August 3rd – I was heading out to Telford. The trains, what with the industrial fortnight and everything, have been quite quiet this week. Hauling the bike aboard on a pleasant morning at Shenstone, I was intrigued to be sharing space with a lady cyclist clearly off on a tour. No backpacks or panniers for her, but this smart, well thought out trailer. It seems to collapse down, and is available from these people. Cleverly, it attaches via a modified quick release axle or wheelnuts. I do like this, and wish I’d had chance to ask the lady about it. She left the train at Aston – I don’t know where she was going, but I hope she had a great ride.

March 19th – Returning that evening after visiting both Telford and Redditch in the same day, I emerged from a decidedly windswept Blake Street station and headed homewards. Traces of the previous day’s remarkable sunset were still evident over Little Aston church, but the oddly keen wind made the going difficult. Spring is certainly here, but it can still be decidedly wintry at times.