June 14th – On the way to work on a warm but windy and wolfish Thursday, I stopped to look back down the canal I’d just ridden along. It’s so green and verdant now, sow beautifully limpid and peaceful. Hard to imagine that a few short weeks ago this was barren and grey, and soon enough it will return to the dormant, winter state.
Bless the summer, bless the green, bless the weather.
June 13th – One of the more fascinating things about the commonly derided and scorned Canada goes is their propensity to social support between families.
On the way home from work this evening, four adults (one dallying out of shot) and two broods of goslings numbering a dizzying total of 12 youngsters in two distinct stages of growth indicated that two families were hanging out together and probably sharing childminding and security duties.
Can’t think of any other wild birds that do this.
Lovely to see, and I got hissed at in quadrophonic!
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 12th – Passing the embankment of the new pond at Clayhanger I noticed that the kidney vetch is showing well this year. One of only two places I can think of that it grows locally, this plant, once thought to be good for healing wounds, is profuse in the sandy soil of the embankment.
Consisting of individual flowers on a fluffy, down covered flower head, it’s a storage and very beautiful wayside delight at this time of year.
June 11th – For the first time in absolutely ages, I found myself in Redditch on a business call, and for old times sake I rode through the gorgeous Arrow Valley Park that bisects the town, with the still quaint little hamlet of Ipsley in the centre of it.
I used to come here week in, week out but the customer changed hands and moved out fo that line of business, so I really find myself here now. But it’s still lovely.
But that climb back up from the south of town to the station is still an absolute killer…
June 7th – Sad to note that the honeysuckle growing on the western rail of the Black Cock Bridge has again this year been hedge cut in it’s prime. I don’t know why anyone would do that, and it makes me sad – but it’s recovered well, and the woodbine still tumbles in a beautiful tangle into the meadow below the embankment.
A delight for bugs and bees. Clearly, someone doesn’t like it as much as I do.
June 7th – In Darlaston’s Victoria Park, at the far end where the footpath rises from the old railway bed to Darlaston Road, the tree growing by the marsh fence is still continuing it’s pyroclastic consumption of the fence and footpath.
Sadly, I don’t think the tree is long for the world, as one half is diseased, but the demonstration of persistent, gentle hydraulic pressure is startling and impressive.
Makes me smile every time I see it.
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 5th – This is an urban canal in the Black Country – Between Walsall and Darlaston, at James Bridge.
It runs past the site of what was one of the most polluting factories in Europe: James Bridge Copper Refinery.
The canal is green with water lilies, and dappled with yellow and white blooms from them; flag irises aggravate my hay fever but line the water margins. Two families of Canada geese promenade in the sun.
Not all change is for the worst.
June 4th – The flower display is continuing. So much stuff is appearing now it’s very hard to keep track, but canalside and meadow orchids are looking beautiful, dog roses and x-eye daisies all caught my eye on my commute.
There really is no better time to be on a bike, right out here in the outdoors during great sunny weather.
I have waited so long for this.
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