September 11th – Today was largely about the River Trent, I crossed i at several places, and I finally go a look around the flood defences at Armitage that I’d been intending to do for years.
It used to be a filthy waterway, but no longer. Today it was clear, wide and beautiful.
September 11th – Bumper update today as I had a lovely Indian summer ride out to Abbots Bromley, Newborough and Dunstall.
Here at Hanney Hay near Hammerwich, just down from Meerash Farm, a field full of strikingly green proso-millet.
I have no idea if the use is as animal or human feed, or even biofuels, but it’s a handsome, beautifully coloured crop.
Cheers to Tony Jakeman for the identification. I’ve never seen it before.
September 10th – I was busy with technical stuff all day and finally got out as darkness fell. I spun up the High Street into Brownhills, up to Anchor Bridge, and back via Catshill Junction and Silver Street, catching the lights on the canal in all their unexpected splendour.
I love that view. The tower blocks across the old marketplace didn’t work out to badly, either…
September 9th – Great sunsets right now, but rarely in a position to catch them. Cresting the Black Cock Bridge in a glorious golden hour, I couldn’t help but notice how wonderful the sky was.
Autumn is really on my heels now.
September 9th – Embarrassment yet again as the former Scott Arms pub in Darlaston is hit by flyposters advertising an event coincidentally featuring the same funfair as last time the blight occurred.
This must be terribly embarrassing for Pat Collins Fairs, who can’t possibly condone such advertising.
Wonder what Walsall Council’s position on this kind of thing is?
September 8th – It’s nice to see the fungi coming through now – I love this feature of autumn. Many folk don’t realise, but toadstools, balls and polypores are just the bloom of much larger organisms living out of sight. They really are unlike anything else in nature.
This roll-rim was growing on a grass verge in Wednesbury and was about eight inches in diameter. They start flat and become funnel-shaped as they age: it was a misty, wet morning and this one was gathering condensation well.
September 7th – I passed them in Coulter Lane, realised what they were, and did an about turn. There were two Gloucester sows in the paddock, with lots of cute little piglets. They were a fair way away, and this is the best shot I could get.
Such clean looking animals in apparently excellent condition.
September 7th – An early escape from work, so I went for an afternoon bimble in the sun. I hadn’t got long, so just up to Chasewater, then up through Burntwood to Farewell, over to Lichfield and back through Wall and Lynn.
A lovely day with beautiful light. Could this be an Indian summer? I do hope so!
September 6th – A bright but quite cool day with plenty of sun. I had the need for a good blast, and did 40 miles in three hours – out via Stonnall, Canwell, Hints, Fazeley, along the canal to Alvecote and back through Seckington, Clifton, Harlaston and Whittington.
The countryside glowed in it’s pre-autumn splendour, and the riding was fast and easy. A huge swan family at Tamworth were clearly in rude heath – 8 cygnets in all, with two on the other side of the canal.
Great to see the new wind turbine at Hademore, too. Elegant. Wonder how long it’s been there?
The boat is for the Mad Old Baggage. She knows why.
September 5th – On the way back, I popped to the church at Stonnall, to have another look for the grave of an old acquaintance I knew was there, but had been unable to find for years. I finally found it – slightly neglected, lettering disappearing to the weather, but still there – and unguardedly, I fell into memories for a while.
Decades ago, we’d cycled these lanes together, and discovered places like this quiet churchyard. We weren’t huge pals, but we rode together fairly often, and shared the odd pint.
As I looked from the churchyard over Stonnall, the air had a scent of autumn, and the landscape concurred. I felt a little autumn inside, too.
Time and memory wears you like a stream polishes a pebble bed.
Stepping back into the light, I got on my bike, and rode home.
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