September 15th – Catshill Junction Bridge has had this horrid step for years. There used to be a concrete ramp between the footpath and the bridge deck, but it broke up and washed away in the rain.
The Canal and River Trust have been asked to repair this on multiple occasions, to no avail.
Yesterday, they announced that a crew would be out on Wednesday ‘to make it accessible’.
I’ll believe it when I see it…
September 15th – It was an intemperate commute, the traffic was mad and the weather highly changeable, derring between azure blue skies and sudden, hectoring bursts of rain.
On the canal in central Walsall, there was little to indicate autumn here in green nowhere, with just blue skies, verdant foliage and mirror-like water. Only the saturated towpath spoke of the untrustworthy weather.
September 14th – Also prolific at the moment are the squirrels, who are eating for winter. Near the Watermead estate on the towpath by the hazel hedge, the way is littered with expertly nibbled shells, harvested for their fatty, milky goodness by the grey, furry nut-bandits.
There’s a real feeling at the moment of nature preparing to shut down for winter.
September 14th – My pals the coos are back at Jockey Meadows. It seems to be the same beef herd of young males that was there in early summer, and they seem to have settled back in well. They’re clearly enjoying the job – managing the meadow by grazing, browsing the scrub, churning the soil and spreading the cow-pat love.
Generally laid back and relaxed about life, they do tend to investigate anyone who comes to the field gate. Such gently nosey, lovely animals.
September 13th – If you didn’t get a copy of last week’s Walsall Advertiser and live in Walsall Wood, it seems to have been dumped under the pedestrian walkway next to the Black Cock bridge.
About 30 copies, clearly dumped to avoid the work of actually delivering them.
Clearly not the sharpest tool in the box, because if they’d been dumped in a recycling bin instead nobody would have been the wiser.
September 13th – He wasn’t very happy with me at all. Sat on a waterside deck in Walsall Wood, in a garden that backs onto the canal, I was amused by his furry tummy.
He wasn’t keen to have his picture taken and yowled at me from over the water.
Oh well.
September 12th – These were incredible. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them before.
In a field near Harlaston, I spotted their bright white shapes as I sped past. A quick about turn, and I found the largest puffball fungus I’ve ever seen.
Almost pristine, largely globular shaped and the size of a small football, they were like some alien egg rather than fungi, but looking them up at home they are clearly giant puffballs.
The looked like plaster casts.
A real find – and apparently edible.
September 12th – Another great ride on a sunny, beautiful transitional day. In some ways it was late summer, but in others, autumn, and there was a keen wind, but the loop around Whittington, Rosliston, Coton in the Elms, Lullington and Harlaston was gorgeous.
The cyclamen at Lullington were breathtaking, and having to stop for a flock of ducks in Coton was lovely – especially since once clearly had a bit of Elvis in him.
Really enjoying being back in the saddle for more leisure rides. The weather is lovely at the moment, too.
September 11th – Then there was Staffordshire itself: just trying on it’s autumn coat, it was beautifully languid, with surprisingly vivid colour. The church at Newborough remains stunning, but oh, how red were those apples?
A great 60 miler on quiet roads and backlanes it what must surely be this summer’s last breath.
September 11th – I tried out Cobwebs coffee shop near Abbots Bromley – and fine tea and cake was enjoyed in a beautiful garden spot, which I seemed to be sharing with several hundred wasps.
This is a great place and I will be back, and this sunny, warm afternoon was perfect for it.
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