November 4th – On an errand to Great Wyrley and Cannock, I took the backlanes to avoid the madness of Churchbridge. Across the grubby, semi-urban fields of Little Wyley, buzzards settled in trees and on wires and not a soul around to witness the most red, beautiful sunsets.
An unexpected moment of great beauty.
October 28th – A busy day, and I returned at dusk through Chasewater – where the deer were still loafing on the Rugby pitch and seem to have taken up permanent residence. This is remarkable, and not 20 yards away, the clubhouse was as active and noisy ars a busy social club can be, and the deer clearly weren’t bothered at all. The ability of red deer to integrate seamlessly into urbanity is astonishing.
The sunset on the canal, returning to Brownhills, was also beautiful, but dramatic, and the wind was biting. It was good to be near home.
October 27th – Yet the day had it’s best in store for me. Labouring up past Aldershaw feeling tired, I returned via Chesterfield, Wall Butts, Hilton and Stonnall in a truly glorious, remarkable golden hour of beautiful orange light and glowing autumn colour.
It’s amazing how one afternoon can completely transform your mood and lift you from the gloom you’ve been in.
October 17th – Well, if the day before had gone unexpectedly pink, the sunset when a gorgeous purple over Brownhills.
Rolling down the hill happy after seeing the deer, I was greeted by the most gorgeous sky. Unusually, I ducked off the High Street at Anchor Bridge, and on to the canal to catch it better.
Within the space of ten minutes, it had gone.
I was very pleased to have caught this. We’re having a great sunset season this year!
October 14th – A terrible, awful down day marked by frustration, local tragedy and blustery, unfavourable weather. A late ride our to Chasewater taking in a loop of Brownhills rewarded me with suitably sombre views, the gathering dark gradually enveloping the town.
Some days, you’re just glad to make it back to bed in one piece.
October 12th – Passing back through Walsall Wood at sunset, I was rewarded with a beautiful purple sky. How fabulous is that?
There really have been some wonderful sunsets of late.
October 10th – I returned to Shenstone on a horribly overcrowded, delayed train feeling flustered and weary, but then discovered something else I’d lost in recent months; that view of Shenstone Church across the village rooftops.
Shenstone Church is almost unique in British architecture – it’s a church which is improved when you can only see the elegant, foursquare tower and not the hideous, dark gothic edifice attached to it.
I used to pass through here a lot when working in Birmingham, Telford and Redditch, but these days with others now doing those jobs, I’m more based in Darlaston so don’t see the seasonal changes of this place as much as I used to, which is sad.
The treat of a gathering dusk over Lynn and Stonnall as I return home is still a wonderfully life affirming thing, though.
October 3rd – I’d forgotten my camera, I was heading home late and flustered, what an unfortunate time to witness an astonishing sunset.
Looking from Kings Hill west to Wolverhampton, across the ether the cellphone mast silently talks endlessly to, the sky was bright crimson, rippled and utterly stunning.
And the phone didn’t capture it at all. Bugger.
Ah well, there will be other sunsets that hopefully, catch me better equipped.
September 29th – As I came back to Brownhills, a great, violet sunset. I’d be interested to know why so many sunsets lately tend towards the purple rather than the red or orange. It must be meteorological, but it really is beyond my knowledge.
I love that view over Anchor Bridge to the weest. Always reminds me I’m coming back to Brownhills.
September 22nd – It was a long day. From Cradley, I had to drive to Derbyshire and back, and by the time I rode home at unset, I was tired and irritable and not feeling well. It seemed I had it with a cold.
Riding down Green Lane from Walsall, the sunlight caught the turning leaves and made them precious. Not too far from home, sunlight after a grim day, and the promise of good food, a brew and the comfort of family.
The lane and light called me on.
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