Tag: good weather

November 26th – After the wet, grey and unpleasant morning, it was nice to see the day dry up with some blue sky visible at lunchtime. Great skies with high cloud, and a slight warmth on the breeze really made a change as I rode down into Wednesbury on an errand.

I’d like more of this. Looking at the forecast, that seems unlikely.

November 12th – On an otherwise bright morning on an unseasonably warm November day, in a damp corner of Kings Hill Park ion Darlaston, some late winter flowers bloom largely unnoticed in a border nearly swamped by leaf litter.

They were trying desperately hard to be noticed, so I obliged them.

October 31st – It was an unseasonably warm, sunny Halloween, and I headed to Lichfield mid afternoon on an errand. I wasn’t prepared for the beauty of the still falling leaves; whilst my favourite tree at Home Farm is now sadly and ominously naked, there was plenty of colour on the canal and in Lichfield itself.

Festival gardens are beautiful right now, as is Stowe Pool. So much to see, such a wonderful season this has been. I shall remember this Indian Summer for a long time.

September 19th – I darted between villages in the borderlands of the plains of east Staffordshire – Coton, Lullington, Netherseal, Chilcote, No Mans Heath, Syercote, Wigginton. The weather and light were gorgeous. The riding was fast and easy.

Really surprised to see juicy, sweet strawberries still ripening in Chilcote’s polytunnels, and Ladybird Cottage in Netherseal was a gem I’d not spotted before. 

Honey Hill, at the furthest eastern outpost of Staffordshire, was as demanding to cycle as ever, but the climb is always rewarded with beautiful views.

A wonderful ride on a fantastic day.

September 11th – Then there was Staffordshire itself: just trying on it’s autumn coat, it was beautifully languid, with surprisingly vivid colour. The church at Newborough remains stunning, but oh, how red were those apples?

A great 60 miler on quiet roads and backlanes it what must surely be this summer’s last breath.

July 9th – I wasn’t particularly late back, but the golden hour seemed to settle in early, on a peaceful, mirror calm Catshill Junction. The new flats have balconies now, but still no sign of anything being done with the scrub and statue on the canal bank. 

On the towpath side, the buggers don’t seem to stop mowing at the moment – I’ve never known a year like it. It’s almost as if the moment an interesting flower pops up it must be cut down.

It never used to be like this. I’m convinced it’s just so the Canal and River Trust can look like they’re pro active whilst ignoring real infrastructure issues.

June 27th – I was suffering with both a dodgy stomach and bad hay fever when I set out late afternoon for a gentle spin around the canals in Brownhills. They didn’t disappoint, they were glorious.

At Silver Street, the narrowboats were in for the canal festival taking place next day, and everywhere else was bathed in so sunlight.

I wish I’d felt a bit better, and I’d have been able to ride further, but never mind, there will be other days.

June 23rd – A lovely commute, and at last, on a warm, sunny, almost wind-free day. And I was cheered as a rode along the canal in Pleck to see the Canal and River Trust rubbish collection boat operating. The chaps on board had long poles and grabbers and were hauling debris out of the reeds, off the embankments and from the water.

It wasn’t until I got closer that I realised from their Hi-Vis that the lads doing the graft were volunteers. Well done to them, and thanks. True public spirit right there.

June 5th – The track around Shire Oak Hill trough Home Farm and Lime Kilns is, sadly, a private road. It would make a great route around the hill for cyclists and the weary wanting to avoid serious hills getting back to Brownhills from Lichfield and the east. 

Sadly, it’s not to be and this lovely avenue of trees must only be observed from the Lichfield Road at Sandhills.

In summer and autumn, it’s gorgeous.