Blogs from Coventry, West Midlands, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Matkustin junalla Coventryyn. Alex tuli asemalle minua vastaan. Olimme kai nähneet viimeksi syksyllä 2010. Tehtiin yli kolmen kilometrin kävelykierros Coventryn keskustassa. Käytiin parissa ilmaisessa museossa. Ensimmäinen oli poliisimuseo ja toinen museo kertoi Coventryn pommituksista. Sitten pysähdyimme Alexin valitsemaan pubiin. Otettiin siellä oluet, ja söin Alexin suositteleman porsaspiiraan. Seuraamme liittyi Erin. He olivat tutustuneet netissä ja menneet naimisiin viisi vuotta sitten, jolloin Erin muutti sitten Yhdysvalloista Alexin luo. Käytiin vielä toisessa pubissa. Kävelin sitten rautatieasemalle, koska matkani jatkui kohti Lontoota. Päätin mennä junalla, koska se oli selvästi bussia nopeampi. Jokin sovellus neuvoi minulle nopeimman reitin Eustonin asemalta Stratfordiin. No siihen kuului pikajunaosuus, josta piti maksaa 8 puntaa ekstraa. Rautatieasemalla joku huomautti m... read more

The long, hot summer has disappeared in the last few days and I find myself in the 9thlargest city in England on a very changeable Sunday morning. A light, drizzle was falling steadily from the sky. The Other Half looked distressed that water was falling on her new car. It is a place, I do not know well. I have been on numerous occasions, but as with other UK places seen no more than I was allowed by a restrictive Police escort. I am unsure quite how I have bypassed a city of over 350,000 for this many years, but as Coventry has recently been named as Capital of Culture for 2021 I suggested to the Other Half that we get in before the crowds. She suspected an ulterior motive. She was correct. It was 3 ... read more

Geo: 52.4058, -1.51266The evening meal at Tally Ho inn last night was, as predicted, a hearty home cooked feast with a local beer to go with it. This morning was very foggy - nothing to do with the aforementioned ale - and we set off slowly along the lanes.Today's adventure was at Ironbridge and Jackfield in the Midlands. The Iron Bridge was built in 1779 and is very impressive. We didn't pay the toll of 1/2d as stated on the original toll charges. We walked from there to the tile museum, everything from roofing tiles through to highly decorative, modern styles. Lots of things that look like quilt patterns, and an amazing variety to be seen, including ones that are in tube stations and butcher shops.We then changed GPS mode from 'country lane' to 'motorway' and ... read more

September 10 Coventry to Ballinasloe - I got up early and got ready and took my stuff downstairs to load up and go to the train station in Rugby. Con took me to the station and I caught the train from Rugby to Holyhead via Crewe. I was disappointed that they had no internet on the first train and on the second one they wanted me to pay for it. Maybe I am spoiled but I have grown accustomed with wifi being free, and feel annoyed and cheated when it is not. In any case the trip wasn’t bad although I had to hustle a bit to catch the connection in Crewe and at Holyhead. The ship I took was the Stena Adventurer and it was a nice and big ship with bars, restaurants and even ... read more

September 7, Friday – Coventry Today was my regroup and refit day in preparation for jumping the puddle. I got all my clothes washed and caught up my bookings for the trip to Ireland, and caught up my notebooks. Con fixed us a bacon sandwich for breakfast and we pretty much just caught up on things till Phil came home. Then we loaded up in the car and went to look at the locks on a nearby canal. It was really a beautiful day and we had a really good time. After exploring the locks we ate some fish and chips at a nearby restaurant and then checked out a nearby castle. All in all a fun day.... read more