August 13th - I left near lunchtime for a hopefully long, sunny ride; but although the day was temperate, the sun soon disappeared and I found no energy in my tank. I contented myself with a slow bible up to Chasewater, back to Stonnall, Shentone, Little Hay, Hints, Tamworth and up the canal to Hpwas and Whittington, before returning via Lichfield and Wall.

On the way, I passed through the Lammas Land at Shenstone - a lovely bit or parkland by the Footherley Brook, and noted the bizarre ‘shining stone’ sculpture was still resident in the stream for all the world looking like robot excrement.

Shenstone Park is still as beautiful as ever, with it’s carefully tended verges and rolling farmland, and I also noted the surprisingly voluptuous scarecrow is still scaring the crows at Fazeley.