Today’s destination is Evesham on the edge of the Cotswolds.
First bus is the X12 to Solihull. I walked up to Green Lans shops to stock up on snacks for the day before making my way over to the stop with the X12 due in around fifteen minutes.
At around 09:20, a bus pulls up (NOT mine) and a guys tries to board asking the driver, “Am I okay on my pass?”. Being ten minutes before the start time of the concessionary passes, the driver refuses.
The Guy grumbles and as the bus pulls away he says to his friend “Paki Bastard! I bet he’d let his tribe on!”. I’m not saying anything about this guy but he did have a Carling tattoo on his leg – just saying.
After the racist has boarded the next bus (after 09:30) my X12 arrives and on I get.
The X12 calls in at Birmingham International and the adjacent airport before winding it’s way to Solihull along some narrow roads, especially for a double decker bus.
Friday happens to be bin day in Sheldon and we got held up behind one resulting in arriving in Solihull a little behind schedule meaning that I missed my connection to Stratford. The next one was in an hour.
I decided that I had enough time to nip into Meriden Park and find a couple of AdLabs.
As I was traversing the main shopping area, I did spy a chap with a shopping trolley full of Birmingham City merchandise – climbing on the “Birmingham’s been promoted” bandwagon.
I found the AdLabs then following a brisk walk (well a lot quicker than most walks recently) arrived with five minutes until the arrival of the X20 to Stratford-upon-Avon.
The X20 made it’s way along the Stratford Road through a busy Shirley before being able to open up to Henley and Wootton Wawen.
On our approach to Stratford, a police car swerved across the road in front of us and the driver closes the road diverting everyone up some side street.
The driver did well to navigate the narrow residential streets even when a car driver who thinks that he has priority over a big bus tries to squeeze through then shouts at our driver to back up.
Our driver was having none of it. “Fuck Off! ” he shouted, “Knob Head!”. The car driver finally realising that the bus is far bigger than he, back up to allow us through.
I later discovered that a guy had decided to douse himself with petrol at the Tesco garage and that was the cause of the incident.
We finally pulled into Stratford and as I alighted, thanked the driver for showing me parts of Stratford that I hadn’t seen before.
Being delayed (not for the first time today) I was worried that my next connection would be compromised but, just a few minutes behind schedule, the 28 service for Evesham arrived. Luckily, this service went out the other side to the incident and we were soon out into the countryside.
As we turned into the village of Salford Priors there was a police car stopped in the road ahead of us. “Not again?” I thought but luckily we were able to squeeze past and be on our way.
A few minutes late, we arrived at Evesham which Sue and I visited a couple of months back, completing a couple of AdLAbs. Luckily another adventure, Art in the Park, had been published since so that was my objective.
The caching didn’t take long and after consulting the timetables realised that I had nearly an hour until the bus back.
As I was wandering around the shops, I spotted a swanking looking barbers with a sign in the window stating “Walk-ins available”.
My barnet was looking a little untidy so I popped in and asked if I could be accommodated. “Take a seat” I was told.
Five minutes later, the current client had been brushed down, paid and was out of the door.
I was beckoned to the seat and after I described, roughly, what I was after, Jenny set to work.
I was asked if I was a local and then I went on to explain my exploration by bus and some of the places I had so far managed to reach and return from in a day. She thought it was very adventurous.
I was well pleased with my cut and even more impressed when I was asked for just ten quid. Bargain.
I said that I couldn’t promised to come back when it needed hacking back but why not, I can get there and back in a day !
The 28 back to Stratford was uneventful as we made our way past fields of, what I presume to be, cider apple trees.
The Incident at Tescos was over and the X20 got me back to Solihull on time.
A short while later, I was on the X12 heading for home.
From the X12, I could return to my start from where a half mile walk would take me home or change to the 94v at Chelmseley Wood.
However, looking on Moovit (and then checking on BusTimes) it seems that the 96 departs from International and the airport in the evenings instead of terminating at Chelmsley.
I left the X12 at International and crossed over to where a 96 waited, sans driver.
A few minutes later, the driver arrived and after opening the doors and before sitting down, beckoned me inside. “Thanks”, I said, “But I ain’t driving the bugger!”
The 96 took me to the bottom of my road.
Whilst aboard, I managed a Bus Selfie of myself on the CCTV.
