I had managed a few walks during the week including an almost nine miler walking home from work.
To round off the week, I decided to walk to and around Coleshill, hopefully clocking up about ten miles.
So after a couple of miles with the dogs, I headed back out.
A mile into my walk I spotted what, from a distance, looked like a cat sat on top of a wheelie bin. It was not until I got closer that I realised that it was a stuffed toy tiger !
I continued up to the road to Coleshill, the Birmingham Road (The Coleshillians must have named it !) and there at the roundabout were signs advising that the road was closed ahead.
We had had plenty of notice that the main road into Coleshill would be closed for a month meaning a slight diversion if going to The Griffin. Something to do with that pesky HS2. Pedestrian access would be preserved.
I walked along a very quiet B114 for about half a mile until I came to a barrier across most of the road enclosing a short trench across said road.
I managed to skirt around this and another a little further on before being able to continue, unfettered, on to Coleshill.
I turned right onto the bypass (A446) and followed that until I reached the edge of town before turning onto the High Street passing my old school.
During my stroll along the High Street, I did spot a couple of post box toppers as well as a few scarecrows in various gardens.
At the bottom of the hill, I continued along Station Road passing the Station Road Tiny Forest. Not big enough to house Robin Hood let alone his merry men this was a welcome sight.
From the forest, I cut through the houses off Roman Way to emerge back on the A446 at the top of the hill to drop down to Gilson.
Walking through Gilson was very much like walking through a building site which is exactly what it is.
Approaching Water Orton, I could see some of the pillars which will hold the HS2 track above the surrounding area and the A446.
From Water Orton, it was up the hill at Attleboro Lane, through more HS2 stuff to cross the M6 and I was soon back home.
My Coleshill jaunt was just a tad over ten miles so with the earlier dog walk brough today’s total to 12.15 miles and for the week – thirty two.
It good to see the milage creeping back up.
Next week, I’m toying with a walk along the canals from Wolverhampton into Birmingham as the long weekly walk.
I’ve got to drop the car off for it’s MOT earlier in the week so will get a couple of medium distance walks in there plus, perhaps a stroll to The Griffin on Wednesday.
Projected weekly total is forty Two miles.