03/05/14 - The Source

Distance - 7.2 Miles
Geocaches - 7
Walk Inspiration - Pub Walks in the Black Country

There was a poll on a West Bromwich Albion Page to ask "What was the best moment of the 2013-14 Season".  After a sacking, a quenelle, a striker on Hippy Crack and a fight, my answer was easily determined.

"When they started selling Bathams at the ground"

Today's walk is a quest to find the Source of Bathams  in Brierley Hill - A pub so good it has two names - The Vine or The Bull and Bladder, dependent on your age or locale.  It's talked about with reverence by friends that I know who have been.  They talk in hushed tones about the quality of the beer and the homemade pork pies.

I am genuinely excited.

But first, I need to raid my walking wardrobe and find an outfit that matches those of my Guides.

Do you want to be in my gang?

Park up at the pub, which is located in a road with plenty of good company.  As we walk down to the canal, we pass our pub, The Black Horse, The Dock and Iron and the Tenth Lock.  All look worthy of a stop but in true highlander style, there can be only one.

We will be back

The canal has our first cache of the day.  In the bushes.  I dive in and come out with a lurpak box.  It is not the cache.  Probably a day to concentrate on the weather and the beer.

Head right and follow the Delph Locks up hill.  There are meant to be 9, with the pub called the 10th Lock.  There are in fact only 8.  Black country arithmetic at it finest.  Fine stretch to walk.

First of the 8.  Like the overspill at the side of the lock.

We don't expect too much from the walking to be honest.  Inner city canals are not usually the best.  This first stretch is perfectly pleasant enough.  We soon hit Merry Hill Centre and a plot hatches for future shopping trips.

I can be at the Vine in 15 minutes now I know the shortcut.

I never have to stay here again

The Waterfront area is also very pleasant.  Full of bars and restaurants.  We see our first freedom fighter against the teetotal Taliban having his 10am pint in front of the Wetherspoons.

Pleasant

We leave behind the Dudley canal for the Pensnett Canal and find our first cache on the Bridge over the top.  Now, you can tell from the fashions on my guide book that its a little on aged side.  And the Pensnett Canal is no longer fit for traffic of boat or foot kind.  Some quick re-planning through an estate is required.

Canal no More

We are soon on our scheduled route and spy some Black Country Humour and some dodgy Black Country Advertising.

This time next year, they will be millionaires 

Going to be disappointed if you wanted to be in Brum

But we are glad we have cleared up the price of the Van

A surprising bit of countryside at Fenn Pools.

Fenn Pools.  Big enough for a Swan.  And a Horse.

It back to the canals and the caches. Not possible to get all of them. Lots of fishermen around and we are following a barge. I prove that you can walk faster, as we leave it behind, only for it to catch us up when we are signing logs. The walking is fairly uninspired and monotonous. A hunting heron provides a respite.

Hunting in Stourbridge

We are back to the scene of our first DNF and know the pub is close.  We head in.  All nooks and crannies and with a large beer garden to keep us happy with the dog.  But what about the produce?

Tastes even better at the Source

Next Time, I am going to buy a T-Shirt.