Tag: 365daysofbiking

August 21st – Having had sugar, I felt much better and headed out for Sunday cake. Dropping onto the canal behind Middleton Hall via the old quarry site, I was held at bay by this bombastic cockerel and his friend who clucked, squawked and generally made me feel very unwelcome indeed.

I swear if you could ever cross a chicken and a goose you’d bring about a creature so mindlessly, relentlessly and fearlessly violent that it would result in the end of the world.

They don’t mess about, chooks, when angry.

August 20th – Something else I was pleased to note on my long, slow return was the portly, waddling form of Mrs. Muscovy, or the Newtown One, the duck that escaped from the flock at the smallholding by the canal between the Lichfield Road and Chase Road bridges. 

Defying all attempts to return her to the comfort and security of a kept flock, this steadfastly singular duck likes a spot just by the aqueduct at Newtown, from which to watch the world go by.

I had thought the local fox had made lunch of her, but she appears to be fit and well. Which is good news, really.

August 20th – A very tired day in which I felt groggy, tired and insubstantial, like I was a ghost or something. I didn’t realise at the time, but I think I was experiencing low sugar levels.

I set out late to the supermarket in Burntwood on a punishingly windy day, and got caught in a rain squall on the way back that made my forehead so cold it hurt. But there was a rainbow, too, which didn’t photograph well, but made me feel better.

Passing through Chasewater, I note the valves are still open and the water level is steadily dropping, now about 12 inches from maximum. 

I love the tide marks on the spillway weir.

August 19th – The rains of the day had brought out the damp-loving creatures, though sadly I didn’t see any amphibians (although in my tired state I probably just didn’t notice them). These snails comfortably beat me travelling up Brownhills High Street on my mission to call in at the takeaway for a curry.

Snails get a very bad press really, but they are such fascinating things.

August 19th – Another late night return, this time after 11pm, and stopping in Walsall Wood to use the cashpoint I thought about how busy the little High Street was, despite the bad weather. Three pubs, a restaurant and takeaways were all clearly doing steady trade.

The night is always nice down here, and on a long, weary return, it was good to see.

I’ve worked 74 hours this week. I need a break.

August 18th – An exhausted return from work very, very late. Nearly finished now, but it’s been a hard week.

As always on a weary ride home, every light was red; but waiting at Rushall Square is never a chore at night – it’s beautiful. Something about the vehiole, sodiums and shop lights combines and is actually quite soothing.

It’s very rare I come home and fall into bed, but I did.

August 17th – Another sunset return after an early start and late finish. As the more perceptive amongst you will have noticed, my main blog operations are currently on reduced power for a few days due to workload. Which is a bugger, but they do pay me so I’d better do it.

It is nice, however, to return through a twilight, almost somnambulant Walsall. The moon is still full, and rendering normally mundane views magical, and keeping me company as I pedal wearily home.

Sometimes, the moon is company, and sometimes, that’s all you need.

August 17th – Too many cats I hear you cry – sorry, but I adore them. And with the warm weather, they are everywhere; dozing, loafing, strolling, patrolling, stalking or just watching.

When the warm spell is over, they’ll be mostly gone.

Returning home from work this evening, I passed this relaxed guy in Pleck. He was in the same place this time yesterday.

It’s clearly a hard life, but he’s bearing up, best he can.

August 16th – No wildlife today, sadly; I had hoped to carry the seven days of wildlife challenge on further than the week, but I saw nothing of interest in that department today – at least, nothing that stayed around long enough to give good camera face. So I made do with the moon.

It was full and beautiful this evening, and what a night to look up at it and ponder the wonderful feat of travelling there, given the technology of the day.

The moon will never lose it’s romance.

August 16th – A consolation of leaving work late was a very beautiful, deep sunset. With the cooling temperatures, earlier nightfall and climatic change of Autumn, we’ll soon be in the season of the great sunset again, one of the greatest consolations for the end of summer.

It was lovely tonight but I’d rather summer fought off the autumn a little longer yet…