Day 02– Saturday 28^th May

Final checks at the garage

An early start saw me at Ashley’s garage & 10 minutes later with a little half-horseshoe clip back in place & the engine washed off of surplus diesel, I was back on the road south to Glyn’s.

Black Country Brewery tour

On arrival, though slightly later than planned, we decided to go with the original (& now almost regular) Black Country Brewery tour visiting local brewpubs.  Starting at the Waggon & Horses, Tipton, home of the Toll End Brewery. A couple of pints later, saw us back on the bus & headed to the World Famous Ma Pardoe’s Brew Pub. Otherwise known as the Olde Swan in Netherton. The ceiling in this pub is truly awesome – as are the beers when on form… as they were today!

Then it was back on the bus -‘though just missed one caused by a “call of nature”. I decided to use the loo in the pub, rather than having to cross my legs on the bus. We were off to Brierley Hill & the Vine Pub – affectionately known as the “Bull & Bladder”. The home of Batham’s Beers – which were also on spectacularly good form. The bitter was excellent & the mild not far behind in quality on today’s visit.

Then there was a longer bus ride, passing a couple of pubs that on another – earlier starting – day we might have visited . On into Sedgley for some fish & chips & a walk down to the Beacon Hotel & Sarah Hughes’ Ruby Mild.

Then it was a walk back to pick up a bus to Wolverhampton & a second one to Walsall. Fortunately, Glyn spotted that the bus that goes almost past his house would be in the station at Willenhall. So we swapped thus saving us a walk up from where the Wolverhampton-Walsall bus would have dropped us. Result!