Tag: Seven Springs

November 12th – Two ride cams for the Chase fans: The first is from Brocton Field just by the trig pillar to the valley floor at Sherbrook, a lovely challenging descent. The soundtrack is Bob Walkenhorst’s ‘Broke Down’

‘Where’s Bob? Where did he go? I don’t know he was here a second ago – he must have broke down’

The second if from Pepper Slade, down the length of Abraham’s Valley to Seven Springs. Soundtrack ‘Earth Angel’ by Dreadzone.

Both films are real time, filmed using a GoPro mounterd on the head tube of the bike.

(Source: https://player.vimeo.com/)

September 25th – A tough day relieved hugely by a great ride over the Chase, just shrugging on it’s autumn jacket. The deciduous trees starting to turn, the heaths, woods and trails were beautiful, seasonal and peaceful.

Some days, you just need this kind of peace to recharge your batteries. A fine ride.

June 22nd – Up on the Chase on a lazy, hot summer afternoon. Gorgeous – I haven’t been here for too long, if I’m honest. A great ride down Rainbow Hill, the trails are dry, powdery and challenging, over to Birches Valley where the cafe and it’s pice list has been refurbished, then up Penkridge Bank, Abraham’s Valley, over to Stepping Stones, Milford, back through Shugborouagh and on the canal to Rugeley.

A great ride. I’d love to know what’s under that manhole near Brocton Coppice – guess it must be a well or borehole – there certainly aren’t and drains around there… and they really don’t seem to want folk getting in, either.

December 28th – Cannock Chase was great, but winter came in today; it was sunny, clear and cold. I really felt the winter in my bones. But plenty of folk were out enjoying it and it was beautiful, as only the Chase in winter can be. 

The golden hour was enchanting, and caught the pines near Sow Street beautifully, as it did the heath at Rifle Range Corner. On the way back on the canal, the sunset was beautiful, and the evening light even made the canal at Armitage look a picture of tranquility.

By the way, if you’ve lost a cuddly stuffed toy horse and/or a pair of specs, they’re sat on a post at the back of Seven Springs car park. It’s unclear whether they’re normally together, or just met in their loss…

Weather gods, more of this please. 

January 19th – Out on Cannock Chase, with plenty of pictures on the main blog – but something in the current patch of cold weather is really making me smile: the art of snowman making is returning. Never used to see good ones when I was a kid. Nowadays, folks are getting creative. The little fella was sat at the side of the track down Abraham’s Valley in the middle of nowhere on the Chase. He was perfect. I loved him.

Meanwhile, at Seven Springs, another was taking a breather on a picnic table. Shame about the leg. Let’s hope the government disability assessors don’t spot him loafing with that missing leg, or they’ll have him working for free in Tesco within the week…

Seriously, loving the wit of it. 

September 18th – A glorious run on Cannock Chase from the Hednesford Hills to Seven Springs. Plenty of young cyclists out learning to ride – see if you can spot the girl with the teddy bear in her front basket. The journey actually takes about 45 minutes, but is condensed into two minutes 46 seconds.

Soundtrack is the gorgeous ‘Clockwork’ by Buttcher Boy.