As part of the training we had arranged to do a bit of a walk – so this weekend we did.
Didn’t go out on the Friday, although I did accidentally have a couple of beers in the garden after giving it a mow, but only three cans I think. Up early doors for around a 6:30 start from the house up to Worcester. We planned to park in King Street car park as it as the closest to the start of the trek. They did a 48 hr special of just 12 quid, so it was ideal.
Jut, perhaps half a mile down to the river and left, took us past the Diglis pub and to the beginning of the canal. So at around 7:45 the walk began – we both needed a wee stop already.
After around a mile and a bit the tow-path crossed over, so we took the opportunity to find a stop off, Subway was best, so once sated we headed along a rather nice canal path through the center and then suburbs of Worcester.
The canal takes a North Westerly route out of Worcester, and it was an almost perfect day for it, sun was out, but a great breeze, and it was all really quite pleasant. After some time we got into countryside, and before we knew it we’d clocked 9.5 miles and say the Eagle & Child. Open all day it declared, well not open at 10:30 unfortunately. We had a quick stop off though on the side on the “Marina” and watched someone feed a swan from her house/boat, and I ate most of a quiche. We noticed some ramblers coming our way, so we quickly tidied up and set off again.
We continued passing boats and walkers and runners and cyclists and walkers, and more boats, until we got to the Queens Head at Stoke Pound, an excellent place, with a big outdoor area right on the canal side – this is te sort of place I always envisage as being on a canal, so rarely is. We stopped for a beer and a water top up, we were at 14 miles, and slightly before 12:00, so we decided to go to the “next pub” for lunch. I figured it was perhaps another 6 miles to Hopwood, so off we jolly well went.
It was all up hill from here, which is a little unusual for a canal, but there was lock after lock after lock, and I think we can see that Brum is right on the top of a mountain.
After the locks at Tardebigge, we had our first diversion, you leave the canal on the right, turn left at the road, then follow a small path on your right up, and then down onto the dual carriageway. With tired legs we played frogger with the cars, then up the other side and out of a field. The signage disappeared here, but I had looked at the way on google maps, so we headed straight across Hewell Lane to meet up with the canal again, which now crossed to the left bank just after the boat rental place. We met a flustered lady in a car here looking for a hospital, with very good intentions I think we sent her the wrong way – sorry.
A little bit further and we came to the second off road experience, this time we were on the left, and followed the track up to a field, across a field, and along some sort of marked lanes. There is really only one way to follow, but again the signs are lacking…
The pub seemed an eternity away by now, and we really wanted to have a rest and some food. Finally at 22 miles, and at around 2:30 – we stopped just off the canal at Hopwood House. Thank goodness. We had a couple of beers here, and a very poor lunch, but we sat outside and relaxed for a bit. My feet were a little sore by this point, and stupidly I did not do any stretching. After around an hour here, we reluctantly set off for the final, easy few miles to Birmingham.
By this time you get a bit sick of the canal, and after a very short time it disappears into another tunnel. This time you have to make quite a trek along lanes (which are hillier than google suggests!), then through what I assume is the Birmingham suburbs, and West Heath.It’s a little scary here. After some walking we found the canal again, and now we were finally on the last leg.
The last leg is rubbish. We headed to Bournville, where I think they may still make chocolate, although I was expecting a heady smell of delectable sweetness, we just got canal smells, then onward to University. Once here we really were “close”, but after 28 miles every mile takes two, and it really feels never ending.
My legs and feet were beginning to ache now, and I really didn’t care much for the canal, certainly not when every five minutes there was a low rumble of the train – let the train take the strain they used to say – ohh that’d be nice madam. Just along here we met some youths, who were mucking about across the river on a boat, with house bricks. We both stared at them, and one shouted something, I gathered he wanted me to give them the “thumbs up”, so I did. Got some sort of reaction, and off we went – we then saw the next person ignore them, when they proceeded to throw the bricks at him. What a sad state of affairs.
After a few more miles I could see the BT building, and we knew we were on the last mile or so – that.took.ages..and..ages, but eventually we popped out by the mailbox. Something like 31 miles and nine and a half hours after the start oh so long ago.
We had a pint, and my legs and feet failed. So I hobbled the miles back to the hotel, by New Street. Once in the hotel the agony began, my feet were really sore, I could barely stand up, and my legs were cramping. After getting changed we went for a Chinese, which was nice, but far too big. Then bed.
Next day we came home.
I was sore for a couple of days, but not too bad, I think what I can take from this was – I can walk for nine hours, I should stretch more, I should drink less and the Race to the Stones will hurt.
Miles: 20 miles run, 30 miles walk
Beers: 15