February 3rd – Thing that happen when you’re not looking: Sunset is now nearing 5pm, and a whole hour later than it was at Christmas.
Such a simple, predictable thing that fills me with joy.
Sad it was such a short ride though. Roll on spring.
This journal is moving home. Find out more by clicking here
from Tumblr https://ift.tt/2ScUfkS
via IFTTT
February 3rd – My short local bimbles continue as I build strength back up – and a run up to Catshill Junction, then to Ogley Junction and back up the Lichfield Road was about my limit on a chilly Monday evening.
I enjoy the canal at night. The sounds of waterfowl, the quick glance from foxes and rabbits suddenly illuminated by my bike light. The peace, quiet and the sky.
Hopefully soon my range will start expanding a bit more.
This journal is moving home. Find out more by clicking here
from Tumblr https://ift.tt/2w4dq7V
via IFTTT
February 2nd – The Azolla bloom in the local canal, and as it matures patches of the waterway have turned a deep red.
Azolla is a small but populous growth that although strange and invasive, does little harm – it will disappear in spring as the weevils gorge on it. Winter normally sees its death, but after a very favourable summer, the winter has not been cold enough to kill it.
It’s not stringy and parts easily for passing boats and waterfowl.
But it does look very unusual.
This journal is moving home. Find out more by clicking here
from Tumblr https://ift.tt/2S9pxJk
via IFTTT
February 1st – Later, returning with some shopping and wheeling my bike up the canalside on Silver Street, I met these aggressive beggars.
True, I had a bag of shopping which included a French loaf. I guess they know what a human with food looks like. They thought I’d come to feed them.
They were wrong. There was a bit of a standoff, lots of hissing and a fair bit of irritated swearing. By me, not the geese, it has to be said.
Thankfully, I found some emergency corn in my coat pocket, and that distracted the hungry assailants.
If by chance one day I do not survive one of these encounters with the Canada geese, I expect readers of this journal to avenge my death if necessary.
Thank you.
This journal is moving home. Find out more by clicking here
from Tumblr https://ift.tt/2ttlf64
via IFTTT
February 1st – Heading out to for a gentle spin and resolving to take it a little easier – after all, I’d now got a cold developing which seemed to feature a particularly unpleasant mouth infection as a side dish – I bumbled past the monitoring well sensor post by Pier Street Bridge in Brownhills. Something on top caught my eye.
A beautifully painted smile stone.
There’s a local culture (particularly in Clayhanger in recent years) of painting random found stones with patters, cartoons or any art you fancy, then hiding them for smile stone enthusiasts to find.
Frequently this is a fun activity enjoyed by families with young kids.
I left this one where it was, but it was lovely to see.
Find out more about smile stones here.
This journal is moving home. Find out more by clicking here
from Tumblr https://ift.tt/2GX7DmG
via IFTTT
January 31st – Wearily plodding to Chasewater – not easy in the post-hospital condition in which I found myself – I stopped to note that the new steps between the McLean Way – the former rail line through Brownhills and the canal at the Newtown Viaduct were now complete, and had a lady feeling channel just like the ones at Bullows Road.
The steps are gorgeous and very well thought out, as I’ve come to expect from this volunteer, mainly OAP led project.
I never thought I’d see this come to pass but I’m so glad it has. My thanks and support go out to all involved.
This journal is moving home. Find out more by clicking here
from Tumblr https://ift.tt/31pOt2k
via IFTTT
January 31st – I see with their usual subtlety and lack of attention to detail (more on that in a post on my main blog coming up soon) the Canal and River Trust have flailed the hedges along the canal towpath between Anchor Bridge and Brownhills.
This makes for a thorny hazard for cyclists with normal tyres as the flailed thorns are devils for causing punctures.
It’s right to do it this time of year, before birds nest of course, and lord knows, the job needed doing – but the tractor they used has again churned up the grass, and the aggressive mowing has continued, with nascent daffodils cropped along with the grass.
I have no idea what’s motivated the trust to carry out this manic bout of mowing everything to within a millimetre of living but I wish they’d tale a deep breath and think about it more.
This journal is moving home. Find out more by clicking here
from Tumblr https://ift.tt/31pOa7G
via IFTTT
January 29th – The tribulations of the previous day were over with, and had gone well. I was still tired though, as I’d been nil-by-mouth for 24 hours and recovery was harder than I remembered it. After tea I braved a small spin around the canal and Clayhanger Common.
I wasn’t really up to it if I’m honest. But it was good to be out.
It seemed a good opportunity to continue the long exposure theme – the chance to stand and get my energy back was real, and waiting for the camera gave me an excuse I suppose.
Hopefully, tomorrow I will feel more like it.
This journal is moving home. Find out more by clicking here
from Tumblr https://ift.tt/2teCY19
via IFTTT
January 29th – Up on the old Cement Works Bridge, time to have a think and play with long exposure photography. With the lightening morning sky the results were remarkable.
I love how the trees seem out of focus as their extremities moved with the wind.
It was going to be a tough day. But at least I’d captured something interesting to kick it all off.
This journal is moving home. Find out more by clicking here
from Tumblr https://ift.tt/318dqPy
via IFTTT
January 29th – I had a short window in the morning before I took the next batch of medication when I could get out – so in the early gloom, I left for a circuit around my beloved Brownhills.
I’m not used to Engine Lane and the cycleway to the old Cement Works Bridge in the early morning. Foxes and other furry residents of the common were busy, and I disturbed their activities. Birds were awakening, and the darkened woods were full of life. I could hear horses in the paddocks snort in the dark and deer grumbling as they tend to.
Normally rides at this time of day are strictly fast commutes to work.I don’t normally stop to look at what’s around me at this time of day.
It was actually an unexpected joy to be out. I must do this again.
This journal is moving home. Find out more by clicking here
from Tumblr https://ift.tt/316VS6C
via IFTTT
BrownhillsBob's #365daysofbiking 