April 21st – Of course, the sunset was yet to come and it was a sign of my slothiness that I caught it on the canal at Newtown, Brownhills.
The colours of the day were beautiful, the colours of the sunset were stunning.
Sometimes, recovery is not in what you do, but what you see.
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February 22nd – Returning from work a little earlier than usual and in daylight, I spotted this splendid calico cat taking a drink from the canal near Humphries House.
One of the best things about spring is the re-emergence of the feline population, usually all cosy indoors in the cold.
I hope I meet this one again – it seems quite a character!
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January 27th – It’s good to see the water rising again at Chasewater. I noticed today that the level had now reached the balancing culverts at the Nine Foot Pool, and now was probably around a metre off being full.
This is quite good progress considering how low the level was late last year to facilitate anti-erosion work on the causeway.
Of course, to make up that last metre, it takes a lot of rain, but it will be nice to see it full once more.
Tat awful quandary, the needed but unwanted rain…
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January 13th – For some reason the overflow at Silver Street was running heavily, which surprised me as we haven’t had that much rain and I don’t think the Chasewater valves are open at the moment.
It made for an interesting 30 second exposure over the canal surface though, looking a bit like ice.
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#365daysofbiking A cautionary tale:
October 12th – Never upset the teddy bear mafia.
Barney here did, and he came to a watery end.
Consider this a warning.
#365daysofbiking Falling slowly
September 2nd -I’m under the impression that water is being released from Chasewater at the moment for a dam inspection; but usually the water in recent years has been low at the end of summer.
With the reservoir being kept so high these days generally, it seems to worry people when the level drops, but this was perfectly normal for years when I was younger.
It might not be great for the Watersport folks, but for lovers of the mini-beach at the north end of the dam it’s a real boon…
August 25th – A good deed for the day. Heading out, I noticed for the second time this year, a pwood pigeon downed in the canal near Ogley Hay.
I was unaware wood pigeons couldn’t swim until I found one in the canal near Oldbury in the summer – they float, but just drift and will clearly drown before long. I rescued that one, but it was difficult as I had nothing to get it close enough to grab from the water. In response to that I now carry a length of thin rope which I held both ends of and tossed the loop over and beyond the stuck bird.
Gently pulling it to the bank, I took the pigeon from the water, and popped him under the hedge to dry out, poor thing.
Funny how I’ve never seen this before and find two within a few months.
July 29th – Following all the brouhaha over the leak at Little Bloxwich and the dispute between the owners of Chasewater, Staffordshire County Council and the people who rely on it for water, the Canal and River Trust, it’s interesting to see the valves are open at Chasewater, resulting in waternflowing into a full canal and draining away via it’s overflows.
I guess they have their reasons, but it seems odd to be wasting the water at the moment, with conditions having been so dry. Perhaps they’re trying to keep up flow into the Ford Brook. The level of Chasewater itself is, of course, steadily falling now.
Nice to watch and listen to the water though – very relaxing on a dull, cool wet afternoon.
July 19th – Following the canal breach a few weeks ago, that saw the local canals lose nearly a foot in level following a breach into a culvert beneath the waterway at Little Bloxwich, the repair has been effected and levels are back up to a healthy level now.
At Clayhanger, the low end of the overflow is now running well and it’s a fine sight and sound once more.
June 30th – At Hints Ford, the water was cool and the air shady and still, and I spent a good 30 minutes just enjoying the relaxed, verdant scene and listening to water.
Sometimes, after a long ride, that’s all you really need.
I’ve been coming here since I was 12. It’s not really changed much, thankfully. This place is in my heart.
BrownhillsBob's #365daysofbiking 