Overnight, I concocted a plan. It went something like this …
Bus to Birmingham
Tram to Wolverhampton
Walk to Birmingham
Get bus home
I left the house just after six for a short, misty walk to fulfil item 1. At the bus stop, the display informed me that I had a wait of around twenty minutes so as a bit of a warm-up, I walked a couple of stops up eventually only having to wait a couple of minutes.
Safely aboard the 94, I checked the times of the tram and was confused that the first tram did not leave Birmingham until around eight o’clock getting me into Wolvo at 08:45. Walking the thirteen miles back to Brum plus a bit more to get over the the bus stop would mean that I would be late for my afternoon appointment.
Then I found out that the X8, limited stop, bus could get me to Wolverhampton by half eight. Still a bit tight.
I pulled up a map and noticed that the X8 route does come close to the Birmingham Canal in Coseley. I would get to Coseley by 08:15 and with a shorter distance to Brum I could be back in time.
From the 94, I made my way across town to Colmore Row from where I could catch the X8.
While I was waiting, a guy wearing a bit of a hi-vis jacket walked along the road telling the waiting throng the the 126 and X8 had been diverted and wouldn’t be stopping here but that we would have to make our way down a side street to get the bus.
I stayed put but around a dozen others traipsed off as the 126 followed by the X8 pulled up at the bus stop.
I bet the he had a good laugh but I shouldn’t think that he hung around.
Just after ten past seven, the bus pulled out and made its way to Wolverhampton via Quinton, Dudley and most importantly, Coseley.
Amusingly, the bus stopped at Bell End but I wasn’t quick enough to grab a photo !
I followed my progress on the map until my stop came up. I alighted from the bus, crossed over the Birmingham New Road and took Biddings Road to the canal. From an aerial view it looked like I could get on to the towpath from this road but that was not to be. Looking along the canal from the road, I could see a gate across the towpath a little way along so hoping that was an entrance headed towards it. I didn’t find a way to the canal from here but looking at the map it looked as though I could get on a little further along.
After half a mile from the bus stop, I finally entered the Birmingham canal navigation.
I was on the wrong canal but that was a minor issue as the Bradley Arm soon connected to the main Birmingham Canal next to a helpful signpost which informed me that Birmingham (not sure which bit) was eleven miles away.
I was now on the route of the annual Birmingham & Black Country Half Marathon (BBCHM) which I had done a couple of time previously.
A mile further along and I came to the North portal of Coseley Tunnel.
This three hundred and sixty yard long tunnel is unusual in that it has a tow path on both sides.
I didn’t bother getting the head-torch out as there was just enough light to get along.
Out of the tunnel, I passed a branch going off towards Dudley then further branches to join the leg I was following at Oldbury.
Down a few locks then level for a while until reaching Oldbury.
Here the main canal used to climb up through three locks, go for about a mile, then drop down three locks. Not very efficient and eventually some bright spark just built the New Birmingham Main line straight across.
The last couple of years, whilst doing the BBCHM, a section of this lower towpath has been closed with a diversion up to the old main line. Today was no exception but a handy sign explains the reason – a dangerous adjoining wall.
As I was reading the sign, a runner came alongside.
“Do you think that they’ll ever open this?” I asked trying to sound like someone with local knowledge.
“Ar, It’s bin loik this or three years, ay it?” he replied.
We made the ascent to the upper path and instead of a nicely made surface, encountered roadworks and mud.
Luckily I only had to endure this for a short distance (and, if memory serves me right, before the really muddy bits) before I could descend to my original route.
Once back on more solid ground, I continued under Galton Road railway station and through Galton Tunnel which is quite short, especially compared with the earlier, Coseley affair.
The rest of the walk in was fairly uneventful and I found myself in Brindley Place just over two and a half hours after getting off the X8 having covered 10.69 miles.
From here (and NOT stopping at the LEGO shop) I made my way though the Symphony Hall and out to catch my final bus of the day to arrive home just before noon.
I had time for a quick shower and shave before I was back out of the door.
End of week’s stats …
Weekly Total 46.6 miles planned 46
2024 Total 198 miles
North Coast 500 367 miles remaining 149
Next week is an easy week so only thirty four miles to cover
