Galleries

September 2nd – With autumn looming large, and the forecast being good, I got in a good hayride to The Roaches, taking in Uttoxeter, The Weaver Hills, Marriage, the Roaches themselves, the Dane Valley, Wildboarclough and Macclesfield Forest, returning on the train.

It was a fantastic day, with great weather and a 100 mile plus ride.

I won’t elaborate too much on that as there’s a post hopefully coming on my main blog in the next day or so.

However, as with any long ride, it’s the quirky things that were great, particularly this elderly border collie at The Roaches Tea Rooms near Hulme End.

A great day. Stay tuned for more.

September 1st – I had to pop out again in the early evening as night fell on an errand, so took in the same loop of the canal I’d done earlier. The moon was high and beautiful, and the sunset again in wonderful lavender purple tones which reflected beautifully off the canal.

Morris Miner, also imperious and more at peace since the road resurfacing finished looked splendid in the gathering night.

I ride far and wide but sometimes the beauty is right there on our doorsteps.

September 1st – I returned from work mercifully early and did some work on the bike, before taking a spin late in the afternoon. Despite it being colder of late, the cat population is still active (well, as active as these laid back creatures get) and I spotted two cats I’d not met before: a black one peering at me from behind a car near Catshill Junction, and further up as I headed to Chasewater, the splendid grey and white youngster in a back garden near Millfield School.

Oh how I love these impromptu neighbour watches…

August 31st – This week has been difficult as I’ve been in work very early and out very late, so stopping for photos has been a bit difficult, so I apologise for the limited range in the last couple of days.

On my way to work – thankfully still in daylight, despite the early hour – passing through Kings Hill I noted a lovely, lithe ginger puss, who meowed and wanted fuss. As I reached for the camera, this clearly very busy individual spotted something worth stalking the other side of a factory years fence, squeezed through and was off.

I hope we meet again – that’s a handsome tail for sure!

August 30th – Posting letters at Darlaston Post Office, I spotted this very old metal plaque fixed to the wall above the postbox.

Think about this. Dig through the archaic legal language, and consider it. What on earth were the circumstances that were so severe this notice was required to be made in metal and fixed so prominently?

Answers on a postcard, placed in a postbox in full accordance with the bylaws please, to…

August 29th – A day of animals with no time to talk. I saw the tabby with the remarkably bush tail strolling purposefully down where else but the Catroplis that is Scarborough Road. 

I suspect puss is female, and was having no truck with my sort. Despite calling, making gentle gestures and the like, she said me zero heed and continued her walk down the road.

The squirrel in Victoria Park was similarly busy, gathering and burying acorns, storing food for winter, or ay be just starting off new saplings, who knows?

Neither animal stopped long enough for a good photo, so sadly, you’ll have to make do with these snatches quick ones, because… they were so busy.

August 28th – I suppose inevitably, the forest is gearing up for Autumn which does seem to be encroaching a little early this year, with early examples of fungi making an appearance. I was particularly surprised by the red fly agaric – the classic spotted toadstool – which don’t normally appear for at least a month yet. The sulphur tuft (thanks, John!) were particularly pretty.

But the sun streamed through the trees, the bugs buzzed and it was quiet – and on a day when I normally feel that summer is over, I had a great ride.Perhaps it’s not over yet.

August 28th – A slow 40 mile bimble on a windier, but very hot August Bank Holiday Monday – it’s not many years you can say that about. I rode out wearily, late afternoon for cake and tea at Great Haywood. On the best afternoon for a long time, the Lock Cottage cafe was inexplicably closed, but the Canalside Farm one was open, were I enjoyed good cake and earl grey watching the boats go by.

A run back down the canal and over the Chase was very hard though. I’m certainly not as young as I was and 180 miles in a weekend is a lot these days.

August 27th – I did a 75 mile ride out beyond Tamworth into Leicestershire. I hadn’t rode this way for a decade or more – and I headed for Barton in the Beans and Newton Burgoland through beautiful, sunny countryside on another warm, still day.

A great ride.

But those place names? Go home, Leicestershire – you’re drunk.

August 28th – I’d heard there was going to be a a canal festival/floating market thing at Alvecote Marina in Tamworth, so I took a spin out to check it out – it was a fine event, with what must have been nearly 100 boats, floating traders, food, drink and entertainment. 

It was very crowded and a very hot afternoon, but it was a lovely do.

As ever, the dogs made it. Boater dogs really are characters.