May 12th – He was hiding in the long grass near James Bridge Aqueduct. I decided to blow his cover.
This lovely chap – who had a white tip to hist tail, as if it had been dipped in a paint pot – must have been a long way from home. There aren’t many houses nearby.
Lovely chap though in excellent condition.
April 30th – I returned the same way, but the deer had moved on. This wee fellow though, was busy watching the ducks on the canal at the back of Barrow Close in Walsall Wood. I’m pretty much convinced it’s the same cat I spotted recently sheltering in the lee of a plant pot in the same area. He’s a fine lad with great whiskers and a collar with a bell – so clearly a bit of a hunter. But I think he was a bit ambitious with the mallards, to be honest…
April 27th – he was leaping after bugs in a field gateway in Green Lane, Shelfield. He was a bit peeved I spotted him, as he’s clearly a cat of some gravitas who doesn’t do that sort of thing.
He glared at me just long enough for me to take this quick picture, then shot off over the fields. He looks like an adorable chap.
April 13th – Spotted in passing, this black and white little cat was sheltering from a chilly breeze in the lee of a large plant pot on the canal bank at Walsall Wood. Try as I might, I couldn’t attract his attention: he was either studiously ignoring me, or watching the birds…
April 6th – Out for a sunny afternoon ride, gradually getting longer as I get back into the swing of better weather. Down to Middleton, then up the canal through Tamworth, then out to Alvecote, Shuttington, Seckington, then back via Clifton, Lullington, Edingale and Harlaston. A fine ride on a lovely day – I even caught the sun.
I spotted this boater cat in Tamworth. He’s a big fellow who looks like he doesn’t stand for any nonsense.
March 28th – Another type of life entirely, and one for the cat lovers out there. I don’t know who he is, but this large, affectionate and charming ginger lad was sat on a canalside fence near Pelsall Road. He said hello, let me fuss him, and tried to lick the camera.
A gorgeous cat whom I sure someone loves lots. I certainly fell for him!
19th March – On the Walsall Canal at Park Hall, having left work early in the afternoon to head to Birmingham in the decent weather, I come upon a small, kitchen sink drama.
Young cat fancies it’s paw at a little waterfowl: maybe mallard, or even Canada goose. The concentration is huge… the tension… then the cyclist spoils it.
Of course, the birds knew the cat was there. But puss’s ambition was impressive.
March 9th – This puss, who I’m fairly convinced is an elderly female, stopped me in my tracks on my way home. In the backstreets of Darlaston, she was in the road, and as I approached, just stood, looking at me. She seemed well enough, and appeared to be wanting a fuss. I gave her an ear tickle, stroked her for a while, and off she pottered.
A lovely cat with a beautiful colouring.
December 20th – I came back up through Longdon and Farewell as I always do. It was a chilly day with a crisp wind but the sun was lovely, and the views over the village of Upper Longdon were gorgeous. Good to see the renovation of the old Windmill coming on now, too.
Nearby at Red Hill, the houses clinging to the hill are still beautiful, but stopping to photograph them I noticed I had an audience – one large, disapproving cat and a pair of prize pigs.
A great ride. Really enjoyable.
December 6th – Out in daylight for the first time in a while, and the afternoon was hard and cold. Over to Burntwood for some shopping, I hammered it up the canal in a harsh but golden hour before dusk. The huge black and white smug cat was a gem at the back of Milfield School, and that dog… I could just take it home. Gorgeous.
Returning over Chasewater,I was snagged by the moon rising over the motorway – I’d forgotten the night-time beauty of the distant windy sweep of cars as they passed.
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