Pig Swill Spring Sqwalk (88th) 17th April 2015
'Up for it' were Yup, Anytime Tone, Granpop Bill, Malc Jay, Heavy Steve Machine, Jacko, Latecomer Stubby (but that's another story), Brolly Wolly Bagman of Talke Talke. Roadrunner, Dasher and Bebris met up at Fradley Junction.
It seemed a very early start for some of us. Yuppers hadn't seen 6am since suffering from jetlag last year after returning from Malaysia and was amazed to see it was daylight.
We were picked up from The Westbury at 6.45am and were driven by a lady driver off the estate. She hadn't been informed of the Heavy pick up en route but acknowledged there had been an error at the base and readily redirected the bus to pick up Heavy Steve Machine near The Dog and Doublet.
Paying the full fare up front as we were dropped off was a little disconcerting but we had faith … fingers crossed anyway that they'd return at 5. Roadrunner arrived after travelling many miles from Kidderminster and parked up as a call from the D's, Dasher and Debris, confirmed that they were lost but only two minutes away.
It was an easy stroll along the canal back to Fradley Junction and the Swan. A colourful guy with a large parrot on his shoulder (shut up, shut up) chatted to Heavy and Stubby; colourful in respect to the parrot droppings that covered his shoulder and back. We think it was the parrot he was repeatedly asking to shut up.
It was very relaxing at The Swan and the ale was the best of the day. Our pick up was 5.30 and there was some confusion as to whether the bus had already arrived. Malc explored the car park and discovered it had arrived early. As we strode towards the bus it lurched forward and we realised the driver was Ronnie from our Mystery night doos. He was still in the party spirit.
Although estimated at 13.5 miles the total walk was clocked on Brollys gps app at nearer 15 miles. Perhaps it was his staggering that had increased the mileage.
It had been another cracking day out. The walk had been flat but it was still one of the longest we'd completed in a few years. The bus had cost us £17 each, including a tenner tip to the driver and £4 in the Kitty held by Keithee, so it had been a reasonably inexpensive day out. Jacko had surprised himself in completing the walk fairly easily and was still able to stand at the end of it, even though he tried to fit in a sneaky nap on the back row of the bus.
Cheers
Yuppers
(enjoy the pig swill)
We met up at the Swan at Fradley Junction; where the Coventry and Trent & Mersey canals meet, which I've just found out opened around 225 years ago. After a couple of group photos, professionally taken by Debris, we headed off at 8.02am down the Coventry canal, around the edge of Fradley village and then across the extremely busy A38, in the direction of the National Arboretum.
We had a field of pig swill to plough through before the Arboretum, but as luck had it, it was stony dry, otherwise we would have really been in the shyte…
We followed the river northwards passing several quarries and joined the Trent & Mersey canal after another life threatening dash across the A38.
The piggeries at the far end of the field were full of beautiful little piglets. Someone mentioned bacon butties and they began to squeal and run around creating a haze of dust.
The lymestone ale was very moreish, prompting Dasher to comment that he was slightly embarrassed popping into his local in Stone, The Lymestone Brewery Tap house, and requesting a dash of lemonade in his pint. 'Not a problem', said Yup, 'take a small hip flask with you filled with lemonade!' Obvious. It was also suggested that he join CAMRA so that he could obtain a discount on hiring a narrow boat, a pastime he'd recently considered as he watched the boats pass by the bottom of his garden. The squarrites could happily use up any drink vouchers that were going spare!!!!'
We settled up, with Anytime Tone happily handing over a £20 note and not expecting change. It finally dawned on him that he was now back in Blighty and was no longer on his hols in Australia. As we left the pub, Debris, to her great delight, spotted a post box and sprinted across the road to post a letter, which she'd carried around all morning. We all thought she'd found another toilet stop…..
The walk to Wychnor Hall was far more pleasant than the trail alongside the A38. The approach to the Hall was welcoming and luckily the traffic lights didn't hold us up.
The Barton Returns pub was open so we just had to drop in for a quick pint, and a couple of glasses of vino for Debris. Granpop Bill sneaked an extra half in, delaying the departure to Barton Marina. Understandibly though, as it was 'Bloomin Marvelous'.
As expected, the bacon baguettes proved quite popular at the Arboretum café, along with the toilets which some were desperate for. Bobby kept an eye on Debris to make sure she didn't do a runner.
We slipped past the main reception, and a very impressive fireplace, into the grand Members Bar; a first for the sqwalkers, where Penny pincher appeared to be the only guest beer available. It was average sadly, living up to it's name.
Another group photo was taken outside the Hall as we waited for the D's who were running late again. What had they been up to ……. Granpop Bill just about managed to do his fly up before the camera clicked.
The armchairs were very inviting. Heavy chose a seat, which unknowingly to him stretched across a secret doorway, making life very difficult for one of the barmaids to squeeze through each time. Lord Bickerton looked like Ronnie Corbett relaxing in one of them, but after completing 26 miles just 2 days before he deserved a rest.
Malc Jay pointed out the one he fancied for lunch.
Granpop Bill said he'd have the rest.
We then stormed the Armed Forces Memorial where a guide eagerly began to give us the benefit of his knowledge pointing out various facts, such as; 1936 was the only year when Great Britain wasn't in combat anywhere in the world although the memorial showed many deaths had occurred. He also suggested we should check out the 'Football Remembers Memorial', which we should have passed by the railway viaduct, but somehow we missed it. Must have been on the offside.
Debris knew exactly where her next stop was going to be after we'd left the pub, as her previous job had involved travelling through this area several times - the ladies, situated at the far end of the Marina opposite the cinema.
After a short wait, we then took the bridge over the lake and headed off through a housing estate and out into the open fields onto private land. A ferocious sounding dog wasn't particularly keen on us passing through so we continued a further 50 yards or so and found the footpath we should have been on which put us back on track.
As we approached the pretty village of Alrewas we were informed that those at the rear, the 2 S's and the D's, had taken a crafty shortcut and were already supping in the Crown. Shame on them not completing the designated walk !!
The meals were huge. The fish were like whales but the chips, although large, had been boiled before being quickly fried; not to everyone's taste, especially Yup's, who left one.
Black bacon cob was on the menu, which Debris described as being bacon marinated in treacle. 'Are we allowed to say such things as black bacon or black pudding these days', asked Dasher. Good point, well made !!
The gammons were also gigantic; Malc' got the one he chose earlier. Granpop Bill gave up after half a piggery.
