July 21st – If you’re near water at the moment, watch where you walk. The canal towpath at The Chemical in Brownhills was today busy with hundreds of tiny toadlets like this wee one. He could fit on a penny coin, and you only see them when they move – I dread to think how many have been accidentally squished.
Again, the toads leaving the water is yet another sign that summer marches on…
July 20th – Out all day, and back home late I slipped out for a takeaway. Circling Brownhills in the dark, I had a play with the settings on the camera. Tilt-shift long exposure at night is an interesting effect – not sure it worked too well, but I think it bears further exploration.
In the summer, it’s a surprise to remember how dramatic even the most mundane bits of Brownhills can be at night.
July 19th – Contempt. Utter, utter contempt. This resident of Longwood Basin doesn’t approve.
July 19th – Ducking off work early for probably the last sunny afternoon of the warm spell for now. I hopped on the canal at Tyseley, then cycled into the city centre, and out via Smethwick, Great Bridge, the Tame Valley canal and Walsall. The canal was beautiful, and the scenery great, but my energy reserves were low and I found the going hard. I was reminded again, however, how green and beautiful our local waterways are, from inner city budleia to Smethwick’s hanging ivy; from the water lilies of Park Hall to the thistles of Rushall Junction. A great, but enervating ride.
July 16th – Another steady click in the escapement of summer, the willow herb is in flower. This tall plant with soft purple flowers is the king of the margins, the scrub and wastelands. It grows in any neglected spot, requires little from the ground, and spreads via familiar late-summer wind borne seeds often called ‘fairies’ by kids. The seeds are fluffily and white, and give rise to the colloquial name ‘Old man’s beard’.
This part of summer is all about the transition from the yellows of spring to the blues, pinks and purples of high and late summer; nightshade, foxglove, lupins, buddleia, vetch, Himalayan balsam.
Right now, every day is a delight of new flowering.
July 15th – I know nothing about fish whatsoever, but cycling along the canal at Brownhills, I noticed lots of them visible in the still waters. They aren’t usually this visible, I’m not sure if the sunlight is making them more evident, or the warm weather has drawn them to the surface.
I have no idea what species they were, but there were plenty of medium and small sized fish, and a few quite large ones. The chap in the top photo looked at least 18 inches long.
A fascinating thing to see.
July 13th – The dog’s name is Veronica. This is the otherwise glass-calm Trent and Mersey river section at Alrewas. A fine dog on a fine day.
July 13th – It was incredibly hot, and I was tired. But at 4pm I found the energy from somewhere and headed out. I was only supposed to be going to Chasewater – but after a restorative ice cream, I found the going easy and powerful, so I headed up through Chorley and Longdon Green, to Yoxall and Barton. From Barton I took the backlanes and tracks to Wychnor, where I hopped on the canal, and rode the river section of the Trent & Mersey to Fradley, then back home through Lichfield.
It was hot, but a lovely, fast ride through gently ripening countryside. This is the summer I’ve been hoping for.
July 11th – Heading back to Brownhills, I spotted this great pairing. I’ve noticed bargee and dog before; they’re regulars at the Brownhills Canal Festival. I love boater pets, and the patience and interest they show in what is really quite an alien environment to them.
These chaps seem like a great partnership.
July 5th – I keep passing this graffiti on the canal side at Wolverhampton. I don’t know what they were thinking, or why. For some reason, it always makes me smile.
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