#365daysofbiking The last embers of the day:
November 23nd – Coming home from Birmingham on the train, I again alighted at Shenstone, but returned via the backlands on a misty, mystical and enchanting evening.
These were the last hours of the heaviest working week for a long time. But at home there was food, tea, warmth, cosiness, and peace, which made the last climb over sShire Oak Hill much easier.
#365daysofbiking Holding on:
November 23nd – It’s been a tough week, I don’t mind admitting. Work has been hard and everything else has been manic. The weather hasn’t been too wonderful either.
But, it’s Friday, and even though the day was grey and overcast, the daisies on the verge outside work were doing their best to be cheerful.
#365daysofbiking Kissed by the cold:
November 22nd – Pleased to note there’s still some fungi about at the moment. The earthstars seem to have given up for this year, but these ice-coated glistening ink caps were glistening with frost when I found them in Victoria Park, Darlaston this morning.
Such delicate, beautiful things, I suppose the frost must harm them but it does look lovely.
I doubt there will be much more fungi this year now. it’s been a much better season than expected, to be fair.
#365daysofbiking Rime and season:
November 22nd – First really cold morning of the year I think, with lurking black ice and hedgerows and verges adorned with a hoar frost. It was the kind of penetrating cold that hurts your throat and forehead, and even though I was wrapped up, on the morning trail, towpaths and cycleways the -2.5 degree temperatures were still a little raw for me.
Every year it takes time to re-adjust.
I was certainly glad of the ice tyres this morning.
#365daysofbiking Where my heart lies:
November 21st – After a cold, slow ride through the lanes and up Shire Oak Hill, a quick breather on Shire Oak Hill looking toward the town I was headed into.
Brownhills may not be pretty. It may not be posh. It has it’s problems.
But as I contemplate getting back on the bike and rolling into town, I remember the place I love, the community, the characters, the history and how much I love it.
Nearing home is a wonderful feeling – especially when you’re so tired.
#365daysofbiking Is it Friday yet?
November 21st – What a week, and it’s only Wednesday.
Another tiring day in Redditch, and it was cold again. Thanksfully there was little wind, but the battle home was real, and took longer than usual I was worn out.
Returning to a dark and ghostly silent Shenstone was as good for the soul as ever though.
Hope this busy period ends soon, I really do.
#365daysofbiking Death throes:
November 20th – In Redditch, just like everywhere else I guess, Autumn is in it’s death throes now. Winter is on my shoulder and it was cold, and on the way home, wet too. It’s not yet frosty, but there’s a characteristic bite in the air that finds every sensitive tooth when you first step out.
Rolling along the Arrow Valley through the park to visit a customer, the river and meadows were still gorgeous. But you can tell it’s ending now. Another week or so and winter will be here.
But also, it’s only a little over a month now until the shortest day. A month. Then darkness will be in retreat once more.
Onwards. I’m ready now.
#365daysofbiking The sound of music:
November 20th – This is the coolest bloke I’ve ever seen on a commuter train.
Bar none.
We were sharing the bike space on a Birmingham commuter service. He’s on an urban flat bar; partially consumed coffee in the cup holder. He clearly works in something musical as he’s playing a small, portable electronic keyboard of the musical variety, and listening on headphones whilst reading sheet music.
He was playing the keyboard in total silence to the outside world, pensively and in the considered way someone might type an email on a laptop.
I’m not sure if he was learning music, marking it or writing it, but I have to say, you are a seriously cool man. Fascinating.
#365daysofbiking Either end:
November 19th – Working late in Redditch, I found myself waiting for the train homewards in a brightly lit, but sparse station, surrounded by the light of the Kingfisher Shopping Centre and bus station. It really is a most odd place at night. It barely feels like a station at all.
At the other end, leaving Blake Street and slogging up the Chester Road in unexpected rain was very hard, grim work.
I was just glad to get home tonight.
#365daysofbiking Not just pointless, but wrong:
November 18th – This one may be of interest to the Back the Track guys.
When the NCN – National Cycle Network – was created by charity Sustrans in the late 90s in the UK as a Millennium Project, the Royal Bank of Scotland invested heavily in creating thousands of cast iron mileposts for the new routes, to be erected, well, every mile. Apart from being an utter waste of metal and time, the money spaffed on this pointless vanity crap could have gone into trail upkeep or whatever.
I notice of late some kind soul with a surfeit of time has been touring the network painting and renovating these monuments to banking largesse, but this one, on the old rail line just south of the Old Cement Works – or Slough – Bridge in Brownhills remains neglected and forgotten.
There’s a reason for that.
It’s not actually on the National Cycle network at all.
Trail 5 comes through Brownhills on its amble from Walsall to Lichfield, and at this point arrives at the bridge from Ryders Hayes by canal towpath; it then continues up onto the bridge and along the former line north to Coppice Lane. This post is about 15 metres off the route on a cuthrough to Apex Road, that’s not actually part of the route at all, and due to barriers and a steep bank, is dammed hard to get a bike up.
So not just pointless, but wrong.
Sustrans. Never knowingly the cyclist’s friend.
BrownhillsBob's #365daysofbiking 