My apologies. More snow pictures… there will be even more on the 365daysofbiking journal.

Well, I made it. Yesterday, I cycled up onto Cannock Chase. Starting from Brownhills, I headed up to Chasewater – which was stunning – and on through Heath Hayes and Hednesford, up to Rifle Range Corner. The going at Chasewater was very heavy, and a fine, wet sleet was making it quite uncomfortable. Wrestling with turning back, I pushed on, and as the temperature dropped, the sleet turned to powdery snow and the air cleared.

The Chase itself was gorgeous. Heading up the ancient Sow Street past the ranges, then down into and along Abraham’s Valley, the going was challenging and surprisingly fast. There wasn’t a should about – in the fading light, as night fell, I head calling deer, owls and robins. I was enjoying every minute.

Cycling doesn’t get much better than this, to be honest. Oh, well maybe. Sometimes.

From Seven Springs, I piled it in down the A51 to Rugeley, and fearing for the snow depth on Longdon Edge and feeling the cold, I hopped on a train from Rugeley Trent Valley to Walsall.

The photography wasn’t great – the light was quite poor – but it was a journey I’ll never forget. Wonderful.

The drop from Wolseley Plain to Wabrahams Valley was gorgeous

I was surprised Chasewater wasn’t totally frozen.

Kids were having a ball sledging in the Hednesford Hills

The roads around the Chase were surprisingly clear.

A view I’d not noticed before, from the Rugeley bypass: The new Trent Bridge at Colton with the power station behind.

Sow Street was a delight

At Chasewater, the newly submerged trees are forming fascinating ice skeletons

The track to Rifle Range Corner was compacted ice and really fun to ride.

Saw a few slide badly on this corner. Take it slowly, folks.

Towards the ranges, the going was quite hard.

I just love this. That’s enterprise, that is.

Abraham’s Valley was even more beautiful in it’s winter coat.

As night fell, the atmosphere was magical.