July 10th – This is a terrible photo, but illustrates something that always comes as a shock. The first vanguard of the fruiting season are the formation of haws on the hawthorn hedges and thickets. These hard, bitter berries will take the rest of the summer to ripen, before being eaten by the birds over winter. The sight of these fruits swelling and turning crimson is a harbinger of autumn to me, and a sign of the seasons’s passage. Together with the rain, this did not make for a terribly uplifting ride home…

July 10th – There’s no end to the rain and grey weather. The light was so poor all day that my photos were all drab, lifeless and depressing. I’m sorry about that, it’s just the conditions. However, it’s July and high summer, and I’m commuting in high viz, full waterproofs and with lights on in daytime. This can’t go on: we must get the sun back eventually. Stuff Chasewater for a week or two, I want to feel the sun on my back and the freedom of cycling in a teeshirt and shorts again.

July 9th – All I want is a day – one day – without rain. Sadly, it wasn’t to be. Returning from Birmingham, the train disgorged it’s charges unexpectedly at Four Oaks, so I cycled up the hill out of the suburb, and then cruised down to Little Aston. At Mill Green, it began; a soft rain fell steadily. Coming up the hill to Shire Oak, I was hot, sweaty and tired. Then I realised: It had stopped raining. 100 metres round the bend, the roads were bone dry and it hadn’t rained at all. 

The weather we’re having right now is crazy.

July 9th – To be quite frank, I find this depressing. Finding myself in Tyseley again, I keep thinking about this sign. British Steel ceased to exist in 1999. I know Allen Rowland still exist in some form, but to me, this just symbolises the death of British industry. A fading sign for a long gone brand stood at the entrance to a half-derelict train yard, viewed from a decaying station. How very symbolic.

July 8th – When the summer floods come, I head for the floodplains of the Tame, Trent and Mease. Around the National Memorial Arboretum and Croxall, the Tame always bursts its banks and spills onto the A513. Between Edingale and Harlaston, the Mease floods. Back at Elford, the Tame reclaims the nearby farmland. 

I love to ride through these floodwaters. Very challenging, it’s a fun, demanding thing to do. On this Sunday evening, in sandals and shorts, the water came above my wheel hubs, but wasn’t as bad as 2007, when almost the entire bike was submerged. An impressive, destructive thing.

July 8th – Whittington is developing a bit of a reputation as an ecologically sound, green village. They hold ‘Green’ fairs here quite often, and there are food markets here at weekends. All of which are really, really good to see.

The effect, however, is somewhat spoiled for cyclists who choose to visit the local Co-op general store. The cycle parking, consisting of two wheel bender stands, have been concreted in too close to a wall to work for an adult bike. Even if they were not, the clothes bank and bin prevent you from using them.

Well done, folks. Next time, ask a cyclist first, eh?

July 7th – It seems incredible, but Chasewater is slowly returning to normal. I don’t think Graham Evans, of Chasewater Wildlife Group, thought his rain dances would be so successful. The lake is now clearly at 1976 levels, so recovery to full capacity is possible by the end of next year – but only if it rains a hell of a lot. I noted that the pier now has its toes in the water, and the little beach at the north end of the dam won’t be too reminiscent of Weston Super Mare for much longer. Contributing to all this are the land drains, creeks and issues that feed the reservoir. A fine thing indeed, but I fear my feet are developing webs between the toes.

July 6th – Aboretum Junction, Walsall, evening rush hour. It had been raining, so excuse the poor image quality.

Increasingly, I see motorists trying to bypass the junction and beat the queue by cutting from Lower Rushall Street, up the slip road and across to the other one on to the ring road west. It’s not illegal (at least I don’t think so) but they often do it without consideration and at high speed. Someone really is going to get wiped out here, but I’m not sure what can be done to stop it.

July 6th – Green Lane, Walsall Wood, after a day of heavy rain. It always floods here, and I doubt it can ever be stopped. Nothing to do but wait for a gap in the traffic, close your mouth and go for it.

Note the exemplary driving by the four-wheel drive. It takes real skill to be that much of an inconsiderate cock.

Sorry about the video quality, bad weather and an unwiped lens.