April 28th – Also on the canal bank at Walsall Wood, anyone know what these are? Are they a bloom, or a bud? They look almost pre-historic. The leaves look a bit willow-ish. Never noticed this before.
Anyone, please?
Galleries
April 28th – There are a couple of unsung hedgerow stars at the moment. For everyone else, right now it seems to be about oilseed rape, bluebells, and cherry blossom. But look around. Pretty much everything is having a great year so far. The dandelions – the yellow, beautifully delicate yet ubiquitous wildflower – are really, really prolific. The apple blossom too is astonishing in its density and clarity.
It might be about the spring classics right now, but look beyond them and there’s a whole host of other stuff just trying to get your attention.
These were all on a very short section of canal bank in Walsall Wood.
April 27th – I was working throughout the day, and only got out late evening. It was threatening rain, and dusk was bearing down. I then realised I’d forgotten the camera, so had to use my phone. It didn’t really like the light, I think.
Nice to see that in the last week my favourite tree – the lone horse chestnut near Home Farm, Sandhills, has burst into leaf; I read the seasons by that tree, and now I know safe passage to summer is guaranteed. The canal all the way round to Newtown (and probably well beyond) is lush, and green, and beautiful. How I love this season.
Cruising up Short Street, I spotted the sky, and shot home before I got soaked. Interesting to note, though, that the street lights here have been changed for new LED ones; they’re very good, and are creeping onto many streets in Brownhills. Wonder what the rollout plan is?
So much nicer than the old orange ones.
April 26th – I nipped down to Stonnall late afternoon on an errand. It was a hazy day, but pretty clear, and as I crossed the Shire Oak junction, I noticed that a patch of sunlight was moving over Lichfield. Pulling in to the quarry gateway, I thought I’d try the new camera on the view. Not too shabby, really; it was very misty, but the Old Lady of the Vale looked splendid, as did the Coors (formerly Bass) brewery tower in Burton. In the upper shot, the disused cooling towers of Willington, near Derby, are clearly visible.
I never tire of this view, and I love the way it’s greening up as the leaves come on.
April 26th – I spotted her on the opposite bank of the canal from Clayhanger Common. Sat on the canalside verge at the bottom of Silver Street, Brownhills, a proud mallard mum with a brood of very young ducklings, mostly well tucked in underneath and shielded by her wings.
I’ve never seen a mallard do this before. The motherly pride in her offspring is quite clear – I found it delightful.
April 25th – Riding in the rain when the weather is warm isn’t that bad – once you’re wet, you’re wet and with waterproofs, that takes a good while. But after a week at work, when you’re tired, the light is poor and the traffic relentless, you just want to get home, have a shower, put something fresh on and have a decent cup of tea.
These bike cam stills give a flavour of the journey. Like riding at night, it’s mentally very demanding, as there’s more stuff that you have to mentally process, and the traffic tends to be mad.
I was glad, If I’m honest, to get home.
09.03.2014. “ Erewash Valley Trail ” The return
For the most part of the return we are on bridleways and the disused Nottingham canal. Parts of the old canal have been filled in completely, Although some sections still hold water, and indeed fish. As you near the outskirts of Nottingham we are unfortunately pushed onto the roads and shared use footpaths. And then into another nature reserve just before the Trent Way path, Which then takes us back to Trent Lock ! our start point. A very enjoyable days cycling with perfect weather. 32 mls on the trail, added to the 16 mls on the Trent Way in the morning, 48 mls ! our longest trip to date.
Sunday 30th March 2014 “ Disused and abandoned ”
Just a few more pictures from our cycling trip Ironbridge to Bridgenorth, from the disused power station, to the abandoned farmhouse & the tree that is slowly but surely reclaiming this brick building. This trail is littered with history. In fact the area gets it’s name from the world first cast iron bridge that spans the river severn, but guess what, ( I didn’t get a picture )
Sunday 6th April 2014
” Kenilworth to Warwick ” ( entirely off road )
Regular followers of this blog may remember a post a few weeks back when we used the sustrans route from Kenilworth to Warwick, I wasn’t a big fan of the route, and was quite critical about it. We were then messaged by a fellow tumblr user, informing us of a regular route he uses along bridleways from Kenilworth castle to Hatton locks on the grand union canal, which we could then use as a link to Warwick.
With nothing better to do with our Sunday ! we decided to check it out. We picked up the bridleway at the rear of the castle, the first section was extremely muddy ! in fact impassable in places ( even on foot ) perseverance paid off, as it wasn’t long before we hit decent paths meandering through the Warwickshire countryside. Lots of reap seed fields that were just starting to flower, the last pic with the very angry sky, was approaching Hatton park estate, we were greeted by a sign requesting that the local dog walkers use their poo bags.
Thursday 10th April 2014
” Deja ” not so Vu, two
It never ceases to amaze me how ! when your cycling along at about 10mph, how much there is to see. All these cheeky chappies were all very happy to pose for photographs.
Although some of them were clearly very busy ! Like the ducks shepherding there ducklings, The one protecting the nest was very vocal ! trying to warn off other waterfowl, notably a couple of swans, who incidentally were just finishing off a rather nasty fight. The Heron was doing it’s very best to stay perfectly still, his only giveaway was the occasional blink.
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