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.