Cannock Extension Canal

Surprisingly there was some warm light around sunrise this morning.  I was up on Pelsall North Common and caught the colour while standing on one of the bridges crossing the Cannock Extension Canal.

Later we walked around Hints, nr Tamworth, getting caught in a heavy shower which only went to prove that my previously waterproof jacket, wasn't!  Part of the walk took us across the line of HS2 as it travels north.  The area previously was wonderful undulating hills and pasture with ancient woodland and while the route does look to have minimised impacts on the more vulnerable areas it was still a shame to see the damage caused to once beautiful countryside.

The trees in this image from 2014 are no more, replaced by a wide swath of red subsoil and concrete where the trains will run.  Can't help but think that by the time the route is completed our need to travel for business along these faster routes will have been replaced by newer technologies.