#365daysofbiking Tinges:
September 15th – Nipping top Shenstone and Aldridge on errands, I stopped on the railway bridge to survey the classic view over the rooftops of the village, to note that autumn was coming here now – and not just the accelerated leaf drop of the leaf-miner affected horse chestnuts, either – but tinges of red and brown in most of the trees.
Soon this will be a riot of colour, and then bare trees again to close out the year.
Where has 2018 gone?
August 24th – I nipped to Stonnall on my way home, and the view from Shire Oak was a gorgeous as ever when I passed: I’ll never tire of that view of the Ladies of the Vale over the quarry and rolling countryside to Wall.
On my return to Brownhills, dusk was falling, and the new flats at Anchor Bridge glowed well as the dying sunlight caught the damp tarmac.
July 27th – A journey to Burntwood on the way home, and I noticed that the hills of Hammerwich were now stubble too. This view is changeless yet ever-changing, and it fascinates me.
A real slice of home.
June 29th – Ever wondered what that hill was on the horizon? Find dioramas a bit hit and miss? There’s a great piece of software for your smartphone called Viewranger.
It’s actually a quite good 2d/3d mapping application, but has this great augmented reality feature where you hold it to a view with the camera and it labels what you can see.It’s quite remarkable, and that functionality is free, too!
It was great for the view from Morridge over the Roaches.
February 26th – I needed to pop into Walsall Wood so crested Shire Oak Hill on the A461 Lichfield Road. That view at dusk is very special to me and always takes my breath away.
On the distant Black Country skyline, the huge seventeen storey tower block in Dudley, Butterfield Court. Several people have asked what this building is over the years, and recently I checked it on a map. There’s no doubt. over to the left, the twin blocks of Claverly and Clent Court.
Inbetween, the A461 Lichfield Road a snake of light and motion into the dusk.
Have to say, the new layout for the Lichfield Road and Shire Oak Junction has really reduced the peak time queues up Sandhills.
February 8th – Passing through Walsall and running some errands, I crossed Church Hill in a golden hour. Always a bit conflicted about the view from here these days – it’s obscured by tree growth now which is a bit of a shame, but the trees are lovely in summer.
A bit of a trim wouldn’t hurt I guess. All the better to se a town glowing in winter sun…
August 22nd – On a grey, grim morning in a dreadful hurry having been called in to work early, I stopped for a quick breather in Kings Hill and noted the twin sisters were looking good over in Wednesbury.
I’m so used to living workaday life in the shadow of this beautiful urban hill that I don’t pay attention to it enough. It’s gorgeous, and deserves more credit than it gets.
Green, with two stunning churches side by side, Church of England and Catholic, the view across the rooftops hasn’t changed much here in over a century.
Steady, slowly changing with the seasons, but essentially changeless. Always watching life below.
Oh how I love the Black Country.
July 7th – I’ve been up the Wrekin before, but never on a bike. And it was a great, if tiring experience. The view is as stunning as ever, and the views of Telford, the Welsh Mountains and even the Malverns are commanding. Even the idle and closed power station in the gorge looked tiny.
The ride up (about 85% ridden, 15% pushed) was tough but not as hard as expected, despite rock and loose gravel making the way treacherous, and the descent was easy too (although scary in some parts and it ate a pair of brake pads).
Two things of note – it was chilly up there, and the crows seem very tame and will actively try to take your snacks while you’re eating them.
The many dogs up there seem to enjoy it too.
June 16th – Summer is finally on her throne, and how glorious her reign. I slipped out after work on a circuit of the backlanes of Shenstone, and took in all the overcast but warm day offered. The hedgerows and fields are green, flowers are out (including the curious ones I found at Summerhill I can’t identify) and the view of Wall Church from Hiton was gorgeous.
Even the Victorian and decidedly austere pumping station at Shenstone looked incredible surrounded by lush pasture.
This is the time I love.
May 4th – On the way back, I had to pop to Stonnall, and it looked fairly clear so I had a quick go at Lichfield Cathedral from Shire Oak Quarry gates, a favourite muse of mine.
Not too bad for a handheld shot I don’t think. Nice to see the trees around the Old Ladies of the Vale greening up so nicely at last.
BrownhillsBob's #365daysofbiking 