April 13th – Was going to be busy all day with family things so nipped out early to get the ride it. It was bright but cold, and on a fast run to Chasewater I came across this napping swan by Anglesey Wharf.
It tolerated me but was clearly giving me it’s undivided attention.
I bid it good morning and made a gentle exit.
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January 21st – Heading out for a meeting in Birmingham, I had a little extra time in the morning, so I rode to the station via the backlanes – taking me past Little Aston Forge.
The precarious hairpin bend and hump bridge here are a remarkable feature of the lane, and I’m surprised there are not more accidents.
The cottage and countryside here are beautiful though, I must say.
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January 15th – Painfully early morning, and it was cold. I needed to drop something off in Pelsall on my way to work, so crossed Clayhanger Common via the old Spot Path.
In the strange, ethereal pre-daen light it was almost beautiful.
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#365daysofbiking Perfect:
October 22nd – In bright early morning sunshine, a perfect new arrival on the grass outside where I work.
Not often you see such a perfect field mushroom.
Despite my fears, this year has been most excellent for fungi.
May 3rd – On the way to work on a sunny morning, the canal in central Walsall was beautiful.
All the weeks and months of riding in the rain, cold and dark, dreaming of rides like this.
Yet again, another winter is survived and the warmer, longer days are here: Nature is greening, the weather is good and the light is upon us.
Always worth the wait.
April 19th – Deep blue sky, early morning on an industrial estate in the Black Country, with cherry blossom coming into flower, in shirtsleeves, sat on a crate drinking tea and listening to the world wake up and catch the wheels of it’s day.
Nothing finer.
February 23rd – If the mist of the previous evening had been beautiful, it was nothing compared to the beauty of the following morning.
I passed through Mill Green on the way to the station heading for an appointment in Telford, and this bitterly cold but sunlit and beautiful morning was quite the tonic I needed.
The ice was challenging in places, but used to the cold after a chilly season I rode carefully, really enjoying the scenery.
Yes, this is definitely why a ride a bike to work…
May 9th – A terrible, hurried phone photo, but I noticed that the Canada geese had hatched a new brood in the last 24 hours near Catshill Junction. In the dawn light they were resting, and dad was stood guard nearby, whilst mum had the rest of her clutch under her right wing.
Canada geese get such a hard time from wildlife purists but they’re fascinating creatures. With a very tough day ahead, the sight of this new family really brightened my day.
May 9th – I had to be out very early for something I couldn’t cycle to, so took in an early circuit of the canal at 5:30am. Not seeing a soul, I enjoyed the peace and quiet. Fascinated at the moment by the sheer quantity of organic flotsam and jetsam in the canal, with everything from blossom petals to dead reed foliage. I suppose it’s a feature of the season, but never really noticed it to this extent before.
There’s something very otherworldly about breaking out of your routine and just riding for the hell of it very early in the morning.
January 5th – First trip to Telford of the new year and on a very cold morning indeed – but at least I was prepared for it unlike the night before. I was on a bike with decent tyres for the conditions, but thankfully the black ice was minimal anyway.
I stopped on the old footbridge by the station to record the sunlight thing down the track below – it was dawn-like and harsh, but had a beautiful quality that sunrises alone have, a sort of sharpness, unlike the mellow glow of a sunset.
I must make an effort to record this bridge more – now planning is going ahead, it won’t be long until this curious, red steel structure is replaced by something more practical. Whilst it’s awfully dystopian – particularly at night, it does have a lovely photogenic quality about it.
BrownhillsBob's #365daysofbiking 