April 8th – I’ve been trying to get a decent version of this photo for ages. For two winters, in fact. What usually spoils it is traffic on the bridge and ripples on the surface of the canal. At Anchor Bridge tonight though, there were little of either when I flowed along here liquid back into Brownhills High Street – the reflection of the canal wasn’t bad and the Anchor’s lights looked welcoming and warm in the dark.
Sometimes, with some photos, its just a matter of patience.
April 8th – Following the sad, low fug of the day before I awoke determined to feel better today come what may. I busied myself catching up with the blog and this journal, and getting things done that had been withering for a while.
I actually got a lot done and felt much better, so much so that I actually didn’t get out on my bike until after dark, when I had to shoot up to the shop for some supplies. I took a more scenic route than usual, and headed for the canal since it was such a clear, still night.
The watered from Coopers Bridge looked wonderful. The only sound was the generator used by the narrowboat, and occasionally waterfowl calls. The Canon camera, as usual, drank up the dark and worked magic with it.
A glorious evening.
April 7th – An awful, terrible horrible day in which little went to plan and I just gradually lost the will to try. A spin out in light drizzle late wasn’t so bad though, and did make me feel a little better.
As I headed up the canal towards Newtown, I realised that things are greening up well – the fields of Sandhills and Hammerwich are bright green, but have had little chance to shine as yet.
The mist and murk would ordinarily have been depressing, but for the fresh air, solitude and speed I was grateful.
Life can be tough sometimes.
April 5th – I keep going on about this to the point that readers must be sick to death of it, but Spring seems alternately on my shoulders and miles away.
Stood on Catshill Junction Bridge, looking at the leafless trees, muddy wet towpaths and general lack of green, spring seems delayed.
We need warm weather, clear skies and all this will just bolt into life.
It ain’t too much to ask, is it? A bit of happiness from the sun?
April 5th – There will be a series of muggings on the canal in coming months.
A pair of familiar criminals met me on my way home – gone for the winter, these fair weather foes appear in the spring every year, and raise a local brood, surviving on the abundant local greens – but also on the tidbits and seed they bully out of passers by whom they harass for treats.
If you’re on the canal between Clayhanger Bridge and The Black Cock, take seed or something to shoo them off with…
April 3rd – A better day. I set off to work in Darlaston on a pleasant, warm and sunny morning, and then rode over to Tipton at lunchtime.
I was reminded why I love this place, and what the Black Country has my heart; The view of Church Hill, Wednesbury and the twin sisters from Ocker Hill was bustling, frenetic, and yet home to me. Then at Tipton, the canalside park devoted to William Perry, the Tipton Slasher and prize fighter of folklore was gorgeous and peaceful.
You can’t beat the Black Country.
April 1st – A ride out to Hints and Hopwas for cake on a warm, but generally overcast but thankfully dry afternoon, that was much better than expected. Spring inches on in the reluctant winter gloom, with primroses showing well in Hopes Cemetery where the daffodils were also gorgeous, and a swan couple nesting near the social club up in the village.
The Tame at Hopwas was flowing well, and spreading into the flood margins. People downstream at Elford will be worried. Let’s hope the rain holds off.
An unexpectedly good ride.
March 30th – A day of rest, with a journey up to Tesco in the late afternoon. The rain seems to be settled upon us for the weekend, which is a bit of a blow, but the forecast clearly isn’t as bad as many had predicted with a return to snow and ice.
I guess I should stop moaning, really; at this time in 2013 there was still lying snow around and it was very cold. And we are more prone to white eEasters than white Christmases in this country. But it feels like I’m missing out.
In Brownhills, the waterfowl didn’t seem to mind. One swan partner of the nesting pair just up around the bend was idling, and came over, hoping for food, and was grumpy when none was forthcoming. The Canada geese, however, were just loafing, and paid me little heed. We stood for a while together, just listening to the rain on the water.
There had better be a decent summer after this…
March 23rd – Passing through Brownhills in the morning, I paid a call on the Watermead swan couple. Not sure if there are any eggs yet, but the nest is looking good and a bird is clearly sitting.
I look forward to watching another batch of cygnets thrive and grow. Exciting times!
March 22nd – Oe gets used to seeing rats about when you’re an urban cyclist, and there tend to be a fair few prime specimens on the urban canals. What I didn’t realise until I started cycling regularly along inner city waterways is what accomplished swimmers brown rats are.
There is a colony on the far side of this bridge in Pleck, Walsall; I often see them running along the opposite bank in and out of the drain holes and scrub. But several times, I’ve scared them from the towpath, and they’ve hopped into the canal freely and swam home to the other side. Sadly, I’ve never been fast enough with the camera to record one actually swimming.
Today, I saw this large specimen by the bridge (Bottom left, top picture. Look carefully) – I startled it and it ran for the water and swam to safety. But note the line of wet paw prints, the line caused by a dragging, wet tail and the water from a shake dry.
It came from the other bank to feed.
Rats are remarkable.
BrownhillsBob's #365daysofbiking 