Tag: sun

#365daysofbiking Hocus crocus

February 17th – It was a decent enough afternoon – periodically grey and sunny with the odd shower, but mostly bright, so I decided to head out for a ride, hitting a glorious golden hour.

I called in at St Annes Cemetery in Chasetown to check on the remarkable crocus display that always happens here and wasn’t disappointed. It was truly gorgeous.

One thing that does interest me here: All the wild crocuses like this seem to be shades of purple and white, but not yellow.

Wonder why?

This journal is moving home. Please find out more by clicking here.

from Tumblr http://bit.ly/2TSpU9E
via IFTTT

#365daysofbiking An early Peter Saville

February 15th – The sun and mild weather at the moment are most welcome. Heading off on the scenic route to Lichfield for a meeting I crossed Ogley Junction footbridge and the shadows made me think of the great designer Peter Saville.

I love the effect of architectural shadows.

This journal is moving home. Please find out more by clicking here.

from Tumblr http://bit.ly/2T0rNE6
via IFTTT

#365daysofbiking I mist again

February 14th – An early morning train commute to Telford was gorgeous on a beautiful, late winter morning. It was cold with a lingering frost, but the low, clinging mist rendered everything it touched precious when the sun caught it.

From Grove Hill and Stonnall to Mill Green and Little Aston, this morning was a joy to be on a bike. I wouldn’t have missed this for the world – my only regret was that I couldn’t enjoy it for longer.

This journal is moving home. Please find out more by clicking here.

from Tumblr http://bit.ly/2Ea5WBW
via IFTTT

#365daysofbiking Relentless

February 3rd – After a very cold night, a lovely, sunny and almost warm spring day was welcome. Around midday, with the sun on my cheeks it could almost have been March, not February.

In the cemetery opposite St Annes Church in Chasetown, the serious business of advancing the season is pushing forward undaunted by a bit of ice and snow. The annual riot of crocuses is just kicking off, and was beautiful, but the primroses in the churchyard itself were weather lovely too.

Just what I needed after this thankfully brief cold snap.

This journal is moving home. Please find out more by clicking here.

from Tumblr http://bit.ly/2GaderE
via IFTTT

#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.

This journal is moving home. Please find out more by clicking here.

from Tumblr http://bit.ly/2GbuyMF
via IFTTT

#365daysofbiking Sugar me

January 30th – Heading to Hortonwood in the morning, I alighted in Telford in a snow shower that didn’t last long, but rendered the cycleway beautiful with an icing sugar dusting of fresh, undisturbed snow.

What made it even more gorgeous was at the same time, the sun was shining.

An odd experience on a beautiful, cold and crisp morning.

This journal is moving home. Please find out more by clicking here.

from Tumblr http://bit.ly/2S3lsb6
via IFTTT

#365daysofbiking Ice kingdom

January 23rd – The snow quickly petered out, and it went very cold overnight, with a small, further flurry in the early hours. I had stuff to do near home early in the morning, so left for work when the sun was well up and the sky a precious, azure blue.

Jockey Meadows in Walsall Wood and the Mystic Bridge in Darlaston were nothing short of stunning.

It’s not often we get sun and snow together like this. It was absolutely captivating, and a joy to be cycling in it.

For a while, my commute was like the kingdom of Narnia, and it ma=de me happy.

This journal is moving home. Please find out more by clicking here.

from Tumblr http://bit.ly/2S1fRl5
via IFTTT

#365daysofbiking Mist opportunity:

November 17th – A spin up to Chasewater after some mechanical jobs on the bike didn’t quite reward me the way I’d hoped: There was a mist settling and I was hoping for either an inversion or a gorgeous sunset – but neither occurred, just a hazy, soft dying of the light. 

Even a ride up the former pit mound to take in the view was uninspiring, sadly.

I made my return through CHasetown, and as always, the high street is brilliant at night. Even when there are few people around, it looks busy. I’ll never work that out.

Nice to see also that at Chasewater, the water levels are slowly recovering.

#365daysofbiking Inconceivable:

October 23rd – Darlaston on a sunny day. Heart of the north Black Country, architecture, memory, history and nature.

How could you not adore this place?

It feels like my second home.

As I gradually reboot from feeling lost, places like this help me feel it’s worth the while again.

#365daysofbiking – Inverted

October 19th – At least when the clocks go back it gives a second run up at the dawns. This one, a full inversion, was gorgeous. Mist clung low over the fields and I caught it at Barracks Lane and Shenstone when I was heading for the train.

Mornings like this make you glad to be alive.