I’ve not been as diligent at uploading Panoramio stuff recently as I should have been – sorry about that. Yesterday I added 34 new pictures, and there have been some orphaned uploads since I started blogging, so this seems an appropriate point to document the stuff I’ve neglected.

It’s also worth pointing out that if you haven’t checked lately, there’s been a new ‘blue dot’ Panoramio update to Google Earth; lots of photos have now been added as high level blue dots on the map – one of only two or three of such high level updates since Christmas. Why not have a mooch and see what’s new? There’s an extra 100 or so photos of mine on there now, for starters… as well a a million or more other images from users all around the world!

I’ve been getting about around the countryside east and north of Lichfield quite a bit recently; some weekends have had atrocious weather and indulging in circuitous trips that stay fairly close to home seems like a good policy. I took these five images on a wet Sunday evening ride out round Whittington, Hopwas and Hints.

In the distance here, beyond the oilseed rape, a storage depot can be seen to the north east of the new road bridge at Hademore (you’ll need to click on the image within the Panoramio page and view full-size). These days it’s the home of Lyalvale Express, who make shotgun ammunition, but formerly belonged solely to ICI and housed some kind of explosives depot. There’s conflicting information, but the site may still be home to an industrial explosives depot run by Orica, who purchased the business from ICI. It’s semi-buried ‘bunkers’ puzzle many that travel the road between Whittington and Elford.

The weather remained threatening, but only brief showers resulted. Some great skies, however…

After Hints Open Gardens on spring bank holiday Sunday, I took a spin over through Elford, Harlaston and Edingale. I finally got a picture of the big old three floored farmhouse ‘The Grange’ at Croxall that I was happy with, and of a peculiarly marooned tree in the quarry works at Sittles. I felt sorry for it and hopefully it’s now immortalised…

On the same miserable, blustery day that I took a ramble round the old reservoir at Shire Oak, I visited Walsall to pick up a parcel – whilst there, I wandered around and took some snaps of interesting buildings as I bimbled up to the memorial gardens on Church Hill. The gardens were locked, and the pictures weren’t very good, but they do show that Walsall has a surprisingly rich and diverse architectural history.

From the groovy musical instruments stuccoed onto the facade of the old Taylor’s music shop (awful perspective, sorry about that) to the terracotta Gothic of the C&G, From the handsome, harsh squareness of the Highgate Brewery Stores (formerly the Punch and Judy) to the elegant Guildhall, Walsall has a remarkable amount of intriguing, fascinating architecture. Then came the 1960’s and some plank thought the Overstrand would be a good idea, and now we’ve got a hideous Asda shed wrecking the view from the Church Hill steps, too. Bring it on guys, you can wreck it completely if you try just a bit harder. I just love the New Art Gallery, however…

An unusual late May trip across the Chase on a windy Saturday gave up some fun images. I don’t normally do Cannock Chase in summer – too many young kids, too many dogs make for a nerve-wracking ride of brake abuse and walking pace speeds – but this day was windy and the woodland seemed quite empty. Dropping down Hayfield Hill and hauling up to Castle Ring was the usual roller-coaster, as was crossing Stonepit Green and Wandon to Slitting Mill. The girl on that wire crossing on the Go Ape aerial course at Birches Valley took my breath away…

From Birches valley, I took a fast descent down into Rugeley and hopped on the canal to Shaw Lane, on the far side of Armitage. The canal in the Trent valley has some interesting architecture too, in its’ many varied bridges and canalside structures. The Armitage Shanks factory provides a stunning monument to the British ceramic industry in the form of a huge, magnificent industrial complex fronting the canal like a cliff face. Even on a weekend, one could hear the noise of an industry at work…

In complete contrast, at the bottom of a waterside garden, the perfect canalside hideaway. Just love the skeleton on the door…

During the final weekend of May, I at last got a decent ride in. On the Saturday 30th, I took advantage of the warm weather and headed off on a 120 mile day ride up through Staffordshire to Sudbury, across Derbyshire to Carsington Water, along the High Peak Trail from Middleton Top to Parsley Hay; back down the Tisssington Trail to Tissington. From the cake stop there, I climbed over the Weaver Hills through Ilam, Throwley and Calton, dropping back down into the Dove valley at Ellastone, before heading home through Rocester, Uttoxeter and crossing Blithfield Reservoir via the causeway to Rugeley and Longdon. It was a wonderful ride in blazing sunshine – the roads quiet with plenty of picturesque little villages on the way. The trail was also quiet – I suppose that’s an advantage of going for a spin on cup final day!

I came upon a ford between Hulland Ward and Kirk Ireton – where the Serbourne Brook crosses the Bigginmill Lane – it provided welcome foot-cooling…

I was passed by a load of vintage cars coming up by Carsington Water – there were more later in the afternoon in the villages around Tissington. I think it was the Ashbourne vintage car rally, and there really were some splendid motors. Seeing an open top classic car pass you with all occupants in period dress really brings a smile to your face.

There’s a milepost bearing the name and date ‘Darby 1795’ at the T junction between Hopton and Godfreyhole, a name I always find amusing, in a carry-on kind of way.

Passing the Bagot Forest, a mile or so north of Blithfield Reservoir, I stopped to study one of the military blockhouses, constructed at the major road entries to the wood. It was almost completely overgrown with celandine and other creepers. They’re a reminder that the area – still closed to the public – had a dark past. During the second world war there was an ammunition dump here, a partner site to the ill -fated site at Fauld. In places, the low retaining walls of former quenching ponds can still be seen.

The following day, I took a leisurely recovery ride out to Middleton Hall, a favourite cake stop, then along the canals from Bodymoor Heath to Alvecote; from there I returned via Seckington, Clifton Campville and Whittington – another wonderful day, but the wind was quite challenging.

Little Hay is a pretty village on the far side of Shenstone. This cottage was once a pub called The Haycock – as the faded sign painted on the gable end testifies.

The former keepers house at Fazeley Junction is a handsome, beautifully kept building, in stark contrast to the former Benos Steak House in Tamworth. Yet another closed pub…

Last weekend, the heavy rains returned. A damp ride out on Sunday afternoon was marked by flooded roads and overflowing waterways. The overflow sluice on the canal by Tesco in Brownhills had burst from its’ confines and was spewing water into the copse beside it, while many lanes around Shenstone were submerged. The Black Brook at Hints looked particularly angry, and for once I declined to cycle through it, using the footbridge instead.

I’ll try not to leave it so long between updates next time – that was a bit of a marathon! Lets hope the weather gets a little more summery soon, too.