October 4th – The fly agaric are a bit thin on the ground this year, probably due to the dry autumn. I only found two in my favourite spot on the canal, and they had both been nibbled.
I love these toadstools. I hope that if we do have rains this week that the grow in profusion like previous years. There’s something magical about them.
October 4th – I have no idea what his name was, but this young golden retriever was happily jumping in to Chasewater to retrieve the ball continually tossed back by his mistress.
He has such a lovely, good natured retriever grin, and his joy is tangible. Clearly a lovely dog to own.
October 4th – A considerably different day, the sun was again shining and warm on my back. I had other stuff to do, so I spun up to Chasewater and back along route 5 over Engine Lane.
The canals and byways really have the autumn jacket on now, although there are still pockets of flowers around – and I’d be interested to know what the pink ones are.
October 3rd – The old railway between Pelsall and Brownhills (actually part of a longer line from Dudley to Lichfield) was grubbed up in the early 1980s. Some of the tracked from Pelsall to Walsall was converted into a cycle trail at the turn of the Millennium, but the section between Ryders Hayes and the old crossing at the back of the Swan Pub on the Pelsall Road seems to have developed a peculiar status. Whilst not an official cycleway, volunteers have been clearing it and keeping it useable, and it’s now a popular route for cyclists and dog walkers alike.
In contrast to the greyness of the Marsh and Mere, this was quite beautiful.
October 3rd – A short recovery ride over to Clayhanger Marsh and Ryders Mere to keep the legs going and get some fresh air. The afternoon was very grey, and it’s on days like this I often used to see the gnarled old dog fox who hunted here. I think he must have passed away by now, but I thought of him as I surveyed the grey, still waters.
Me and that fox knew each other – we were familiars. As far as I was concerned, he was just another resident of the area, using the facilities available. To him, I was tolerable company as long as I kept silent, made no sudden movements and minded my own business.
Ah well, I daresay one or two of his extended family were watching me from the thickets nearby as I remembered him.
October 2nd – The return from Derby was long and leisurely. Lots of stops to graze, take in the view and just enjoy the atmosphere of a gorgeous golden hour, made more sweet by the knowledge I’d caught what was probably one of the last such days in the year.
The avenue in Shobnall Park in Burton is like a film set, and as the sun set over the Trent at Wychnor, I reflected on how rivers had been a recurring feature of the ride.
And Minster Pool in Lichfield is always worth a good night shot or two.
A great ride, that I was very lucky to enjoy.
October 2nd – As well as Leicester, there will always be a place in my heart for Derby, which similarly, is often dismissed as grimy, post industrial and dull – but such dismissals are wrong. Very wrong. Derby is full of lovely wide streets like Friarsgate, and around every corner there’s another interesting piece of architecture. And of course, the majesty of the River Gardens and Cathedral.
One of the best things is you can come all the way from Osgathorpe, near Melbourne, right to the River Gardens, on totally traffic free trails and only have to cross a handful of roads.
October 2nd – The run from Leicester to Derby is lovely, and contrasted sleepy waterways with stunning brutalist architecture, wide vistas, quiet trails and bustling shared-use tracks beside busy roads.
I love the wind turbine, and the halls of residence at Loughborough University look like some spaceship ready to launch. But the sleepy views over the west Leicestershire countryside were gorgeous, as was the tranquility of the car-free trail into Derby over the Trent at Swarkestone.
A great ride.
October 2nd – I felt this was probably going to be the last good day of the Indian summer, and headed out for a long ride. I had a small errand to do in Leicester, so caught the train at dawn, and resolved to ride home on NCN 6 to Derby, then back from there along the Trent corridor.
I came through Spinney Hills early in the day. This row of remarkable terraces – all named after classical characters – is astounding.
Every time I come to Leicester I spot some new architectural gem. I love this place.
October 1st – Although the wonderful Indian summer continues, each day seems to be getting noticeably colder now. Mid afternoon in the sun, it was warm on my back, like April; but move around and autumn chilled the air. It’s making for some divine golden hours, though, and the scenery around the canals is gorgeous now. Trees are turning, and soon everywhere will be golden.
Autumn is OK once you accept it.
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