Tixall Wide to Radford Bank (Staffs & Worcs Canal)

Lunch with J, S & Smugs

Another lovely Sunset

We stayed at Tixall Wide for a few days, doing a few jobs and generally chilling out.  Wednesday we met our friends John, Sharon and Smuggler at the Canalside café and had another half price lunch.  It was nice to see them and catch-up.

Friday, it was time to move on and the sun was shining and it was already very warm as we untied and said out fond goodbyes to Tixall Wide.

Approaching Tixall Lock

We chugged past a few moored boats and then was approaching Tixall lock.

I got off and went up to the lock and emptied the lock as it was full.  Kev then brought the boat in and I shut the gates and filled up the lock.

Tixall Lock

Leaving Tixall Wide

Comma Butterfly on the Buddleia

Lovely Sunny Day

Coming to a Bridge

There was a lovely buddleia plant near the lock with lots of butterflies on it, and I managed to get a photo.  There was a boat waiting to come down so the people from that boat came down to the lock and opened the gates for us so I got on the boat and out we went.

We passed quite a lot of boats coming the other way and in places the canal was quite shallow so we ended up on the side a few times.

Railway alongside the Canal

Train Going Past

We chugged on, under a few bridges and on one section the railway line runs alongside the canal.

Sign Post

Just before Bridge 101 there used to be a canal branch here connecting to Stafford via the River Sow. They are trying to restore this connection but doesn’t look as much is happening apart from a sign post.  

Staffordshire Tough Guy!

Sat on the bench here was a man and he posed for the camera as a tough guy, made us all laugh.

Two Bridges Together

After a few miles, we were approaching Radford Bank where we moored up. 

In the afternoon, we walked up to the Aldi which is very close to the canal to get a few supplies.

We then just chilled out as it has been a scorcher today, too hot to do much.

We are staying here tonight and also tomorrow, then on Sunday we are moving down the canal a short distance to moor opposite Stafford Boat Club ready to go in there on Monday.

Moored at Radford Bank