March 16th – Spotted by the roadside in Darlaston, even the cherry trees are now taking spring seriously. This one, just on the verge outside a factory, is ready to burst into leaf.
Still can’t budge from the idea that spring is early this year, but I’m not sure if it really is, or I’m just relieved.
Anyone?
March 11th – Unusually for a Saturday, I was at work all day, and returned on a pleasant ride that started in daylight, and finished in darkness after a trip to the supermarket.
Hopping on the canal at Bentley Bridge in Darlaston Green, I noted the resurfacing of this section of towpath was well underway, and a nice job it is too – although more beneficial than the previous stretch, the towpath wasn’t that bad here and I don’t really see the point – but it is nice and I’ll use it more.
The sweep over the derelict arm bridge near the Anson Branch rolls wonderfully and will be fun at speed.
At Pleck I was puzzled by the graffiti sprayed on the wall behind the wine warehouse – anyone any idea what this is about? I feel it’s genuinely historical rather than just being the work of some addled stoner but can’t put my finger on it.
March 9th – A gorgeous, sun soaked early spring commute, a little bit into the wind, but no less gorgeous for that. I rode fast through the backstreets of walsall, enjoying the sun on my face, and for some reason today at 7am, all I could smell in Darlaston was bacon cooking.
I spotted these gorgeous primroses, just dying to be noticed in Kings Hill Park. They almost glow in the sunshine.
March 2nd – Been passing this sign for ages now. Only today did I stop to read the small print.
Really? That’s a very bold claim. How did that even come about?
They do look extraordinarily tall. An odd curiosity.
March 2nd – As I said yesterday, the season of transition is upon me; and that includes the period of travelling – on good days, at least – in the golden hour.
I often talk about this magical time, when just approaching sunset the light becomes soft, suffused with pink and gold and changes everything it touches to a precious, rare jewel.
There are few better places to catch such a time than Kings Hill Park and the view of the Twin Sisters. Bathed in the evening sun, they looked even more majestic than usual, but so did the park, and the sunset on the way home along the canal wasn’t too shabby, either.
This’ll do.
February 28th – in the swamp at the end of Victoria Park in Darlaston, just past the old railway bridge on the way to Kings Hill, a surprise today in the rain: The blackthorn is flowering.
Always the earliest tree blossom, it’s a lovely sight and on this wet, miserable day I was so pleased to see it.
Interesting too to see the blackthorn bush with an alder growing intertwined around it.
February 22nd – Also in Kings Hill Park, I found this stripy fellow watching me with his one eye. I’ve never seen him before, and although he’s clearly been in the wars with the sight deficiency and the battered ear, he was a very proud, lithe chap whom I don’t think was very old at all.
I took this blurry photo, which although not well focussed gives you an idea of the cat. I instantly fell in love with him. Just look at that magnificent tail.
He didn’t hang about, and clearly had business to attend to. I do hope we meet again, hopefully when he’s feeling a bit friendlier…
February 22nd – It was a grim, wet morning commute and I wasn’t in the best of moods. I decided to cheer myself up by calling into Kings Hill Part to check on the progress of the miniature daffodils and other spring flowers.
I wasn’t disappointed, and spotted with raindrops, they looked fresh, vital and beautiful.
I left in a considerably better frame of mind.
February 21st – Unfortunately, I forget my camera so just one picture for today, and that’s not brilliant, sorry.
I had to nip into Tipton on a day with an evil southwesterly, and crossing theBlack Country New Road at Moxley, I was once again captivated by that marooned, beautiful church – like Wood Green, and a host of others in the conurbation, urban churches are often extant on odd islands or spurs as road systems grow around them.
Thirty years ago, this view would have been completely different.
I love that these wonderful buildings are preserved and they’re like lighthouses to the past in the changing landscape.
February 17th – I came through Kings Hill Park again around mid-day – and this time, crested the ‘hill’ itself, which is a beautiful, peaceful oasis that would have commanding vies of the area were it not surrounded by lovely, mature trees – which is a bit of a dilemma, really.
I noticed here the bench in memory of Jake Wilkes, sadly lost in 2008, and clearly still well loved and tended, and also the first miniature daffodils of the year, which grow in abundance down beside the old chapel.
A lovely spot that’s just right for a contemplative 10 minutes away from the hassle of work.
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