September 21st – In the last few days, Autumn has kicked in and the leaves have started to turn. In a short journey through the backlanes of Stonnall, it was evident that the season was now irrefutably on her throne now and had her pot of gold pain at the ready.
Sad, but beautiful. No stopping the season’s wheel from turning, I guess.
September 20th – The conkers have just started to fall, and I found these beauties in Lichfield. Like any British male, I have the conker acquisition instinct, and can’t pass one of these shiny nuts without popping it in my pocket.
This year I’m collecting them not just for guerrilla planting, but for a special cause. They seem in abundant supply, too, with a bumper crop.
They really bring out the kid in me.
September 17th – Uh-oh, in comes autumn. The days are still warm in the sun, but when it goes in, the temperature drops considerably. There’s an edge to the air, and in the evenings it’s started to feel rather chilly. Sunset is earlier and earlier.
From Catshill Junction today, the trees and scrub are starting to turn.
Autumn is unstoppable, and bearing down on me now…
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 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 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 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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