February 21st – I’d been in Lichfield meeting friends, and came back late in the mild evening. Cresting Shire Oak ready to roll down the long hill into Brownhills, the quiet interested me.
Shire Oak junction was dark, the pub shut and almost eerily somnambulant. There was little traffic and nobody around.
Always strange to see such a usually busy junction deserted.
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February 20th – As I headed home to Brownhills on the canal, my attention was snagged by the noise from the Lindon Road, and then I remembered that it was being resurfaced overnight.
With my love of machinery, I couldn’t resist taking a look.
The dust, noise and spectacle were fascinating, and I love how the road surface is recycled into new tarmac.
The operation is a well-practiced, highly co-ordinated ballet of trucks, machines and people each with their own task.
A captivating sight.
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February 16th – Another long exposure experiment, Morris from the front of the Parkview Centre (the old Council House) gives a different aspect with the light trails from passing traffic.
I need to try this again when it’s busier – maybe panned out to get the curious saddleback contour fo the roundabout to show.
But its nice to get this wonderful statue with less of the usual blue light tint to the image.
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February 16th – A miserable day spent fixing things and not feeling well. I finally went for a ride after dark, and soon felt a bit better: The bike was riding better than it had done all winter thanks to my afternoon’s work and I think I solved a niggling, recurring issue. As I sped along the canal, I decided to have a go at some long exposure photos at various places along the way and at Chasewater.
What you can’t tell here is that Chasewater was far from quiet: There seemed to be a very large gull roost making a huge amount of noise. It was fascinating.
These images didn’t turn out too badly.
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February 15th – The sun and mild weather at the moment are most welcome. Heading off on the scenic route to Lichfield for a meeting I crossed Ogley Junction footbridge and the shadows made me think of the great designer Peter Saville.
I love the effect of architectural shadows.
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February 6th -The lighter evenings, although coming on fast now, have not reached the far end of my commute, and I tend to do the canal less in the dark, as riding the towpaths at night – even with my excellent front light – is a constant mental grind.
Approaching Clayhanger Bridge on my way back to Brownhills, I stopped to check a text, and realised how bright my light was, to catch Clayhanger Bridge like that.
It’s still a constant effort not to end up taking an early bath, though…
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February 2nd – Up by Middleton Bridge, two likely characters loiter and preen on the ice, regarding me with grumpy, truculent eyes.
I feel for the waterfowl this weather, they don’t have much open water, and most of that will be full of Canada geese and Mallards, who are both just shouty, loud idiots and must drive cultured birds like swans mad.
Still, at least that answered the IC scale question well enough…
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February 1st – By the time I neared home in Brownhills well after 8pm that evening, the ice on the canal was considerable.
At Silver Street from the pedestrian bridge, it looked beautiful in the orange streetlight.
It was clear, and my bike computer read -4. It was a relief to get home and warm up.
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January 29th – The cold weather for this winter has finally arrived, and the roads are icy. I’m fairly OK on the ice tyres, but it still takes time to build confidence back up when hitting black ice.
Thankfully, everywhere I’ve been, the major routes are well gritted, even though many motorists swear they haven’t been.
Road salt is not magic. It won’t work instantly, won’t de-ice the whole troad, and won’t allow you to drive like Sterling Moss in cold weather.
Tae care and take it easy, folks.
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January 27th – At least it wasn’t raining.
At lunchtime, the wind was horrendous as I rode to Chasewater. Stood on the dam fighting it, it rose white-crested waves on the reservoir that broke angrily around the pier, shore and wakeboard ramps.
It was impressively dramatic but not an easy day to cycle on.
I suppose a clear day with little wind is too much to ask?
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