Back in the day, when I were a mere strip of a lad, there used to be a bus service that ran from Birmingham all the way via Worcester to Malvern. Operated by the long defunct, Midland Red company, the 144 departed from the old bus station under the Bull Ring.
Now, many years later, looking for somewhere to go on my Friday Bus Pass Excursion, I decided to try to get to at least, Worcester.
Sadly, the 144 service no longer runs, well no the whole distance. A 144 service goes between Catshill (just north of Bromsgrove) to Worcester. To get to Catshill, I needed to ride a 61 from Birmingham.
A little after nine, I walked to the local shops to pick up provisions, before boarding an X12 into Birmingham (after half nine, of course).
Crossing over Priory Queensway, I boarded a 61 which headed out, south, along the Bristol Road.
Just before leaving the city centre, we passed The Diskery, one of the few independent record shop around. I have bought a number of Jazz disc from the knowledgable and helpful people here.
After Selly Oak, I started to notice that my bus was stopping at stops at which the 20 service also stopped. The 20 would take me to Catshill and Bromsgrove.
At Northfield, I left the 61 and, minutes later, boarded another National Express, this time the 20 which I rode all the way to Bromsgrove via Catshill.
I had about an hours wait in Bromsgrove. There was an Adventure Lab series in a nearby park but with he walk to and from said park I could be cutting it a little fine so I took a quick stroll around the shops.
Returning to the bus station (toilets available) I awaited the arrival of the 144.
As I was waiting I spied a bus from Kev’s (Kev’s Cars and Coaches) which runs a number of services around Bromsgrove and the south of Birmingham. Unfortunately, this wasn’t going anywhere near Worcester but maybe another day ?
At the allotted time (on near enough to it) the 144 arrived and whisked me away towards my final destination.
I was somewhat surprised when, in Wychbold, the double decker turned off the main road into Webb’s Garden Centre, passed a bus stop, made a one eighty and resumed the trip.
Approaching Worcester, I fired up the Adventure Lab app. to find my first location and worked out that I needed to alight a few stop shy of the city centre.
There were a four AdLabs in the city (twenty locations) which I was hoping to visit.
With the first under my belt, I continued city-wards passing the Church End Brewery Tap. Back home, Sue and I sometimes visit a Church End Brewery Tap that, before moving to its current location, was housed in a building next to The Griffin.
After my visit to Worcester, after mentioning this establishment, Sue and I decided to visit ‘our’ tap.
I mentioned to the gaffer that I had seen another Church End Brewery Tap and he confirmed that they owned the Worcester one and another in Stoke Golding.
Whilst there, Sue had a couple of ciders whilst I contented myself with a couple of halves including this Emerald Ale (made to commemorate St. Patrick’s Day).
Back to Worcester, I continued around the various locations discovering many parts of Worcester that I’d never visited before.
Walking up the Main Street, I was questioned by some school kids who were doing a survey before I ducked into the Tourist Information Office to pick up a Worcester teddy bear for Sue.
With all the AdLabs successfully solved, I found my way to the bus stop and after nipping into a nearby newsagent to replenish my stocks awaited the 144.
The return was almost the reverse of the trip out but I stayed on the 20 all the way to its terminus at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital from where I caught an X20 into Brum then the usual 94 back home.
As mentioned above, the evening was spent at the Church End Brewery Tap.
Checking the map later, I discovered that this is my furthest, free, day trip so far.