July 11th moored at Gailey Roundhouse on Staffs & Worcs canal

         201 miles, 196 locks, 3 swing bridges and 12 tunnels from Dunham Massey

Wednesday 11th July

Rained heavily during the night and was still raining this morning when I was woken by sound of mowers at about 8, put kettle on, then suddenly realised that the grass cutting contractors were busy strimming along the
boats behind us in the rain.  Decided to get our boat out of their way and started engine, dropped pram hood
and demoored in record time.  Poor dogs had to wait for another 15 minutes before I could find a spot to stop and let them off briefly, even then the strimmers were in hot pursuit and within twenty feet of the boat
before we got going again.  Had breakfast on the move and my toast got soggy in the rain.  We need the grass on the towpaths to be cut and would prefer that the job was done to include a cut up to the canal edge more often than it is. But when you see boats that have been strimmed against and see dirt and grass right up the windows you might understand my concern.  Anyway we moved onto a new mooring at Gailey where the grass has already been cut! Moored up before 12 and after tidying the boat, fitting a spare glass to firedoor, repairing the handle and refitting, having showers we then had lunch. Afterwards we spent some time reading and watching the showers as they lessened and it visibly brightened. By 3 we were able to go out for a walk down the locks ahead of us with the dogs, although not without another shower giving us a timely reminder not to venture too far.  On our return we visited the gift shop at the Roundhouse for magazines, new canal mugs for ourselves and some gifts to take back home with us.