United Kingdom. Inside, a bunch of dudes were duding it up in the corner to the left and the bartender was out talking to another guy at the front of the bar. By the time I reached the taps, he had, too.

I think I had the first ale of the day as he discarded a couple of pints then, as mine settled, he eyed it from his nest then came over retrieving it for being too cloudy. Honestly, I couldn’t taste the difference but it’s cool to see professionalism.

The glass, though, got (recently deceased) Meat Loaf earworms started for me:

We talked a bit and I had to woefully rebuff his offer of spare tickets to the West Brom Albion match because we were off to a thing in The City later in the evening. We talked about footie for a moment then he asked about the big sport in Atlanta. Probably basketball, I said, but pointed out how important baseball was to me. We looked at stadiums and he seemed really impressed by Wrigley Field (so, brains AND ethics).

Rail Runs #31: From Bloxwich North Station

This did what the Rail Runs are meant to do. It forced me into new territory and revealed new perspectives on the overlapping/previously-done paths. I was on a half day annual leave so this also shows what to expect when the sunset crawls back where it belongs after the equinox.

There was a pub stop (the sublime United Kingdom) and a snack at a chippy (Hill Top Fish Bar) and a welcome, Nike-esque bit of encouragement (“Just Bun It”).

Rail Runs #29 and #30: The Royal Metro and Priestfield Metro

Needing 15 miles to make distance for the week, I bundled up and headed north toward Wolverhampton, zigzagging through neighbourhoods in Tipton and Coseley before settling onto the canals. Unusual for me, lately, I maintained a racing (for me) pace and really felt great during the effort.

Emerging from the canal path a few hundred metres from The Royal Metro stop, I spotted a tram leaving in the direction I wanted to go so I had a few minutes rest awaiting another. Just starting to shiver from the drying sweat as the next tram arrived, I only went as far as Priestfield Metro before putting the phone in SatNav mode and taking the shortest possible route home. Still maintaining pace, I was aching on the final hill up from Great Bridge but really pleased with making mileage and, in general, the day out (the dearth of open pubs on the return trip, notwithstanding).

Momtaj Balti, West Bromwich

Sick most of the day but having to soldier on at work for my trainee, I returned home with no desire to stand around the kitchen making our dinner. On Jackie’s return from work, she suggested takeaway and I knew she fancied a biryani from Momtaj. Slowly working my way through the menu these past 3 years, I found this ‘comfort food’ treat for myself — the Naga Donner with Chips.

It did the trick. And, it ticked off my kebab per month for January.

Rail Run #28: University Station

The nearest station on this project to either of the termini (work or home), University Station was going to be a tough one. Either it would be a full commute, home, or as it turned out the path would have to be a loop over once familiar territory.

That familiar territory was Weoley Castle and thereabouts. It even included some virgin trail (around the ancient ruins of the Weoley Castle, itself) that has been cleared in the interval since we moved to West Brom.

The Rail Run project is living up to expectations, at least.