After the weekend’s twenty seven miles, Monday was a rest day for which the dogs and I were greatful.
Tuesday should have been four miles. It started well with a couple of miles with the dogs before breakfast but after a conversation with my other half, I tweaked the plan to allow for a slightly longer walk on Wednesday (to you know where) and, sort of, negate the need for further mileage on Tuesday.
Come Wednesday and the dogs and I did a short mile and a bit before I had to go to work.
After work, I did the same as last week and jumped on the 97 bus to the edge of Chelmsley Wood.
I did my good deed when a fellow passenger asked if I knew where Victoria Road was in Stetchford. I did not, but my trusty iPhone came to the rescue and I was able to tell her which stop to get off at and then which way to walk.
As we neared the end of my bus journey I was able to estimate when I would arrive and from that calculate when I would get to The Griffin. I relayed this info to Sue so that we could meet up later.
From the bus, I walked, at about the same speed as the queued traffic, along Coleshill Heath Road before a short stretch along the A446 before crossing over into Coleshill itself.
Just after the main school (MY old school) I nipped over a stile and followed a twisty path to emerge on Packington Lane.
From this lane I followed the public footpath signs down a lane before turning off to traverse so, at time muddy, tracks to Maxstoke Lane.
Crossing over Maxstoke Lane, I descended to the River Blythe which was crossed by what I used to call the Bridge of Doom. Gabby does not like going over this bridge and when we first got her she refused to walk over. She is slightly better now but to be honest, we haven’t tried lately.
Once over the river and partly illuminated by the moon, I continued along the track to arrive at Maxstoke Park Golf Course.
The public footpath crosses the golf course and is well signed with notices warning of the danger of errant balls.
Out of the golf course, I crossed Castle Lane then followed a drive for half a mile before branching off to follow a somewhat soft footpath, through Dingle Wood.
Out of the trees, I continued along the footpath, which is path of the Heart of England Way.
After a short stretch of tarmac (Moat House Lane) I was able to see the beacon otherwise known as The Griffin Lighthouse.
The bright light in the centre of the photo is actually one of the car park lights at the Griffin and can be seen from some distance away. I was half a mile away when I took this picture.
At around five past six, I arrived at The Griffin. I went in, spotted an empty table and staked my claim by depositing my fleece, head-torch and headphone before going to the bar.
As I was ordering, my phone rang. It was Sue checking that I had arrived.
I assured her that I had, that I would be sitting in the same corner where we sat last time. I also asked her what she would like to drink. By the time she entered, I was just taking our drinks to the table.
We were shortly joined by a couple of guys who usually cycle up on a Wednesday. I know them from my days with Centurion Runners. One of them is planning on walking A Coventry Way in April and comparing notes we concluded that my training was a lot further along than his with one hundred and fifteen miles so far this year (week four).
Tomorrow (Thursday) I need to do four miles; rest day Friday then eight and ten over the weekend.
Saturday, we will be playing trains hate Great Central Railway’s Winter Gala so it’ll have to be an early start. Sunday could be another walk to the watering hole.