Rain!

Friday 2nd June, 2017 at Gailey.
The long spell of dry weather finally broke later in the day but the morning started fine and we began with our customary 'loop the loop' in the middle of Tixall Wide. Other boaters looked on in a bemused fashion as R spun MM all the way round in a big circle. There are very few places on the waterways that are wide enough to get all the way round in one without stopping - so the temptation is irresistible (R does not resist it and M eggs him on!!!).

This garden was a kiddies' dream playground with a huge tree house and a super train underneath it. All made out of recyclable items too (the boiler was a dustbin!). Lucas would love it!

The Stafford Riverway Link is a restoration group that is starting to restore the short 1.5 mile canal link into the centre of Stafford, which closed in 1918. We stopped to take a look at progress. Since we were here last year they have excavated the footings of the old lock-keeper's cottage.

They have also dug out much of the basin where boats would wait their turn to go across the aqueduct over the stream and then through the lock down on to the River Sow for the short trip up the river into Stafford. On the far side of the excavated basin you can see where the narrow entrance to the aqueduct used to be.

So far they have full support from the local landowners and the local council and, with just one aqueduct and one lock to build, it is quite achievable. We wish them luck.
Although the lock-keeper's cottage has long gone, their old goosberry bush was flourishing and even bearing fruit! M tried one and declared it to be very sour - not ripe yet!

After Baswich, M walked the towpath for a while and thought that she espied the "African Queen" through the reeds.

The yellow flag iris along the banks are lovely at the moment.

A damselfly landed briefly next to M, but stayed long enough for a photo.

Not so pretty was the M6 thundering overhead. Not even a Mr Kipling lorry was a welcome sight ("no cake left on this vehicle overnight")!

The rain swept in several times in the afternoon, generally as we were working the locks, of course! At Rodbaston Lock, a huge downpour trapped M inside MM and R under a tree until it blew over after just  ten minutes. Still, M was happy as she could still see the M6 and was able to spot three Eddie Stobart trucks.
We moored up for the night just north of Gailey but decided not to stay out in the rain to take a photo.
Today: 12 miles, 10 locks and 7.4 hours.
Trip: 21 miles, 13 locks and 11.0 hours.