Six of us headed West today going via Alvechurch, Wychbold and Elmbridge before we turned back towards our intended cafe stop. We'd decided to give Catshill Garden Center another chance in forgiveness for their poor show last time we visited but they failed again. On arrival we were turned back having entered via the exit (which is nearer the cafe) and by the time we'd found our way through the tacky retail opportunity which the entrance leads to, the cafe had decided enough was enough as it was only an hour till closing time and they couldn't manage to make coffee nor toast a teacake. Fueled by the sugar rush from the Coke which washed down my stale scone I was looking forward to the climb back over the Lickeys but the Captain took us a gentler route via Burcot, Blackwell and Barnt Green. Anyway shouldn't let a poor cafe spoil an excellent ride and the Old Hooky at the Coach was on good form so all's well that ended well after 55 miles for me.
