Radford

Guess what!  It was raining again this morning, quite heavily to start with.   We left Wightwick at 7:20.  Pat went ahead and set the next two locks and then left the boat at Compton to visit the local Spar shop for newspaper and essential supplies while I worked the nearby lock very slowly and then waited there for her.  As usual, in the rain, I work with bare feet and shorts.  Wet grass soaks shoes but bare feet dry almost instantly when out of the water.  Nonetheless I was a little surprised to see a chap come by shirtless and soaking wet who obviously found this more comfortable that walking around in soaking clothes.   Once above Compton we were on the top level and began the long haul to Gailey Lock where the descent begins.  After Autherley Junction we began to meet lots of opposite direction boats, though thankfully, none in the narrows through the rock cutting.    At Gailey I was attracted to the empty wharf by the diesel pump, but they were "too busy" to serve me and suggested Teddesley, but when we got there the place was closed (Monday!).   Continuing on we met a very enthusiastic family working thier first lock on their own.   They did very well, so top marks to Anglo-Welsh at Great Haywood.   Stopping on the old wharf at Radford we visited the "Radford Bank" pub.   No decent beer here, but good for food last time we were here.   Good digital TV and 3G.