August 2nd – A rushed day where I was dashing from one place to another at seemingly top speed with little time to take photos – but I did meet this lithe, classy grey fellow in Clayhanger, very unimpressed with my camera as I stopped to fuss him on my return from seeing a mate.
I’m not seeing so many cats about at the moment, which is a puzzle. But this fellow was splendid, if a little snooty…
July 11th – I haven’t seen much of Old Sam, the King of kings Hill lately. He had taken to sleeping on the grass in in the gardens around the old folks flats where he lives, but the gardeners came one day with their mowers and blowers and I only saw him a couple of times after that.
I needn’t have worried. He’s found a shadier spot, just out of my normal sight for the really hot days.
I notice someone had given him a bowl of water, and he was concentrating on washing, and despite my calls and invitations for strokes he studiously ignored me and got on with the important business of fur maintenance.
I adore this crotchety old lad.
July 7th – When I initially spotted this grubby tabby and white puss lying in the shadow of a hedge at the lakeside I thought it must be injured. I was quite worried. Not even a flinch when I stopped.
I needn’t have worried. Puss was fine, and just snoozing in the heat, too torpid to move, but it did get to it’s feet for a stroke and a fuss.
I loved how unashamedly grubby it was from rolling in the dust.
Hot cats know how to do summer.
July 1st – Half the year gone already. Where on earth did that go?
I was unwell after eating something I shouldn’t (Life with IBS often means interrogating people who cook for you about what ingredients they use, but sometimes, you feel embarrassed and eat anyway). The pumpkin seeds in a casserole from a friend the night before were really causing me hell, and I didn’t get out until early evening.
I met family at a country pub in Longdon for a lazy, louche, sunny Sunday evening social, riding there and back. The countryside is showing well at the moment with ripening crops and the greens going dark and maturing.
I particularly liked the lithe, stripy puss I saw in Hammerwich. – he was definitely the neighbourhood watch!
June 30th – A recovery day, with a surprisingly tough, enervating recovery ride which saw my energy levels very low indeed.
Whilst I’d been careful to look after my fluids and nutrition on the big ride of the previous day, I hadn’t had anything much to eat today, and it caused me real problems I think.
Even still, it was a decent ride out to Hopwas and Hints on a sunny, warm afternoon, and this puss at Stockfields was so comfy he wasn’t going to be disturbed by anyone….
June 22nd – It was a great ride for the animals, clearly enjoying the sun and warmth. The heron population is booming on the Birmingham canals at the moment, and their comical antics are a joy, as were the cackling ducks in the heart of the city.
I just loved the disdain visible on the face of the snoozing embankment cat whose nap I so clearly wrecked.
I love canal riding on a warm evening.
June 17th – Obvious cat is obvious.
This puss with high hopes and lofty ambitions was hunting by the canal at Rugeley – a roosting mallard had been spotted in the grass with her ducklings, and the story unfolded. Not a great hunter, no ducks were harmed in the making of this post and indeed, they seemed to be mocking the cat in the end.
The cat’s facial expressions are wonderful, particularly in the second image ‘Just a doin’ ma thang, nothin to see here’
Better luck next time puss.
June 14th – The King Of Kings Hill is still napping outdoors even though the sun’s gone in. Old Sam continues to enjoy this most temperate of seasons.
But interesting to see the effect the cooler day has on his sleeping position, in a ball, on top of the retaining wall, pointedly and resolutely with his back to the passing world.
Sorry, but I’m a little bit in love with this old chap.
June 5th – The King of Kings Hill is asleep in the sun again, as he usually is.
He watches over his kingdom, never fully asleep, opening one eye if needed.
Meanwhile, less than 10 metres away roadworkers wield a pneumatic drill, an activity that would drive lesser pusses to somewhere quieter.
Not Sam, he’s the King. The King of Kings Hill. And he will not be disturbed.
June 2nd – A ride that turned out nothing like it was meant to, but still very good. First weekend of June is always the steam fair at Klondyke Mill in Draycott in the Clay, near Sudbury, so in the afternoon, I was headed there.
Coming down a long hill far side of Yoxall on the A515, the return spring in the front brake calliper overheated, buckled and bound in the disk.
It came out after a struggle lasting well over an hour – thankfully, patience and care meant neither the calliper nor disc were seriously damaged, and I had spare pads and a spring. But it meant I was far to late to justify the entrance fee to the fair, so I went to Sudbury, had a pint in a lovely beer garden, then explored Scropton, Hatton and the Dove Valley on a beautiful summer evening.
It was 55 miles, and not a bad ride overall.
BrownhillsBob's #365daysofbiking 