September 18th – Autumn means a return to Cannock Chase. I prefer the forest in it’s autumnal state; it’s far quieter, with few venturing into the corners of the chase where I go. The pines and spruces turn a gorgeous, fluorescent yellow and everywhere smells of musty beauty. The wind was behind me as I sped through Hednesford and doubled back from Seven Springs via Colwich. A great afternoon ride.
Setember 4th – One of the features of autumn I do like is the huge variey of fruits, nuts and seeds that proliferate in hedgerows and woodlands. I noticed on Milford Common that the beech trees near the A51 had a fine crop of nuts ripening. These slightly bitter, tannic-tasting kernels are edible, but don’t taste so good. I’m unaware of any culinary uses, other then giving their name to a type of chewing gum popular when I was a child. Does beech nut gum still exist? Certainly didn’t taste of beech nuts…
September 4th – A great ride over Cannock Chase and Shugborough to blow the blues away. The forest was as beautiful as ever, and there was little sign yet of autumn encroaching. Shugborough was also lovely, but it seems these days you can’t stop for tea without buying an entry ticket, which is rather sad. More pictures on my main blog.
June 19th – I love Cannock Chase, and I have a special fondness for the Sherbrook Valley. Here’s a condensed run from just by Pye Green, to the car park at Milford Common. this run was quick, and there were few people around. The few cyclists I saw seemed to have very clean bicycles, but then, it is summer, so lots of recent purchases about. This run is on a touring bike with no suspension and thin wheels, not a mountain bike.
The soundtrack is ‘Raining’ by Ancient Beatbox, vocals by Sheila Chandra.
BrownhillsBob's #365daysofbiking 