Summer’s first breath

Alrewas Church from the canal.

This post is another for Trevor Brown in Australia.

We’ve had a really fine few days, and I really feel now that summer is on her throne – the leaves are all fully out now, the whites and yellows of spring are turning to the reds and purples of summer, and nature and the landscape is resplendent in the multi-colured jacket the sun provides.

Yesterday, I took a leisurely spin around Amitage, Rowley, Hoar Cross, Scotch Hills, Dunstall and Barton, before returning via Alrewas and Fradley by the canal. Everything looked gorgeous, it was hot and I even got my legs out… 60 miles of fantastic south Staffordshire countryside. Just the tonic you need.

Here’s to a cracking summer. It’s not got off to a bad start.

For more of this sort of thing, please check out my 365daysofbiking journal…

Far Hoar Cross

Posing Grebe at Stowe Pool

Wind Turrbine at Hayed. Beautiful.

I adore this inscription on the bench at Hoar Cross. Never managed to find out who Noel Wooford was.

Alrewas Church from the canal.

It seems the Red Lion at Longdon Green is to be reborn. Excellent news.

Approaching Alrewas

The river section of the Trent & Mersey Canal at Alrewas

The series of pedestrian bridges at the Alrewas river section are fun.

Old Bargee dog at Fradley Junction.

Bugle in Hoar Cross churchyard. An key source of early food for Lepidoptera.

No longer a dirty old river – the Trent at Armitage.

A fine avenue, Dunstall

Church of the Holy Angels, Hoar Cross.

Dunstall Hall. Have to get this shot for Peter Cutler – it’s traditional. Currently on the market for £4 million.

The Needwood Valley basking in the sunshine

Church of the Holy Angels, Hoar Cross.

You can’t beat an old boater dog.

Minster Pool in green evening light