July 15th moored at Radford Bridge Stafford on Staffs & Worcs canal

         209 miles, 207 locks, 3 swing bridges and 12 tunnels from Dunham Massey

Sunday 15th July

A better day (so far) - cloudy but sunny intervals and dry although the wind has picked up a bit this evening.
Bridie has taken the train to Carlisle and was met by Simon and Mel (with whom she will stay) in order to visit her dentist. We took a walk into Stafford late morning avoiding all the traffic hurtling into and out of the town centre.  Bought rail ticket and then walked through Victoria Park - somewhat flooded with lots of benches under water - to the Yard for a light lunch before walking back to the station.  Bridie caught 14:09 to Crewe to change for Carlisle.  I walked back to the boats and read the paper sitting on our seat on the
towpath.  Thats a first for a few weeks now!

Saturday 14th July

Although it rained overnight it had actually stopped and was drying this morning.  We managed a walk into Penkridge for a bit of shopping without getting wet this time.  Then made ready and set off down first of two locks in Penkridge with a stop before the second to fill up the water.  Then onwards, mainly in sunshine, through Acton Trussel shadowing the M6 and listening to the traffic noise and finally mooring alongside the much flooded floodplain of the River Penk just before Radford Bridge.  The information board along the towpath has a picture of the flood plain, saying it floods in winter, and talks of it drying out and being used for cattle grazing in summer - not this summer though!

Friday 13th July
Wet nearly all day, very heavy at times.  Lynne came to join us and we did venture into Penkridge and had lunch at the Star but not without getting wet.

Thursday 12th July

Headed north from Gailey towards Penkridge this morning and managed to avoid another soaking.  Five locks and three miles so it was only a relatively short trip.  Moored above the lock near the Cross Keys Pub.  We managed a short trip into village with the dogs for some shopping without getting wet. Started to rain as soon as we got back to the boat though.