March 29th – It was just an awfully uninspiring day. There were very few people about. The wildlife seemed to be hiding. Everything looked drab. In a vain search for deer I hopped onto clay hanger Common, which was saturated, like a marsh. Even the pigeons were giving it a miss.

It does look wonderfully green, though.

March 29th – The start of British Summertime, and out of the darkness for another year, but it didn’t feel like it. It was very windy and wet for much of the day, and it wasn’t very warm either. Sneaking out in a break in the rain mid afternoon, I was buffeted around Brownhills which was largely grey and uninspiring.

I did notice that the new flats at the former Wessex Close site were now complete, and looking good. I like them – a huge improvement on what was there before. We need more of this.

March 28th – Another type of life entirely, and one for the cat lovers out there. I don’t know who he is, but this large, affectionate and charming ginger lad was sat on a canalside fence near Pelsall Road. He said hello, let me fuss him, and tried to lick the camera.

A gorgeous cat whom I sure someone loves lots. I certainly fell for him!

March 28th – Even on the greyest days, Brownhills has signs of life at this time of year. I set out for a short spin on a grey, showery afternoon, and was rewarded with a herd of red deer at the old clay pit, a nesting swan just by the canoe centre and watered, and a delightful grey wagtail at Anchor Bridge.

It took me a while to work out why the young stag’s coat was grey and oddly textured. He’s been rolling in clay mud. I know deer like to mud bathe, but that seems a little extreme… anyone seen this behaviour before? Is it harmful? 

I noted the deer were in moult, and wondered if the mud-rolling was a way of accelerating the shedding.

March 27th – Sunset over the Tame Valley canal, looking from Rushall Junction at Ray Hall, out to Wednesbury, with the twin spires of Wednesbury clear on the skyline.

People say that pylon ruins this view. On the contrary, I think it makes it. What built the Black Country – canals, power and church. All in one shot.

A great ride and beautiful, but chilly evening. 

March 27th – Another afternoon escape, and I hit the canal again, up to Wolverhampton for a meeting, down to Coseley and round the old line through Tipton, Dudley Port and Oldbury, back up to Toll End, then up the Tame Valley to Rushall Junction, and back home. A pleasant 45 miles, in decent conditions, but the towpaths are still very muddy and heavy going.

I nipped to the shops in Wednesfield for a snack, and the primroses around the church there are a stunning sight – it really is quite a lovely High Street they have there.

March 26th – Love locks seem to be becoming a thing in the UK now, which is an interesting cultural phenomena. If you’re not aware of the principle, lovers take a padlock and close it over a fixed structure, like a bridge, railings or other urban feature. The lock is often marked with a message of love.

I note the aluminium bridge over the canal at Gas Street Basin has become a focus for this craze in Brum, and I’ve noticed other locks in other places. 

I’m not bothered by it, and think it’s quite sweet, if a bit contrived now. It’s not destructive, and it’s interesting to see the variety of names and approaches. 

A fascinating urban cultural affectation, and it’ll be interesting to see if it’s a passing fad or a more lasting feature of city life.

March 26th – It was a tough ride; the wind had been forged on Satan’s back step, and blew relentlessly from the southwest. My route had it behind or across me mostly, but the stretch from Gas Street Basin to Smethwick was ceaseless.

But all the while, the sun shone, and otherwise, it wasn’t bad. Birmingham and the Black Country showed itself well, in all it’s diversity.

I noted the cormorants at Sandwell Valley just for Phil. Soon, Phil, soon. I, for one, welcome our new midnight black, long billed, fish-breath overlords…