Images

June 28th – In stark contrast to the busy main lines of Leicester, the South Staffordshire line near Lichfield lies silent, mothballed, and slowly decaying. The last trains to trip this forlorn crossing at Fosseway, near Wall, would have been oil trains to the the long since gone Charringtons terminal at Anglesey Sidings. I wonder if these barriers will ever descend for passenger traffic again? A sad indication of the lack of transport vision in the country.

June 28th – Back in Leicester for a meeting, early morning. Returning at lunchtime, I sat waiting with my bike for what seemed like an age at the barren, lonely South Wigston station. I’m by no means a train anorak, but I’m interested in the different things that pass. This bright yellow Plasser & Theurer rail grinder waited at distant signals for 10 minutes before rolling noisily past. The thunder is still quite awesome.

27th June – Of all the flowers taking part in the riot of summer colour right now, my heart is stolen mostly by the vetch that grows on verges and field margins, forming a thick, yellow, orange and red carpet of vivid, joyous colour. When I was a kid, we used to call this delicate but hardy plant ‘Egg & Bacon’. I think it’s gorgeous.

This fine example is proliferating on the embankments to the cycle tack through the Goscote Valley. A fine sight indeed.

June 27th – The hot weather of the weekend had clarified the canal water and the fish that normally dwell in the town’s waterways were clearly visible all around Walsall. I know nothing about fish, but there were some fine specimens visible on this hot afternoon. They seemed unsettled – I wonder if they were fearing their sudden exposure to fisherman and heron alike?

June 26th – Sad to see the Red Lion at Longdon Green closed up and up for lease. This has the potential to be a fine country pub. Sat overlooking a gorgeous village green, I used to love a pint here. Sadly another victim of the social shift away from the pub. I hope it can find a loving owner, it’s a gorgeous building.

Edit 30th June: I’ve heard since posting that the Red Lion has been saved and is likely to be open again at the weekend. This is excellent news and I welcome the new landlords and wish them all the best. It’s a great pub.

June26th – Farewell church is so secluded, one might not realise it existed at all. There has been a religious presence here since 1140, and this is a very old place, the current St. Bartholomew’s church was built in 1745, and hides down a narrow, leafy track that dives sharply from Stonywell Lane. Here one is truly far from the madding crowd, the shady churchyard being a favourite haunt of cyclists and ramblers alike.

June 26th – After the Canal Festival at Brownhills I took a lazy, hot ride up over Longdon Edge. Climbing Shute Hill near Burntwood is always a challenge, but is rewarded by excellent views and the most wonderful sequence of tumbling, twisting lanes. From the top of hill, the view northwards over the plains is stunning and green. Is there anywhere finer than Staffordshire on her summer throne?

June 25th – I’m quite fond of public art, but some just baffles me. I have nothing against this steel cube – standing as it does near Ryecroft Cemetery on National Cycle Route 5 through the Goscote Valley – it’s just a bit dull. Possibly one of the few artworks improved by graffiti. The most startling thing about it, considering it’s location, is that it hasn’t been nicked for scrap. They’re an enterprising bunch round here when it comes to such things…

June 24th – The former Spring Cottage pub at Shelfield – an insalubrious, rough pub – closed a year of two back, and has stood empty and forlorn ever since. Never a pleasant house, it’s future lies in a different purpose. Speaking to a surveyor here in the week, I’m told this is being converted into a Co-op store. I like the Co-op, and it seems to be a sensible location.

Work has been ongoing here for some time, and looks set to continue for a good while yet.

June 24th – Another day, another wet ride home. The Arboretum Junction in Walsall is a dreadful design. A perfectly serviceable island has been replaced by a hugely complex traffic light controlled crossway. I often end up here, waiting 10 minutes at a time for the lights in my lane to turn green. I loathe this fiddly, overcomplicated piece of urban design with a passion.