September 16th – Not really sure what’s going on here but it snagged my attention as I cycled past: at St. Mark’s Church in Shelfield, there seems to be some kind of scarecrow festival going on.
It all looks very jolly, and I particularly liked the two chaps on the roof, but a bit unsure why the ones by the front door are apparently in jail…
September 14th – My pals the coos are back at Jockey Meadows. It seems to be the same beef herd of young males that was there in early summer, and they seem to have settled back in well. They’re clearly enjoying the job – managing the meadow by grazing, browsing the scrub, churning the soil and spreading the cow-pat love.
Generally laid back and relaxed about life, they do tend to investigate anyone who comes to the field gate. Such gently nosey, lovely animals.
September 13th – If you didn’t get a copy of last week’s Walsall Advertiser and live in Walsall Wood, it seems to have been dumped under the pedestrian walkway next to the Black Cock bridge.
About 30 copies, clearly dumped to avoid the work of actually delivering them.
Clearly not the sharpest tool in the box, because if they’d been dumped in a recycling bin instead nobody would have been the wiser.
September 13th – He wasn’t very happy with me at all. Sat on a waterside deck in Walsall Wood, in a garden that backs onto the canal, I was amused by his furry tummy.
He wasn’t keen to have his picture taken and yowled at me from over the water.
Oh well.
September 12th – These were incredible. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them before.
In a field near Harlaston, I spotted their bright white shapes as I sped past. A quick about turn, and I found the largest puffball fungus I’ve ever seen.
Almost pristine, largely globular shaped and the size of a small football, they were like some alien egg rather than fungi, but looking them up at home they are clearly giant puffballs.
The looked like plaster casts.
A real find – and apparently edible.
September 12th – Another great ride on a sunny, beautiful transitional day. In some ways it was late summer, but in others, autumn, and there was a keen wind, but the loop around Whittington, Rosliston, Coton in the Elms, Lullington and Harlaston was gorgeous.
The cyclamen at Lullington were breathtaking, and having to stop for a flock of ducks in Coton was lovely – especially since once clearly had a bit of Elvis in him.
Really enjoying being back in the saddle for more leisure rides. The weather is lovely at the moment, too.
September 11th – Then there was Staffordshire itself: just trying on it’s autumn coat, it was beautifully languid, with surprisingly vivid colour. The church at Newborough remains stunning, but oh, how red were those apples?
A great 60 miler on quiet roads and backlanes it what must surely be this summer’s last breath.
September 11th – I tried out Cobwebs coffee shop near Abbots Bromley – and fine tea and cake was enjoyed in a beautiful garden spot, which I seemed to be sharing with several hundred wasps.
This is a great place and I will be back, and this sunny, warm afternoon was perfect for it.
September 11th – Today was largely about the River Trent, I crossed i at several places, and I finally go a look around the flood defences at Armitage that I’d been intending to do for years.
It used to be a filthy waterway, but no longer. Today it was clear, wide and beautiful.
September 11th – Bumper update today as I had a lovely Indian summer ride out to Abbots Bromley, Newborough and Dunstall.
Here at Hanney Hay near Hammerwich, just down from Meerash Farm, a field full of strikingly green proso-millet.
I have no idea if the use is as animal or human feed, or even biofuels, but it’s a handsome, beautifully coloured crop.
Cheers to Tony Jakeman for the identification. I’ve never seen it before.
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