October 7th – I was right about the rain and fungus. At the weekend I bemoaned the lack of interesting fungi, particularly fly agaric, and suspected the dearth was due to the dry weather.
Cue the rains of the last couple of days, and hey presto! – A huge forest of glistening ink caps has popped up on Clayhanger Common, and the orange peel fungus I spotted a week ago has, after spending days dormant, opened out.
Rain may be an annoyance for me, but it has been needed for a few weeks.
October 7th – After the last couple of days of wet, grey commutes, one in a decent light was welcome. The light – particularly in the evening – is precious to me right now, as I know it will soon be gone and replaced by evening darkness.
As I shot down the canal near Clayhanger, the golden hour was particularly lovely. There was a cold edge to the wind, and the leaves are now falling well. This time now is on the edge, the cusp. Soon, it will be winter.
Not looking forward to it this year, if I’m honest.
October 6th – Traffic. Tell me when my red light turns green. I cycled home in rain mixed with sunshine, and it wasn’t a bad ride, really, but I’ve noticed in the last few weeks that the traditional winter grump is descending on the traffic, which in autumn always becomes tetchier and more aggressive.
Very few incidents usually, but in the last week a guy passed so close his wing mirror clipped my arm; I’ve been aggressively cut up; and had abuse shouted three times, including tonight. My cycling hasn’t changed, so it can only be the truculence that seems to come with shorter, darker days.
I hate this time of year on the roads.
October 6th – Also looking good in the autumn colour is church hill in Wednesbury, taken from Kings Hill Park.
This view of the twin sisters will only improve as the leaves turn further. You can’t not love this.
October 6th – A terribly grey morning, spotting with rain and I wasn’t sure I’d make it to work before the heavens opened, but… Victoria Park.
The greenspace at the centre of Darlaston looks beautiful at the moment, even on this greyest of days. Sometimes autumn is so beautiful, you can forgive it the darkness it leads you to.
October 6th – It’s nice to see a local pub coming back from the brink. It had been a hectic day at work, and two horrible, grey commutes. I had to call in on a mate in Stonnall, and as I returned to Brownhills, I noted the scaffold around the now closed Shire Oak.
This historic pub has had a difficult time for the last few years with a succession of landlords, and it desperately needed renovation. It closed for a refit a couple of weeks ago, and has been gutted. Work continues, and I noted the scaffolding was a new addition as I rode home.
It’s good to see this historic, landmark pub get some love – we’ve lost so many, there must surely be a place for this venerable and noted house.
It’s scheduled to reopen on the 20th November. I wish the new landlords well, and look forward to a pub reborn.
4th October – And finally, watch out if you’re riding along the canal between Chasewater and Brownhills. The hedge between Home Farm and the towpath has been flailed, and there are thorns all over it. As it was I passed a couple of people repairing punctures, so if you’ve not got tough tyres, I’d give the route a miss for a week or two.
October 4th – The fly agaric are a bit thin on the ground this year, probably due to the dry autumn. I only found two in my favourite spot on the canal, and they had both been nibbled.
I love these toadstools. I hope that if we do have rains this week that the grow in profusion like previous years. There’s something magical about them.
October 4th – I have no idea what his name was, but this young golden retriever was happily jumping in to Chasewater to retrieve the ball continually tossed back by his mistress.
He has such a lovely, good natured retriever grin, and his joy is tangible. Clearly a lovely dog to own.
October 4th – A considerably different day, the sun was again shining and warm on my back. I had other stuff to do, so I spun up to Chasewater and back along route 5 over Engine Lane.
The canals and byways really have the autumn jacket on now, although there are still pockets of flowers around – and I’d be interested to know what the pink ones are.
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