February 6th – the signs of the nascent spring are all around in the little things. Grass starting to grow again. Snowdrops. Gorse flower. Spring flower shoots. Easter primroses.
And hazel catkins, which although we pass without thought generally, are actually really gorgeous if one studies them, closely.
Spring is in the air, and just a wee bit in my step too.
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#365daysofbiking Up the junction:
December 1st – Out without my camera, I crossed Streets Corner junction which is still subject to protracted works for junction improvements. It’s nearing completion, however, and the thing is taking shape now.
Massively delayed by issues with gas mains underneath, resurfacing should take place this week and hopefully it may all be open properly for Christmas.
#365daysofbiking Chains changed:
November 16th – Heading back to Brownhills and home, I stopped to look at the view of Silver Street now the building works are finished here. Around 200 new, modern dwellings on what was 12 year dead wasteland and an abandoned marketplace. The change from desolation to signs of life and habitation is remarkable. Every time I see it, I struggle to take in the massive change here.
Change for the better.
About 6 years ago I speculated that this then desolate, windswept, empty place was haunted by the ghosts of civic failure. They have been exorcised, and gradually, almost imperceptibly, there are signs of life developing in my old town again. The people that live in these houses now will use the local takeaways, pop for a paper, a haircut and use the high street out of convenience. No, it’ll never boom like it did, but this trade fillip has to be welcome.
Finally, Brownhills is becoming unshackled from the system built housing misadventure of the sixties. All we need to do now is finally rid ourselves of the blight that is Ravens Court…
March 24th – One thing I am liking very much at the moment is the improvement works to the Shire Oak Junctions. At 8pm on a Saturday it was of course quiet, and the asphalt glistened in the light in the damp of a short, passed shower. But the new surface, more intelligent light operation and better lane markings have made a real difference, and queues along the A461 – particularly at peak times are significantly reduced.
When Streets Corner is also complete, I expect the difference will be really noticeable.
Well done to all concerned.
June 27th – One of the most notable changes with the cleaning up of the local canals since my childhood has been the explosion in water lilies and other water flowers that were unimaginable on the waterways of 40 years ago. Where once the water was polluted, filthy and lifeless soup, it’s now clear, limpid and at this time of year, covered in the pinks, ivories and yellows of various lilies and flag irises.
These flowers were near Clayhanger Bridge.
May 12th – In total contrast to the rest of the week, a beautiful, warm but breeze day and very enjoyable riding indeed. As I set out early, bird were making the most of the early light, and the world seemed to be gently drying.
Arriving at work, my attention was snagged by the flowerbeds on the industrial estate. I love how tulips look like they have some kind of arachnid inside them.
A gorgeous day, which was wonderfully restorative after an awful few days.
April 11th – After being closed during roadworks since last summer, it’s good to see the steps from the canal up to Bentley Road in Darlaston back open. With them closed, it meant a trip to Bughole Bridge – not too bad on a bike, but a fair walk to get back to the same place. The steps on Bughole Bridge are also much harder to get a bike up, unlike these, which are so shallow, you can actually ride down them if you’re careful.
Long overdue, but glad to see it.
March 1st – Another grey day, but it felt warmer. At dinner time, I had to venture back into Walsall from Darlaston and took the canal, which was a mistake: the works to relay the towpath have made sections not impassible but hard going.
Passing over the Bentley Mill Way Aqueduct, I looked down at the works below. Running three months late, the road has been closed and totally relaid – but the main bottleneck that is the narrowness of the bridge I’m standing on – has not been touched. I’m at a loss here to understand how anything other than the footpath and possibly drainage has been improved.
Sometimes it’s hard to see the benefit in road schemes until they operate in practice. I hope that’s the case here.
April 8th – I took the canal for the commute today, joining it in the centre of Walsall. Haven’t done that for a while, and it wasn’t the best decision I’ve ever made, to be honest. It was wet and heavy going.
Passing Bentley Bridge, it gave me chance to look at the land clearance that had gone on here of late; a whole line of trees and scrub have gone from the roadside of Bentley Mill Way. I assume this is to do with upcoming road improvements here.
I still love that you can see the two spires of Wednesbury from here. But such a blasted, scarred landscape between.
BrownhillsBob's #365daysofbiking 