#365daysofbiking Inconceivable:
October 23rd – Darlaston on a sunny day. Heart of the north Black Country, architecture, memory, history and nature.
How could you not adore this place?
It feels like my second home.
As I gradually reboot from feeling lost, places like this help me feel it’s worth the while again.
#365daysofbiking Rebooting:
October 21st – The only way to rectify a downer like I was on was to hit Cannock Chase. I set out on a sunny afternoon but the weather quickly turned grey and drizzly – but it really didn’t; matter a bit. Heading from Rainbow Hioll, over Birches Valley, Penkridge Bank, Pepper Slade, to the Katyn Memorial, then Freda’s Grave, I returned down Sherbrook Valley and back through Hednesford.
It wasn’t the most photogenic day, but it picked me up and I found plenty of interesting fungi and drank in the autumn.
Just what I needed.
#365daysofbiking Falling, down::
October 20th – I was very down today. At the moment I’m working hard, long hours and it caught up with me when everything I attempted failed, or had proven to need more stuff than I had to do it with: From DIY to bike repairs, the day was an utter failure.
I slipped out at dusk, and in a half-light Brownhills, unusually my mood did not improve at all.
The gorgeous avenue of trees on The Parade few locals seem to realise is there is as photogenic as it is every autumn, and the M6 Toll and Chasewater are always good for the photographic, darkness soul.
But today, rarely, cycling didn’t help.
#365daysofbiking – Inverted
October 19th – At least when the clocks go back it gives a second run up at the dawns. This one, a full inversion, was gorgeous. Mist clung low over the fields and I caught it at Barracks Lane and Shenstone when I was heading for the train.
Mornings like this make you glad to be alive.
#365daysofbiking Leaf it out:
October 16th – Time for an important warning to cyclists and motorcyclists alike – watch out for the fallen leaves at the moment. They’re very slippery indeed.
These innocuous piles of autumnal debris gradually get reduced under wheels to a slimy, soapy, wheel-steeling goop which will make you skid and catch you out when you least expect it to. Add to that rainwater, spilled diesel and other slippery stuff and the recipe is for a tumble.
In my experience the councils are pretty good at controlling the problem, but it’s an impossible task.
So watch where you’re riding and be careful out there!
#365daysofbiking Some velvet morning:
October 10th – Seasons and situations have a habit of redeeming themselves. This chilly, but sunlit and misty dawn in Mill Green, on the the way to the station, I fell in love with autumn all over again.
Ever year I’m furious with it for stealing my summer, then it goes and does something beautiful to win me over.
I’m so glad I was around to see this.
#365daysofbiking I dream in colour:
October 9th – In Telford for the morning, I had business up on Stafford Park and the hedgerows and trees along the cycleway were absolutely gorgeous.
The blue sky merged with the reds, golds, yellows and the still green and made a beautiful multicolour palette as I cycled past on a lovely warm, sunny autumn morning,
Autumn’s pretty fine once you stop struggling and accept it.
#365daysofbiking Telephone man:
October 3rd – I stupidly left my camera at work, but took some shots with the phone camera over Clayhanger Bridge going to the village to undertake an errand on my way home. The phone is an iPhone XS and althoughhe range in the images is a little harsher than I’d like, phone cameras have come a long way considering the obvious limitations of the physical design.
I quite like these images, showing the the Brownhills Canal is also showing beautifully the colours of the season.
I also loved the sky reflection on the canal…
#365daysofbiking The united colours of autumn:
October 3rd – After the rain of the night before, the morning commute was warm, dry and almost humid. I made the very best of it by riding the canal the long way, and wasn’t disappointed – the autumn colours are very beautiful this year, and the canals and wooded areas of Darlaston are absolutely gorgeous.
There are some upsides to the time of year after all.
#365daysofbiking Tree of life:
September 29th – Heading out at sunset after what was a pretty bad day, I swung up the canal through town, over Catshill Junction and over to Barracks Lane. The canal was beautiful and peaceful, and the only souls I saw were the waterfowl scudding around looking for food.
Looking over the fields to Home Farm my favourite tree – the horse chestnut on the skyline just by the farm buildings – is beautifully golden, and glowed in the evening.
All round me now, the greenery is packing up and going for autumn. There’s no ignoring it.
BrownhillsBob's #365daysofbiking 