June 20th – It was terribly wet on my way to work this morning, and on the way back I was too knocked to go to the best spot, but lupins, for a reader who’s unwell.
I know you love them, but don’t get them where you are.
Get well soon old chap. I’ll find you some better ones in the week, promise.
June 13th – Another day, another rainstorm, another soaking.
I headed out mid-morning from work to visit a customer; sadly, I left just as the heavens opened.
Fortunately, the flowers I saw on the way were so beautiful, they made up for the wet legs.
To the person who’s been practising the rain dance: I think you have the hang of it now. Please stop.
June 8th – On a brighter note, the honeysuckle is in flower again – and it smells beautiful. It may be me, but it seems very early this year. I’m noticing it in hedgerows, embankments and scrubs – and it’s divine.
A real sign of summer.
June 7th – I spotted this proud fellow in central Walsall, watching the world go by. He regarded me distastefully, then posed helpfully for a photo before sauntering off. I love how in summer, the cat population awakens, stretches, and takes the air on summer days.
Oh, to be a cat.
June 6th – On the canal near Clayhanger, it’s good to see the lupins out. A sign of summer, they spread welcome colour to towpaths, embankments and wastelands across the country.
The flowers are so beautifully constructed, and the bees seem to love them too.
June 2nd – A summer sentry watched my progress through their neighbourhood today. Sat watching the world go by in Walsall, this lovely, shiny coated black cat watched me carefully, making sure both I and the bike were in order. Satisfied I was just passing through, it posed for a photo while watching more interesting things back up the street.
May 31st – The season of the dog rose is upon us. You can keep your fancy hybrids, your blobs of colour on thorny sticks; give me the colour and scent of a wild rose any day of the week – bringing colour in an uncontrolled riot to towpaths, hedgerows and edge lands all over.
These were just by the canal in Walsall near Bentley Bridge. A joy to the heart.
May 29th – A day of remarkable colour and beauty. I set off in the early afternoon for a ride not really sure where I was going, but headed to Middleton Hall for fuel in the form of tea and cake before heading southeast into the wind, over to Ridge Lane via Kingsbury and on to Mancetter, a place I haven’t been for years. From there, out to Sheepy Magna, then Orton on the Hill, up to Twycross and then down Salt Street to No Mans Heath. Returning in a glorious golden hour via Clifton, Harlaston and Whittington, the sunset over the railway at Hademore was remarkable.
It was a long ride but I felt power in my legs and really, really enjoyed it.
May 28th – I returned from Burntwood via Chasewater at sunset.
It was peaceful, and remarkably, I had the dam to myself. The dam, and the magic.
It’s been ages since I caught a decent Chasewater sunset. Pleased with this.
May 19th – I had gone to work on a pleasantly sunny morning, but returned in light rain, through a glistening, green, dripping landscape, no more in evidence anywhere than Green Lane on the Walsall Wood/Shelfield border.
The wet tarmac glistened, the trees, bright in their new green jackets, dripped softly. There was the gentle hiss of rain and babble of water.
But it was warm, the wind was behind me and for once, I didn’t mind.
Sometimes the only thing to do is open your senses and let it all in.
BrownhillsBob's #365daysofbiking 