Rambling, Coventry area

Hi Morgana, I was caught up in that disruption also, caused by someone running off New St Station platforms into the tunnels at 6.30am. We can all guess at the most likely circumstances there, hey!. Today was not too bad actually for me, as with it being wet, I appreciated the 171 bus route in B'ham as it dropped me at the exact spot, without me having to walk from Sutton Railway station in the rain.

Hi Philip! So you were in my neck of the woods today. Should have dropped in for a cuppa! I'm surprised to hear you say that people get held up for so long in Minworth. We use that road frequently and the recent road works only delayed us for five minutes at most. Normally there is no delay at all. We are going to Coventry for a curry tonight and that is our usual route so I'll see how it's going.

I am so glad that you have told me that about Minworth. I have not taught in Sutton now for several years, but my memories of long morning queues are obviously too vivid. I was aboard the 71 which turned left at the Minworth t-junction before entering Walmley & then Sutton. I was visiting Pete's model railway shop in Riland Rd. Pete & his team have run a very enthusiastic dealership for several decades, but like us all, they are not getting any younger. I will sadly miss them when eventually they are no longer there. I got to know them from when I was teaching at your college. My favoured way of getting to Sutton is via the well-run Cross City service from New St, but no trains to New St when I first set out this morning. At least the 71 actually dropped me at Pete's shop. Hope you enjoy your curry. Pam & I had a bring-in curry from the Holly Bush (the old Holbrooks pub) this evening. It was lovely.

Our Philip talks to a resident of Wolston during our latest outing "Even the horse got fed-up with my chatter"

Nice to see you out and about enjoying the sunshine Philip.

Hi & thank you Tricia. We have enjoyed a fabulous day out. Good food too, at the Royal Oak, Brandon, at lunch-time. Tip. If anyone goes there weekdays, make sure that you are in pairs, so as to take advantage of the 2-4-1, offers. Shhhhhhhhhhhh. Who said that?

Hi all, Annewiggy, enjoying her rover ticket, that has indeed urged me to roam next week, whatever the weather. For us here, there are several ticket options, from day, to week or so many days in seven or eight. Those with a Centro bus pass can use the rail-network within the West-midlands anyway. Me, with my train-spot history, being out & about is almost my comfort zone. I am not ashamed of the fact that I like watching trains (I like watching ships & aeroplanes too). Sometimes, we can take advantage of where we live for our days out. Midland Red & I did not want to stay on a stuffy bus for long yesterday, so we picked a location that was easy & straightforward to get too. Earlier this summer, I was delighted to be traveling on a B'ham bus which had air-conditioning, but even without, if a bus route is not traffic jammed, short journeys can be quite pleasant with air from a window. Certain stop & start routes, I try & avoid, but say if I lived anywhere near to the Kenilworth Rd, I might by now be walking to catch the next X17, & heading off in that direction, if I was not off to catch a train. So what ever you are up to, or where you might be off too, please enjoy & stay cool. Love to you Dreamtime too.

Loving the photo of you and your four legged friend Philip. Glad you are making the most of this beautiful weather as am I.

Love to see you're a horse whisperer Philip, at least he is interested in you Philip, as the horse's ears are pricked up.

Hi all In spite of the heavy showers, I am determined to get out today. Even if it is dull & boring train-spotting. Open spaces & country walks will be a no-no, but there are plenty of town centre under-cover places. Provided the train or bus roof doesn't leak, it is a good day for that kind of thing. Whatever you are all up to, please stay safe, keep cool & dry, unless you are swimming that is.

Hi all, A picture from Wiki of Galton Bridge in B'ham for my friend Midland Red. My grandson & I changed trains from the low to high level stations here so as to return to Coventry via Solihull. Sean used the same bolt-on ticket as you used. These gems of engineering so easy to get to from Coventry & free if you have a Centro bus pass which you can use on the train. Travelling in the B'ham direction, we used the 10.11am from platform 4. It stops at all stations as far as Marston Green then New St, where it arrives at 10.44am. We then continued to Walsall, passing the huge yard at Bescot. We had lunch in Walsall, then used a through train to Wolverhampton, where we got off at Galton Bridge. A good train-spot day out.

Thank you Philip - I remember our fleeting glimpse of Galton Bridge on our return from Stourbridge recently If you can forecast a decent day's weather for next week we must go out for another trainspot/trainphot ramble Incidentally, the no.86 timetable has been carved up whilst I've been away, so it's only a half-hourly service now

Hi Midland Red, My mobile phone pic as I travelled by on the High Level. I am sorry regards your reduction in No 86 service.