Yes, this is the week I had all to myself, time to put the Orkneys to bed and make a huge splodge of pink at the top of that Beer Guide map.
Light traffic means only 13hr57 minutes, or 13hr55 minutes if I borrow Mrs RM’s car. To put that in context, it only took BRAPA 33 hours to do GBG cross-checking before he lost his Guide.
On the short journey to Orkney I’d arranged a diversion to the two giants of the North, Sheffield and Manchester.
A rare father-elder son match at the Etihad (£17.50 to watch Champions League), and a mercy mission to deliver younger son some warm clothes. Yes, Matt has finally realised that Manchester can occasionally be cold.
While I waited for James to do whatever Computer Science students do, I did my usual “Take photos of old buildings that will soon be pubs” gig.
And found you some new street art near the station.
But I still had 20 minutes to kill before the 16:40 16:41 16:46 16:51 to Piccadilly, and could resist the Tap no longer.
It’s OK, but not a patch on Euston with its lesser used upstairs.
But having done the cask tick I could at least go craft murk this time,
and watch folk get progressively more irritated by my occupation of a table for four. We can’t all have friends you know.
Anyway, it may be quality locale murk but that doesn’t make Thornbridge keg any easier to neck in a hurry, so they just had to wait.
On the train to Manchester, Matt texted me to suggest a new place to meet for tea.
A place I’d never been. A pre-emptive…
Has he realised that Manchester can occasionally be wet yet?
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Only rains when Scots are there, apparently.
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It only rained once when I was about last weekend. Although there’s always a Glaswegian to be found in the vicinity of everywhere.
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Did you go down specifically to give BRAPA the Granite commode?
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I thought you were fetching him one from Maes Howe?
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Had to look that up!
Good job there’s not a micropub next to Stonehenge (is there?)
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Isn’t that where they found the Donnington recipes?
Stonehenge is actually the remains of the first pub Humphrey closed for over use of semaphore messages.
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“Euston with its lesser used upstairs” – that spiral staircase is for young knees, and the youngsters (hipsters) can’t be bothered with it.
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That’s why it’s lesser used. Unfortunately the toilets are up there as well, I think.
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Even for BRAPA?
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Even for BRAPA. it’s the law..
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Yes, don’t suggest spiral staircases to Tim.
Fullers’ new Signal Box is upstairs but it’s got escalators as well as stairs.
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Orkney. It’s Orkney.
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This song but me off going there ;
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Nah. What put you off the Orkneys,
Were your it-hurts-when-I-walk knees!
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Nowt wrong wi my knees mate 😉
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Looking forward to reading about your epic drive. Fourteen hours in the saddle is either dedication, or endurance. I know it’s not very “green,” but couldn’t you have taken a flight to Orkney?
How many pubs in the Orkney’s need the attention of your pink highlighter? Also, now that Duncan’s gone one better, and knocked off the Faeroe’s, are there any Shetland ticks you need?
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I wanted to see the scenery on the way, Paul. Particularly the A9 up through the Cairngorm, and a couple of stops and train trips enabled some new pub ticks.
I haven’t actually got to Orkney yet…
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“We can’t all have friends you know.” -Ha! A pint of murk and the GBG are all the friends a man needs, surely. 🙂
You know it’s a long drive when a *Yank* hears about the length of the journey and can’t help saying, “Good Lord!” The longest drive I’ve ever done was to Nashville, Tennessee, and that was a mere 8 hours. In your case I imagine getting there was half the pleasure, though.
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Er, you better wait till you hear the rest of the story, Mark.
Yes. It does seem an absurdly long way to travel and still be able to get chips at the end.
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Are there any GBG pubs in Shetland ?
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The Scalloway Hotel. Probably at least one other unofficial Try Also, Duncan will know.
You don’t really visit for pubs when there’s so many wild haggis to admire in their natural habitat.
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There might even be a whole 4 cask outlets (if you’re (un)lucky), depending on time of year. On of those is the Lerwick Brewery Tap mind, so good luck finding that open.
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