a "what's new" guide to the whole of Geoff's Pages, and a selection of bits and pieces that never made it to the site
An evening stroll, where the air’s cool under the trees. Other than a bull serenading a cow in the field at the other side of the lane, it’s very quiet up here – no-one else about. It’s Saturday – perhaps they’re out enjoying themselves. Just like us…
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=367107&Y=297480&A=Y&Z=115
A gentle evening stroll – it’s too warm for anything energetic. Pleasantly cool air drifts out from the gloom of the woods. We’re almost back to the start when a lump of mud beside the lane turns out to be a fine warty toad, who is perfectly happy to pose for the camera, though he’ll keep a close eye on us…
We’re walking the quiet lanes around Cound, Harnage and Coundmoor, on this warm afternoon. The sky may be grey but there’s colour in the fields and hedgerows. The Wrekin is a prominent landmark, and quite a fine shape from this direction.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=355890&Y=304016&A=Y&Z=120
…before the rain. A warm, breezy afternoon – lots of cloud and the odd sunny interval – very pleasant for a quick wander.
On our return, as we approach the car, the first drops are falling.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=367420&Y=297950&A=Y&Z=120
Tuesday 4 August: a short evening stroll, accompanied by the roar of combine harvester engines. They’re into the wheat at present, the barley will have to wait a little longer.
An evening wander, up Ned’s Lane and back down past Round Hill. There are thick tangles of wild hops in the hedges beside the road, and some of the bindweed and bramble leaves are decidedly warm-toned. A few low-dangling damsons (I’m thinking of jam already!) have been tested by several fingers already, but the fact that they’re still there means they need a little more ripening. Soon…
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=367107&Y=297480&A=Y&Z=115
In January, we walked over Nordley Common and down to Linley Brook, where what should have been a pleasant path beside the stream was more like a jungle assault course. Perhaps in early August it will be fit to walk? Yes, it is – though still quite muddy in places, it’s more like the enjoyable amble we’d expected. Varying our route a little now, we stop to watch four sheepdogs, who clearly know what to do and how to do it (see the YouTube clip below).
Crossing the main road again, Stocking Lane takes us to a quiet field path leading over the hill and back down to the start.
View OS map on Streetmap https://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=368150&Y=297381&A=Y&Z=120
A familiar route which we follow more frequently in the other direction. The weather forecast suggested the the showers would clear (they did!) but the sky would be heavy with cloud (those little dark grey symbols). Yes, that was true too – but with little gaps to let the sun through, spotlighting little details in the surrounding countryside.
The dragonfly (a black-tailed skimmer) was very good at flying off, further up the path through the barley, whenever I got almost close enough for a half-decent photo. They know, don’t they?
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=366905&Y=295705&A=Y&Z=120
It’s been a very warm day – 30C in the early afternoon, with a clear blue sky and strong sunshine. Far too hot for walking, but soon the cloud moves in from the west, and the evening temperature is just over 20C when we set out along the lane at Shirlett. Very different from four days ago too -the skies were clearing when we walked this way at about the same time.
Walking on a warm afternoon: down to the Inett and past the old mines to Red Lane. The colours of spring are long past, but the air is clear, the sky is blue, and there’s no shortage of subjects for the camera.
