As is usual, today I visited Erdington Bike Jumble, the yearly tat-bazaar for cyclists that always takes place the first Saturday in March. Sadly, today’s event clashed with a much bigger bike beano at Long Eaton, and the jumble wasn’t quite as humming and busy as formerly, but it was still great.
It’s always good to meet old pals, shoot the breeze and debate the merits of quick release hubs over a cup of tea.
As is customary, afterwards I headed into the city for a spring spin. I scooted over to Witton Lakes, and then down through Brookvale Park and onto the canal at Gravelly Hill. Into the city for a cuppa and something to eat. After picking some shopping up, back out via Bordesley and Salford Junction to Minworth, off the canal at Drayton Bassett and back home via Canwell.
The weather always seems kind for this ride, and it always feels like spring. If you follow in my tyre tracks, the canal from Salford Junction to Bodymore Heath is terribly wet and muddy. Take a mountain bike and a sherpa. It’s bloody grim.
As ever, for more of this stuff, check out my 365daysofbiking journal.
Beautiful flowers in Centenary Square
Erdington: how fine is this parade of shops?
Middleton golden hour
The crocusses of St. Pauls Square
The majesty of St. Pauls: always greater than modern pretenders
Early daffs in St. Pauls Square
Gravelly Hill
Geometry at Tyburn
Reminiscent of a Victorian seafront
Gateway to the south from Gas Street
These were stuck to the footpath in Gas Street. I have no idea.
Gas Street Basin: sometimes, this doesn’t feel like Birmingham any more
Surface tension at Witton Lakes
Drayton Bassett sunset
The ghost of Cliff Richard stalks here: search the blog for ‘Take Me High’
Changing architectures
Pochard at Witton Lakes
Canal Colour at Middleton
Really liking these. This was in Bradford STreet
Erdington – when they knew how to build a pub
Every time I pass this I want to straighten the finneal
Panoramic Witton Lakes
The light was ace at Brindley Place
Priapic design.
The domestic geese at Brookvale Park are every bit as hostile as their brethren at Chasewater
In now Hill, the canal feels like a secret space
Smurfitt Kappa – recycling our paper
Bodymore Heath in the golden hour
I’m not sentimental about architecture, but The Cube is hideous. There, I said it.
Brookvale Park lake
Like this:
Like Loading...
Related
Great pics again bob, love to see these galleries of yours. Thanks
Hi Bob,
I love these pics,the sunsets are spectacular and the ‘golden hour’ at Bodymore Heath is magical! Thank you.
Ann Cross.
Hi Bob, love the pic of the shops in Erdington that once included Tower Cycles, fond memories of hanging around there when the late Trevor Bull was the mechanic (great bloke); a proper bike shop! Wish I’d made it to the Erdington jumble this year.
All the best,
Martin