Mick's Motoring September Stroll

[Paul-R]

Any ideas Paul?

That's the original 1930s Queensway tunnel which feeds, as you have found, into the A41,

Well I'm out and heading for Chester down the A41 (which interestingly I used to live 200 yards from in Watford).

Indeed. Back in the day my father used to take the A41 all the way down to London.

Many sections south of Birmingham were derated when the M40 was opened and a few years back I followed the old A41 (now mostly the B4100 north of Bicester) just to see what it was now like. I rejoined modern life when we hit the M42 as I didn't fancy braving Birmingham and its surroundings.

[mickthemaverick]

Interesting that you made that trip Paul, a couple of years ago we had a weekend in North Wales and I decided to journey home down the full length of the A41 for sentimental reasons, having used the southern end of it prolifically for the first 40 years of my life. Sadly I did not have your wisdom and drove boldly into the Birmingham section.......two and a half hours later we emerged in Solihull and carried on with a rather irate SWMBO asking why I hadn't gone round Birmingham!! Needless to say that mistake cost me a steak dinner in Aylesbury as she simply couldn't go on any longer without her dinner!!

[mickthemaverick]

So here I am in Chester and what a magnificent Cathedral:

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Having made such good time I think I have the opportunity to go via Wrexham and see St Mary's Cathedral as a bonus, so A483 and A528 is the route from here!

[mickthemaverick]

Hardly a car on the route to Wrexham and it was well worth the effort:

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So on to my overnight accomodation and a light supper I think, the hot pot was exceptionally filling!!

[Paul-R]

Oh I wish I'd realised you were going to the cathedral in Chester, I could have suggested you pop into the café at the parish of St Peter for a coffee and piece of cake. It's just round the corner from the cathedral and right by Chester Cross.

I might even have met up with you with a bit more forward thinking on my behalf!

From Google Streetview

[mickthemaverick]

Well hold that thought for the real trip whenever that happens and I'll remember not to overdo lunch!
I think I'll post the itinery again here, then tomorrow should not be such a surprise, and it may have been too long ago for people to remember the intentions!! Remember to click on the image to make it legible.

Own work

[mickthemaverick]

Shrewsbury is a ghost town, no traffic at all on the way to the rather inconspicuous cathedral. However I put my head in the door to discover that the interior does indeed support the Cathedral status. Quite beautiful:

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And now to my digs!

[Paul-R]

Well hold that thought for the real trip whenever that happens and I'll remember not to overdo lunch!
I think I'll post the itinery again here, then tomorrow should not be such a surprise, and it may have been too long ago for people to remember the intentions!! Remember to click on the image to make it legible.

I do remember that but I'll be honest and say that I didn't read on after you set off down the A41. Like I said, my fault.

[mickthemaverick]

Made it to my hotel for the night :

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and the room looks very nice too:

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so its a light supper, a few emails and then

Night all!!

[Hell Razor5543]

I personally would give Travelodge a miss, if the following article is to be believed. Councils who have put homeless people there have to find new lodgings as Travelodge have decided to close their premises despite government advice saying that hotels looking after the homeless should not close;

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/ ... oronavirus

[myglaren]

You missed this in Whitby:
https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/pe ... ns-2516846

Disappointed to see the ice cream hut my wife worked in is gone - it was in front of the bandstand.

[mickthemaverick]

Thanks for the tip James, that is outrageous so I've checked out of the Travelodge and moved to the Premier Inn up the road:

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and the room is even better:

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so now I can sleep easy

[mickthemaverick]

Day 4 and I woke up to the sight of the pub I had dinner in last night:

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Again, not up to Scarborough standards!!
In view of the recent flooding I decided to avoid Iron Bridge as per the plan, and head down the A49 to Ludlow and Leominster before following Gibbo's suggestion and taking in Hereford, Worcester and Gloucester before cruising down to Bloodhound after lunch. So here I am in Ludlow for brekkie:

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before which I popped up to look at the castle:

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.

Next I'm on my way to Leominster

[mickthemaverick]

Leominster is a lovely place, not been here before:

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and I may have spotted the chap that gave it the name:

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Onward to Hereford!!

[mickthemaverick]

Hereford is very pleasant too:

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and the cathedral is worth seeing from both sides:

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Worcester here I come!!