rain – Page 52 – BrownhillsBob's #365daysofbiking

June 13th – out early to Lichfield, the rain of the previous 24 hours had only just ceased, and the roads and rooftops of Lichfield were still glistening. The weak sunlight caught them as I cycled down Pipehill and rendered them precious.

June 12th – Thought I was a fair weather cyclist? ‘Fraid not. Going stir-crazy late afternoon, dying to get out. Pulled on the waterproofs and went for a quick spin in the rain. Gliding up through a deserted Holland Park, I noticed the odd bars welded across the tops of the railngs around the perimenter, and wracked my mind to work out why this had been done. Then I remembered.

Several years ago, a red deer hind had been found dead, implaled on railings here that she failed to jump. The welded bars remove that risk for our cervine residents. Unusually thoughtful actions by the council, there…

June 10th – By the time I got to Stubbers Green, the rain was torrential. Cycling was impossible for 5 minutes or so, and all I could do was wait and watch. Oh, to be in England, in summertime. My gloves are still soaking wet.

June 10th – The day was fine until late afternoon. Leaving work, I called at the shops in Aldridge and then dived into Morrisons for some bits and pieces. It started to rain lightly. Thinking it would come to nothing, I headed for home via Stubbers Green. As I left, the sky looked ominously dark.

June 5th – After a spin round Elford and back to Alrewas, the rain started on the way back through Fradley. Crossing the canal at Gorse Lane, the day was grey and chilly, but at least the wind was behind me. What happened to the heatwave?

May 23rd – An awful day to cycle – blustery, then rainstorms in the afternoon. I left work early for a meeting in Rushall, and dropped on to the canal at Pleck, south Walsall. I prefer the canal in this weather as traffic tends to be a bit mad in heavy rain. Cycling in the rain can be a lovely, sensual experience, and this was no exception, climbing the locks and bridges through Birchills and acing the traffic queue at Rushall was a joy…

The soundtrack is ‘Nice Weather for Ducks’ by the wonderful Lemon Jelly.

May 23rd – I left work early afternoon in a rain storm. I don’t mind cycling in the rain, and the wind was behind me. Periodically very heavy, the downpour lasted 45 minutes or so. I did what I usually do when it rains on the commute – headed for the canal. It’s safer than the roads, and the sights and sounds are wonderful. Here at Pleck, the rain rattled off the canal like gravel in a tin can.

May 14th – A hop out to get some essentials saw me caught in a downpour. Mooching around the canal, I noticed that the remainder of the old railway bridge at the canalside on Clayhanger Common was slowly being reclaimed by nature. Nothing more than the steady hydraulic pressure of organic growth is splitting apart the brickwork and reminding us that nature is really in charge, and it’s got all the time in the world.