Galleries

March 19th – Back to work, and off to Telford. It was a gorgeous, bright but frosty morning. My chosen station of departure, Shenstone, looked as beautifully rural as ever. Despite having nor real facilities and problematic accessibility – only steps on the northbound side – it remains one of my favourite local stations. It’s usually quite easy to get your bike on the southbound train here, too,  A real joy to travel from.

March 18th – A remarkable sunset. I’d been at a family do in Chase Terrace and returned via Chasewater at sundown. The sky to the east for a short time was a bright crimson red, and the sunset itself to the west was  almost neon. These images haven’t been retouched. A remarkable event, and I’m glad I witnessed it.

March 17th – Unusually, I came home through Hammerwich. I don’t usually do that, but had to pop into Brownhills West on the way back. The weather was vey grim, and I only just missed getting soaked. Hammerwich, however, was as beautiful as ever, and the overcast weather made for moody, cinematic photos. On the corner of the bizarrely-named Lions Den and Station Road, I noticed Hall Cottage, which I’d not really studied previously. A beautiful little house.

March 17th – A recovery ride. I had to do some bits and pieces in Lichfield, which was a good opportunity to spin the aching legs. Surprisingly,  they were quite fluid once I got moving. The weather was rather grim and Lichfield as quiet as I’d come to expect it lately. It really is starting to give the feeling of a place half asleep. It was in Breadmarket street that I noticed this; it must have been a really, really unlucky shot, speared neatly on a pigeon spike. That’s gotta hurt… I bet the prize striker got a ribbing for it.

March 16th – A 115 mile day ride. Up with the birds, an on the train to Cromford, Derbyshire, at 7:00am. Arriving at 8:20, I had breakfast, then hit the High Peak Trail, which starts with a 300m climb out of the Derwent Valley. Transferring to the Tissington trail and Penine Bridalway, I shot down into Chee Dale via the A6 at Topley Pike, before undertaking the Monsal Trail in the downhill direction. Back on the A6 at Bakewell, into Derby, back out via Mackworth, Etwall, Egginton and the joys of cycle route 68. Homewards via Burton and Lichfield, a great ride.
As readers can probably tell, this week I’ve had some time to myself away from work to get back in condition to undertake some longer, summer rides. Easier than I thought, my pace wasn’t keen, but my stamina was good. A great, if not terribly photogenic day. 

March 15th – High Bridge used to conduct the Uttoxter Road over the River Trent at Handsacre, until it became to small for the increasing level of traffic. It still nobly spans the waterway, but it lets the new bridge do the work of carrying the B5013. Built in 1830 by the Coalbrookdale Company, it’s a fine bridge, and one of several noble bridges in Staffordshire sidelined for stronger, younger models. Pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians can still cross though, and admire the wonderful views and brilliant, elegant engineering. A hidden, almost forgotten gem.

March 13th – Chasewater was great tonight. It was slightly chilly, but there was a lovely, hazy softness to the sunset that was really captivating. I swung round the dam works via the bypass path and headed over the boardwalk to Fly Bay. The really great thing about this place is that I keep finding bits of it that I didn’t know existed. Halfway over the bay, I found this boardwalk bridge and steps, leading to the bench and fingerpost overlooking the north shore. I hoped to see some deer on my return over the heath and down the railway causeway, but sadly even the cows were in hiding. A lovely end to the day.

March 12th – Half at work, half not. Just doing a few bits and pieces that matter, then going my own way for a few days. Today, I popped to Darlaston for an hour or two at lunchtime, then headed off on the canal to Birmingham. The sun came out, and Birmingham and the Black Country performed beautifully. Anyone who says this place is ugly hasn’t looked. This is a gorgeous place, and I want to shout it from the rooftops. Up yours, London…

March 11th – The encroaching spring doesn’t trouble the fallow deer at Penkridge Bank, Cannock Chase much. Here rain or shine, winter or summer, tis sizeable herd of deer loaf in this area as there’s ready food and ideal woodland close by. These animals are used to humans and merely wary of me and my camera, losing interest when they realise I’ve no carrots. What a joy it must be to live here and see them daily. The children of a nearby house are so used to them, they take no notice….