Black COuntry – Page 10 – BrownhillsBob's #365daysofbiking

February 1st – Past 5pm, still some light skulking in the sky, hiding from the oncoming night.

Darlaston and my beloved Black Country – in how many ways do I love thee?

January 24th – Passing through Brownhills High Street, I noticed that the former Blockbuster store – empty for a few years since the chain went busy – seems to be having some kind of refit. But what snagged my attention was the logo of the scaffolding company.

Black Country Scaffolding features the ‘official’ Black Country flag, a symbol created a couple of years ago to promote the area, and it wasn’t intended as a commercial thing at all.

It would be interesting to know if they had permission to use that.

December 14th – I went back to Kings Hill, to have another shot at that night view of Wednesbury, this time with the FZ72. It’s still not quite what I’d like, so will try on a clear, crisp night with the Nikon (tonight was quite murky and damp, so wasn’t ideal). Still, the camera made a decent fist of it considering the operator hasn’t a clue what he’s actually doing.

I know what I want here, and I’m not sure if it’s even possible with the kit I have. I think the Nikon may be the job though, it can do the harsh light thing I like.

Closer than yesterday. It still looks gorgeous.

December 7th – Another fine commute on a dry but windy morning, and again, it felt warmer than it should. Victoria Park in Darlaston is gorgeous at this time of year; it’s contours, slopes and features – including the remarkable footbridge – look wonderful in the low winter sunlight.

A fantastic place that’s well worth a visit.

October 15th – In a factory yard in the darkest Black Country, a temporarily misplaced young hunter peers hopefully from a bund wall at standing water. There might be the odd frog, I guess, but no fish in there, sir.

He watched for a while, then, as if called, suddenly flew away. He seemed to know exactly where he was going.

This is why I adore the Black Country.

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.

September 23rd – I find autumn fills me with conflict. On the one hand, it’s the end of summer, the coming of darkness and the cold. On the other hand, it renders places like my beloved Darlaston utterly beautiful.

This is just a hint of the riches to come. It’s not all bad. Not by a long shot.

September 16th – Shooting along the canal to Great Bridge early doors I passed under Bughole Bridge. Can it really be 22 years since they rebuilt it? The Black Country Route – which passes nearby – was new then.

I’ve never got to the bottom of what Bughole means, though. Anyone know? Like Bumble Hole and Devil’s Elbow, it’s one of those great Black Country names we accept without too much thought day to day, but when thought about really are quite preposterous.

July 17th – I found these unidentified, dainty little white flowers growing on a grass verge on an industrial estate in Tipton. I don’t know what they are, but they seem related to bugle, the purple-blue flower I featured here last week. I’ve not seen either in great number before this year, but something in the season has favoured them and these wonderful little flowers are profuse.

Can anyone identify it, please?

July 8th – on my return, late afternoon, crossing the Black Country Route at Moxley; that enduring, wonderful view of the church, rising above the bedlam of traffic and surrounding urban life.

And yet, the trees, too. The Black Country is surprisingly green when you open your mind to it…