Stafford, long-lasting lock gates, two lots of outdoor refreshment

Another sunny day. We walked into Stafford via the long narrow bridge I mentioned yesterday.

I think it goes over the Sow, not the Penk. Our route then followed the Sow into the town. The river was formerly navigable via a lock from the Staffs and Worcs; it appears that work has started to build a replacement lock as part of the restoration of navigation into Stafford.

In the town I happened upon a Wetherspoon's; we were in time for breakfast so we had our first meal out for several months. "Out", of course, being the right word, as we sat in the beer garden. It was sunny and warm, more than can be said, sadly, about the fry-ups.

Before we left our mooring - a really good one, just south of Radford Bridge - fuel boat Bargus came by with coal for the boat in front.
 

One more thing about that mooring:  we heard a Cetti's warbler.  A passing towpath walker told us that there are three nearby.

We crossed the Sow on Brindley's Milford Aqueduct ...

... and came to Tixall Lock. The bottom gates are dated 1976. They have either lasted amazingly well, or the dated steel plates have been refitted to subsequent gates.

After seeing few boats on the move I was surprised to find the moorings at Tixall Wide very nearly full. We slotted in to what looked like the last space and tied up with some difficulty owing to the wind, which tried to push the boat away from the bank. After tea I walked back to Percy, moored just before the Wide, and had a good (socially distanced, external) chat with Nev over a beer.