Pyrford to Weybridge

Thu 25th April

Something that was left out from the blog for Wednesday. Although we went for a meal at the Anchor in Pyrford at about 2.15pm, there were candles on every table, and they were all lit, even on the unoccupied tables. The menus consisted of several sheets of paper on a wooden clipboard, so that if you wanted to read about side dishes, you had to turn over two or three pages to get there.  

As Sue referred to something on page 2, James flipped over page 1 to read about the item, and sadly page 1 met the candle and burst into flame! With a quick move of the hand, the flame was quickly snuffed out, but there was an unmistakeable burnt area and a smoky aroma wafting through the air. The waiter came over and asked if everything was alright, and James showed him the burnt menu. The waiter’s response: “Don’t worry, Sir, I’ll fetch another!” It was like something out of Monty Python.

Burnt Menu

So, forward to the next day, Thursday: We set off for Byfleet hoping to avoid the wet weather that was forecast. In the end the weather was much better than had been suggested.

We arrived at Byfleet and collected our parcel from Stuart at TLC. (Thank you, Stuart and Julia!) It was two cauldron planters that we had bought online, because we couldn’t find any like them in garden centres.

Plane tree

TLC

We moved on from there without even turning off the engine. Just after the M25 we stopped to use the “new” elsan point, but discovered that it was the old sort, and the iron structure has been there for some time. It must have been hidden away behind where Chas used to moor his boat. It has now been fenced around, and there is a water tap alongside, and mooring bollards.  We emptied cassettes but we didn’t need the water tap.

Under the M25

New access to old facility

We stopped above New Haw lock, probably for the night, we thought, as rain was still forecast.  James couldn’t find the new set of guitar strings he thought he had, so we caught a bus from New Haw to Woodham to visit Britten’s Music. Armed with a new set of Martins Light strings, we also visited the Co-op for some bits, and just missed a bus back. We had a coffee while waiting for the next one back to New Haw.

The weather was still fine so decided to move on.  We went down through New Haw Lock on our own. By the canoe club we saw a family of Canada Geese. These were a rarity at one time and in about 1958 one was sighted in Cobham, and was reported in the Surrey Comet. Now they are everywhere.

New Haw Lock

Canada Goose Family

We moored for the night above Coxes Lock, where we were further from the motorway and other traffic. We needed a fender where we don’t have a place to tie one, so we had to juggle with ropes and another fender to get one in position. James then put the new strings on his guitar, while Hazel planted out the flowers in the new planters.

Moored by Coxes Lock

Fender use

Cauldrons of flowers

1 lock, 4 miles. Dep 0830, arr 1410 with 4 hours at New Haw.

Fri 26^th April

We had a peaceful night until about 5am when the Canada Geese started up with their honking. We didn’t have far to go so we had a leisurely morning before leaving our mooring.

Coxes Mill and Lock

Setting off

Coxes Lock

Below Coxes Lock, near the Pelican Wharf moorings, there is a water tap, but it is well hidden, and many visitors would pass by without realising it was there. We knew about it, and filled up our tank, as the water pressure was very good. We also washed the port side of the boat.

Water point

Wisteria

We stopped for the night above Town Lock, and went shopping in Weybridge. We met our friend Tony Davis (BCF and Byfleet Boat Club) in the High Street and had a short chat. We got back on the boat and realised that the heavy rain that had been forecast had gone either side of us.  We cooked a meal and were joined by our friend Julie, who we haven’t seen for a few years. She came with us on our first hire boat holiday in 1984 round the Cheshire Ring. 

Moored above Town Lock, just missing the rain

Julie with a strong glass of fruit squash

1 lock, 1 mile.  Dep 1150, arr 1300

Sat 27^th April

We were woken in the night by young lads jumping our boat at 2.15am! When we shouted, they ran off. We think they had assumed that the boat was unoccupied.

We walked into Weybridge to meet our next-door neighbours Sid and Christine in a coffee shop. It was good to catch up with all the local news. Later, back on the boat, Amanda came to join us on board and spend the afternoon with us. We had a bite to eat and then took the boat down through Town Lock, and moored halfway to Thames Lock, by Hamm Court.

Town Lock

Amanda with windlass

Emerging from Town Lock

Hazel and Amanda

Moored by Hamm Court

Near our mooring we found some lovely white flowers, which we thought were snowflake flowers, but looking closely, they are slightly different to the ones we have found in the past. Any suggestions anyone?

Snowflake flowers – or not?

We went to explore some shops and ended up having a meal at the Thai restaurant.

Off for a meal

On our way back down the path we met James from Tranquil Rose. His boat is moored further down, as he is out on the Thames tomorrow. We will see him at Rickmansworth Festival on 18th May.

1 lock 0 miles  Dep 1445, arr 1505

Next: Weybridge Methodist Church tomorrow morning, then probably a lunch somewhere before going onto the Thames in the afternoon. On the tide to Limehouse on Tuesday.

