July 19th – After a terrible, lost day, it was a joy to come home through the countryside of Little Aston and Lower Stonnall. It’s funny how on some days, you see lots of other cyclists, and on others, none at all. This was one such day. This cheery chap bid me a hearty ‘hello!’ as I cruised down the hill at the end of Forge Lane. Surprising, really, given the hill he was winching himself up…
July 18th – I’m embarrassed to admit this, but I saw this relatively small crop near Lynn in Raikes Lane, and am at bit at a loss as to what it is. It looks a bit like cabbage, but isn’t leafy enough. Clearly not beet, or mangles, not tall enough. Can anyone put me out of my misery, please? Whatever it is, it’s surely in rude health…
July 18th – A grey day that threatened rain constantly, but didn’t deliver. I’d been out to Leicester and crawled back from Lichfield tired and drained, over Aldershawe and down into Wall. Cresting the hill, I was struck by the view before me of the farmworkers terraces in Claypit Lane, and of the sweet, rolling countryside to the south, now turning a gorgeous medley of golds and deep, deep greens. I then remembered why I cycle.
Some days, you just need reminding.
July 18th – * bonus muppet * (actually filmed on Monday 11th of July, but forgotten) – This just defies any explanation. Scarborough Road, Walsall, about 10am. The day is clear and sunny. Visibility is good. Driver made eye contact with me initially, and just ploughed on. I think she was half asleep, or just plan stupid. Half of me laughed at her, and the other half was horrified.
July 17th – A spin out over The Swag and Clayhanger Marsh before the rain came. It’s not often I come up into the marsh – the former trackbed for the mineral line makes a good, elevated dry path. The fields were alive with a yellow carpet of ragwort. I had a scramble up the very old slagheaps and took a look at the foreboding scenery before me. It may not be the most beautiful bit of our area, but it’s fascinating and stuffed with rare species.
July 17th – more flytipping. Last week, whilst passing through High Heath, I recorded the beauty of this field from exactly the same spot – on this grey Sunday morning some scumbag has just reversed into the field and flytipped a pile of rubbish – which again, would mostly have fitted in a household dustbin. My mind boggles at the kind of tossers who would see fit to visit such vandalism on such a wonderful view.
July 16th – as the wheat ripens and awaits dry enough conditions for harvest, the countryside is lined by the memory of farm vehicles imprinted at planting time. I always marvel at this, the shapes formed are intriguing and sometimes perplexing. Looking toward Aldershawe Lodge near Wall, it won’t be long before this fine crop is harvested.
July 16th – A very wet, miserable morning was met by a gorgeous, clear afternoon and evening, replete with the most spectacular golden hour. I cycled out to Lichfield, via the Anglesey Branch and Hammerwich, and paused to reflect at Ogley Junction, on the Lichfield and Hatherton Canal, which used to run from this junction and progress to Huddlesford, near Lichfield, via Wall, and a considerable number of locks. At least the old boat yard seems to be finding use again.
July 15th – Passing the now closed Focus DIY store on Northgate, between Aldridge and Walsall Wood, I noticed that competitor B&Q had cynically made plans for the collapse of their competitor. Cheeky, but I suppose it’s an ill wind… but the chutzpah jars a little.
15th July The landfill operation at the former Vigo Utopia marlpit, in Coppice Lane, Walsall Wood, is nearly complete, which must be a relief for nearby residents who’ve endured two decades of smell and nuisance. What many people don’t know is that this site generates 2MW of electricity and feeds it back into the national grid. That’s enough to power nearly 4,000 homes. Bores are drilled into the decaying landfill content, lined, and the gas of decomposition is pumped out and employed to power two gas engines driving generators. The gas would otherwise be wasted.
When I passed the site at 5:30pm on a Friday, the plant was humming away. I believe a similar operation is planned for Highfields South landfill, opposite Jockey Meadows.
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