#365daysofbiking Old friends

February 24th – The good weather continues, and so does the need to be out in it.

I’ve barely been to Middleton hall this winter, so it was time to rectify that – so a journey out via Stonnall and Carroway Head was a delight – then up past Kingsbury to Picadilly and the mining memorial, then Wood End, Dordon, Polesworth, Alvecote and home through Tamworth and Weeford.

I’ve seen this weather described in the last few days as a ‘fool’s spring’ – I may be a fool but this has been absolutely glorious.

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#365daysofbiking The colour of spring

February 22nd – I just new the sunset was going to be good – so with an errand to run in Chasetown, I hopped up to Chasewater, the better to catch it.

I wasn’t disappointed.

I love the deep blue skies we get at dusk at this time of year, and catching the golden light over the dam was a real treat.

This early spring is really refreshing this year. I hope it doesn’t;t come to an abrupt end…

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#365daysofbiking Oh so thirsty

February 22nd – Returning from work a little earlier than usual and in daylight, I spotted this splendid calico cat taking a drink from the canal near Humphries House.

One of the best things about spring is the re-emergence of the feline population, usually all cosy indoors in the cold.

I hope I meet this one again – it seems quite a character!

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#365daysofbiking I predict a riot

February 13th – Kings Hill Park continues to captivate.

The spring flower patch planted last year in the grass by the converted church is coming on lovely once more, and is currently a hubbub or crocuses in white, pink, violet and yellow. Soon they will be joined by other blooms, and a few short metres away, dwarf daffodils are coming on to flower, too.

It’s going to be a riot of colour again. I can’t wait – this is just the start.

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#365daysofbiking Hello old friends

February 12th – One of the most reliable indicators of an ending winter are the daffodils on the corner of Wood Lane and Chester Road near the (soon to be closed) Wyevale garden centre.

Every year without fail they are the earliest patch of wild daffodils I see, usually appearing in the second or third week of February.

This morning, they were blooming bright yellow for my as I rode to the station, like old pals stand at the roadside to greet me.

Hello, old friends. Welcome back. Good to see you, and the springtime you bring. Looks like we both survived another long, dark winter.

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#365daysofbiking Crossover point

 

February 11th – Riding back from Shenstone Station in the region of 6pm. Still just about light at Fighting Cocks.

this time next week it will be merely twilight here at this time.

On the darkening lane, the trees and farm buildings silhouetted agains the western sky, this was beautiful, but chilly. I loved the effect of the passing cars.

Slowly but surely the daylight’s winning the battle.

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#365daysofbiking Fire in the sky

February 3rd – I noted last week that I was entering the season of the commute sunset, and I wasn’t wrong. This spectacular one greeted me as I returned to Telford station this evening.

It’s so good to be setting home in the light once more. Finally it feels like spring might be not so far away.

Bring it on.

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#365daysofbiking Receding gently

February 3rd – There was still ice on the canals and the fringes of Chasewater, of course. In the gentle wind that formed the usual waves here, the edge of the ice was a battleground between frozen water and the gently dynamic open lake.  The fight was continual, and made a lovely, gentle tinkling sound continually.

It Wass so gentle and slight you really had to strain to hear it, but it’s a gorgeous, magic sound.

Shame is was too quiet to record it…

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#365daysofbiking Glowing

February 2nd – A better, more springlike day was what I expected, and indeed, it was at least decidedly warmer. There was, however, a bitter wind that made progress slow and a the nagging cramps of bad IBS attack niggled at my energy.

Any remaining snow was confined to the shade of hedges and field margins, and the afternoon sun made the red soil of Home Farm at Sandhills glow beautifully.

I note the sheep, now reduced in number, are still working on clearing the field of what I think is kale; its been a real treat seeing them here. IU hope they become a more permanent fixture.

I note the hedges along here have been cut, and as ever, the auto-flail has ripped the hawthorn overgrowth into short, hazardous, thorn-armed fragments, lying on the towpath waiting for a vulnerable tyre.

If you haven’t tough tyres, probably best avoid the stretch between Anchor Bridge and the Ogley Junction Bridge for a couple of weeks or so until the fragments have been cleared or rotted by the weather.

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#365daysofbiking Bitte

February 1st – Friday was, again, bitter. In practice, probably not as cold as previous recent winters have been, but it seemed positively arctic after the mild season generally this time around.

The canal ices was getting quite thick – maybe an IC5 today.

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