Godalming to Pyrford

Mon 22^nd April Easter Monday

Early morning in Godalming

After a peaceful night we set off from Godalming, pausing at the facilities to empty cassettes and dispose of rubbish. As we proceeded to Catteshall Lock, we saw that it was against us. James went forward to see if anyone was waiting to come up, closed one of the top gates, and was walking round to close the second one, when one of the Farncombe Boathouse staff said, “Hold on, we’re coming through!”  James went back to open the gate again, and a day boat set off from the boathouse and came into the lock. Then began a training session about lock usage, and how to tie ropes. It was a slow process. As we were waiting, we saw two more day boats setting off downstream in front of us, and by the time we were down through the lock, they were out of sight.

Trowers Footbridge

We caught up with the day boats at Unstead Lock, but they went in side by side, so we couldn’t go alongside them. Thankfully we weren’t in a hurry. When they said “Sorry we couldn’t fit you in” we pointed out to them that if they had gone in one behind the other, we could have fitted in as well.

Unstead Lock and the day boats

We went past the junction with the Wey and Arun, where the first part is used for moorings. One day this will be restored south to Arundel, but probably not soon enough for us to use it. The sunny weather continued, and the towpath was full of people enjoying Easter Monday.

The Wey and Arun

Busy towpath

When we arrived in Guildford, we spotted a familiar looking boat – black with yellow lines, and sure enough, it turned out to be Travellers Joy, with Margaret and Barry. We had planned to stop here anyway so we moored in front of them and had a good catch up chat. They suggested to us that we should visit the Castle Grounds in Guildford to see the display of tulips.

Travellers Joy

Margaret and Barry

We met our son Greg and his wife Jessy in Thaikhun, and had a pleasant lunch with them, and then we took Margaret and Barry’s suggestion and visited the castle to see the tulips.

Guildford Castle

Tulips

Greg and Jessy

There were some delicate white flowers growing near our boat. Does anyone know what they are called?

White flowers

We had a good chat with a family with two inquisitive girls aged 5 to 7ish, who were asking lots of questions about the boat.

3 locks, 4 miles. Dep 0935, arr 1200.

Tue 23^rd April

The meadows at Guildford provide a long length of good moorings, which have deep water, and plenty of space for chairs and people. However, the willow trees do drop leaves, and our boat had lots of leaves by the morning, and dust as well from the hot dry weather for the last few days.

Moored on Guildford Meadows

Willow leaves

We set off downstream once more, through Guildford, which seemed deserted after the bust holiday weekend. Going with the flow was noticeably easier that coming upstream.

Boatman sculpture

Under the A3 bridge

Stoke Mill

We met a workboat coming upstream, so when we arrived at Stoke Lock it was in our favour. After Stoke Lock we met another workboat, so Bowers Lock was also in our favour. There were several people here rubbing down and painting the bollards and lock gates. They also operated the gates for us, which was helpful.

Bowers Lock with volunteers

Worsfold Gates

We arrived in Send and moored up. As we went into the pub to meet Dave and Caryl Ingoldby, we saw Brian and Jackie Glover (nb Whisper) sitting outside. We last saw them on the Llangollen last year. Dave and Caryl arrived by car, and it was good to catch up with their news. What a lot of people we are seeing since we arrived on the Wey!

4 locks, 6 miles. Dep 0930, arr 1200

Wed 24^th April

Moored at Send with Elizabeth Rose

As James went out to untie ropes and set off, the man on the boat in front, Elizabeth Rose, was putting down his hood. We established that we were both leaving and agreed to share the locks. 

We noticed that the very ugly building by Tanyard Footbridge is having a makeover, with new window units being installed. Does it improve the look? 

Ugly building

It was a long way to the first lock at Papercourt, and there were a lot of moored boats. Thankfully another boat was just leaving the lock as we arrived so we went straight in.

At Newark, some walkers pointed out a heron on the top of Newark Priory. That was unusual, so James got the binoculars for a closer look and discovered that it wasn’t a heron, but a stork. We have never seen one in this country before.

A stork on Newark Priory

We didn’t have far to go – just to Pyrford, but Elizabeth Rose were trying to get out on the Thames today. They are only out for three days.

Elizabeth Rose departing

As we left Pyrford Lock and moored up by the Anchor, heavy rain and hail started. We quickly finished mooring and put the hood up.

Rain

Moored by the Anchor

Sue Graves arrived a little later and we had a meal in the Anchor.  Then she kindly drove us to a garden centre where we bought some more marigolds to replace the ones that have almost expired. Back on board we had tea and listened to a few CD tracks.

Sue

3 locks, 3 miles. Dep 0925, arr 1110.

Next: to Byfleet and Weybridge to connect with a few other people. Next week: down the Thames to Limehouse.