June 10th – Despite the rain, wind and general lack of summer warmth and sun, the world does look beautifully green at the moment – a benefit of the rain I guess.
I hope summer comes soon. I can cope with the rain and grey just fine, but I do miss the sun and the effect it has on the world.
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May 1st – On the McLean Way early in the morning for a change (the old South Staffordshire Railway route from Brownhills to Walsall) I noted at Ryders Hayes that the sallow seeds were ripe and drifting on the breeze coating everything with fine white downy fluff.
Sallow isn’t the only member of the willow family to do this, nor is it the only species of tree, but it’s always fun to see, if a bit challenging to the airways to cycle through!
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April 27th – An absolutely awful day’s weather made riding a duty, not a pleasure. I held back and held back, hoping for the heavy winds and driving rain to abate – but they didn’t. I slipped out to the takeaway late.
Compounding the misery of rain in a fierce headwind, I realised I left the camera at home. But I discovered something I wasn’t really aware of: The phone does surprisingly good night shots.
A somnambulant and dripping wet Pier Street looks almost comforting and bright; but it it really was unpleasant.
Here\s hoping for better weather to come.
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March 16th – In Brownhills High Street, it was largely deserted. Not just due to the lateness of the hour, but because of the awful, endless rain and scouring wind.
I don’t mind Brownhills these days: I used to find the High Street problematic, with its reminders of a more prosperous past and failed dreams of regeneration, but of late, despite the derelict scar of Ravens Court it’s actually perceptibly on the up.
New housing has bought short, local footfall, and local convenience services are doing well, I think. Slowly, very slowly, things seem to be improving.
But here and now, in the grey dusk with rain falling steadily, better days seem a whole lifetime away.
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March 16th – A genuinely foul day, at least weather-wise. There were very strong, blustery winds and near constant rain, so I was limited to a short journey into Brownhills to get some shopping.
It was wet, cold and muddy, and really not a great day to be out.
In fact, the only souls I actually saw outside at all were the Canada geese. Even the mallards seemed to be in hiding.
Here’s hoping this grim spell passes soon.
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March 15th – Heading home from the station after a long afternoon legal meeting in Birmingham, in order to mitigate a rather evil wind, I took to the back lanes.
On my way, I passed this wonderful sight, which catches me by surprise every spring.
They must have been planted by some wonderful individual as they go in colour bands.
A beautiful thing.
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March 13th – I’m trying to not work such long hours, and leave work a little earlier.
This meant a commute home in daylight, and so I took the canal from the Black Cock Bridge to Anchor Bridge, which was remarkably wet and muddy.
Catching the sunset over Catshill Junction though made the journey home battling with hostile crosswinds worthwhile.
Hope the wind abates soon.
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March 10th – Some days you look at the photos you’ve taken and wonder if the camera experienced the same thing you did. Today was that kind of day.
I slipped out mid afternoon. I had things to check up on. I felt rough, I needed the air. But it was bitterly cold, had periodically been snowing, and there was a very wolfish wind that punished for any open zip or gap in clothing.
The towpaths and trails were muddy and wet, but I headed for the common anyway, and found it looking good. The heathland management is still going on here and the latest effort has been using and excavator to pull pack the grass in small squares all over the common.
This will help small, fragile plants take a hold and also give bugs and other small creatures access to fresh earth.
Looking at the pictures, I notice how blue the sky looks and how serene it appears. It was really rather unpleasant. My camera is lying.
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March 3rd – Sunday was a different kettle of fish. Saturday had been occasionally rainy, but had sunny periods and was warm, if a little grey and gusty. Sunday had a wind forged on Satan’s back doorstep and a driving rain that pierced clothes.
A quick run out around Clayhanger Common late afternoon to catch the dying of the day was in order. It was, to put it mildly, hell. I was glad to get home as a short, sharp but destructive storm arrived.
Some days were not made for riding a bike…
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February 7th – I have a new pair of pals and I’ve called them Arnold and Flossie.
This pair of young swan mates have been hanging about the canal at Bentley Bridge, between Pleck and Darlaston for a few weeks now and are surprisingly tolerant of human company.
I suspect they may well nest this year, which would be nice to see.
On this windy but otherwise pleasant, sunny morning they were both dozing on the towpath, out sheltering out of the wind when I stopped. They both listened while I talked to them and they allowed me to take photos without too much grumping.
I look forward top seeing more of these gorgeous characters in coming months.
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BrownhillsBob's #365daysofbiking 