Day 7: Stafford to Wolverhampton

I put the new rain clothes to the test and cycled the last 30kms along the canal and then onto the main roads again in a permanent drizzle. Gooood choice these waterproof clothes ;-)

Cleaned my bike after all that mudracing, so it's all shiny for the train journey tomorrow. Will warm up now this evening in Wolverhampton, and put the cycling clothes away for a day and a half and then set over to the mainland. 

Conclusion of cycling in Wales and England: Wales was superb, especially the coastal route. Proper cycling paths, nice holiday seaside towns along the way up to Chester. I highly recommend that for a 2-3 day cycling trip.

After Chester the countryside is lovely (and would be even more so in the sunshine) but the paths along the many canals are not made for long distance cycling. They are too small, bumpy, and sometimes overgrown with grass and bushes. They get really muddy when its raining and you can't really go fast and make distance. Still, I got to know some nice parts of England, with its wide fields and beautiful countryside. I also met a lot of houseboat owners along the way, all very cheerful people ;-)