Galleries

March 27th – Heading on an errand to Burntwood, I passed through Chasetown, past the Church Street open space, where the red deer seem to take refuge when Chasewater is busy. There were a small group of nine or ten animals, loafing and grazing contentedly, seemingly oblivious to a dog running around nearby. They were not bothered by my approach, either and were content to allow me to photograph them.

I adore the old lady with the wonky ear – I’ve seen her before and she’s quite the star. I also note the herd are going into moult, hence the patchiness of their coats.

Such a joy to see these wonderful creatures.

March 26th – Ah, spring’s escapement lurches, and the wheels of the season click forward a notch – the swans are nesting again at the Watermead Estate in Brownhills.

They seem to be in the same spot as last year, which is pretty well protected from vermin and out of reach of all but the most determined threat; I can’t be sure it’s the same birds, but it seems likely as a pair have nested here near the houses and canoe club for a good few years now. 

Last year’s brood was large and successful – let’s hope for the same this year, and mum seems to be sitting already!

March 25th – A great Good Friday ride. I slipped out at lunchtime and headed through Caldwell to Longdon, then through Rugeley, Stockwell Heath and Blithfield to a cake stop near Abbots Bromley; then over to Hoar Cross, back through the Needwood Valley and Lichfield. 

It wasn’t a very warm day, and in truth, was very breezy, but the blooming spring flowers, awakening wildlife and sun-bathed scenery made this an excellent ride.

I need more of this in my life.

March 24th – I keep seeing this fellow about the canal recently. I’m assuming it’s the same bird – I’ve seen him up by Newtown in Brownhills, and today by Clayhanger Bridge at the rear of the Maybrook Industrial Estate. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a crested grebe on the canal before. 

I suppose there’s no reason why not, but I do wonder why these delightful birds – common at Chasewater – are not seen on the canals much if at all.

A mystery.

March 24th – Passing through Wednesbury, I noticed this bank of daffodils by an industrial estate verge. Now that’s a fine thing and I was very happy to see them, then I noticed that amongst the standard yellow variety, there was white too.

I wonder if that was a happy accident or a genetic mutation? Whatever the cause, a delight to the soul for sure.

March 23rd – The towpath resurfacing between Walsall town centre and Bentley Mill Way continues, as I noted earlier in the week, tarmac is being laid on top of compacted ballast. It’s a nice enough surface, but I’m still bemused by the pointlessness of it all.

Today I passed as they work crew were filling a butty with hot asphalt, ready to spread and roll. The ease with which it tipped from the excavator bucket and the steam that billowed suggested it was very hot indeed – and it made me wonder how it was heated – in the yard or from the place it was produced? I suppose the limestone grit it’s made from has quite a high specific heat capacity, so it must hold heat awhile.

One thing I always love about hot tarmac is the smell. It’s one of the really strong smells I recall for some reason from my childhood, and one sniff of it and I’ back in the schoolyard.

Funny how smells do that to you.

March 23rd – I need to get a better look at this sometime soon, but today I found myself in Blue Lane East, Walsall, between Stafford Street and the Police Station on Green Lane. On the opposite corner to the cop shop is St Patricks’s Catholic Church, school, and this building, which I assume must be the vicarage or rectory for a much earlier church that the current semi-brutalist modern one.

It’s occurred to me writing this that I know very little of the catholic history of Walsall – I ought to rectify that.

The details on the old house are astounding. Such wonders lurk in the backstreets of Walsall.

March 22nd – A cockup. I took loads of photos today on the way to work, not realising I had the camera set in some horrid artistic mode and they all came out as blurry rubbish.

The only pictures that came out reasonably where these, where I’d picked a different mode – and being handheld, neither are very good, sadly.

I had to call in to Walsall Wood on the way home, and hopped on the canal at Hollanders Bridge. The night-cap from there was  gorgeous, as were the lights of Barrow Close. I just wish I’d captured them better.

Ah well, another day.

March 20th – It’s been 5 years since I last visited Freda’s Grave on Cannock Chase. It’s up near Brockton Field, and is a little historical curiosity. The resting place of a beloved Canadian military mascot, Freda the harlequin Great Dane (not a dalmatian as often claimed) who was stationed with her regiment here on the military camp that existed during the Great War.

It’s not in an immediately obvious place, and finding it on the heath high above the Sherbrooke Valley is a rite of passage for many a young Cannock Chase rookie.

Then you turn around, and that wide open landscape stretched to the distance, just waiting to be explored. Fantastic stuff.

You can read about Freda’s Grave here.

March 20th – At a cafe near Cannock Chase, an outdoor eating area monitored by small birds, just looking out for left scraps or dropped crumbs.

These are bold birds, familiar with humans, and just a bit more tolerant than their far more skittish rural counterparts, but they make terrific photographs.

I’d like to claim responsibility for the photos, but they were taken by my companion and were too good not to use. But we were on the same ride, so that’s what counts.

A joy to the heart.