Saturday 2nd September 2017
Pyrford to Cart Bridge, Send
3.75 miles, 3 locks
Today's visitors, Dana and Jeremy, were friends from our days in Sussex. They were due around 10:00, but the wonders of modern technology called GPS, sent them on a magical mystery tour. In the meantime we were suddenly aware that the 10 o'clock rush on a hot sunny Saturday had started in earnest. Our first lock was just round the corner with a water point that we needed to use just above the lock, so when a single boat was waiting we joined them to go up. Dana and Jeremy joined us just as the water tank was nearly full. By this time the lock was full again, so we decided we had enough water and left before the rush.
They were not far behind us - a day boat and a cruiser as well
At the first lock together the little day boat squeezed in
and our visitors were put to work winding, pushing and
At the next lock another small boat was waiting, so we were definitely a very full lock
It looks as though there is a new marina is under construction
It was not long before we were moored at Send when these two paddle boarders arrived with two very well behaved children who must know the importance of not wriggling! The one on the left had a small dog on board as well!
We were moored right outside the pub, so it would have been rude not to pop in for a pre-lunch drink before we went back to the boat for lunch - we had hoped to eat outside, but the sun went in to foil our plans.
All too soon it was time to say goodbye - it was great to see you both again and thank you for your help.
Sunday 3rd September 2017
Cart Bridge, Send
A day off, so a rare treat - a cup of tea in bed and a leisurely morning before we went over to the pub to meet up with Mike (brother in law who visited on Friday) and his two sons, two daughters in law and six grandchildren. The pub had made a large square table using several small ones which meant we could all talk to each other. We were also at one end of the pub in a side room which was great for us and for the rest of the clientele as we had six little ones aged two to nine.
Our great nieces and nephews
The entire Wiltshire clan with a couple of interlopers!
It was wonderful to see you all.
Monday 4th September 2017
Cart Bridge, Send to Dapdune Wharf, Guildford
6 miles, 3 locks
Today is one of our few 'Billy No Mates' days on this river. A fairly straightforward journey.
I am not adding much about this wonderful river as I covered it fairly comprehensively back in 2015, starting on 31st July, but I had to take a few pictures to show how pretty it is
It does have some very sharp bends
and the locks are very big with very heavy gates
The chain helps a bit, but it was still a struggle to move some of them
We crept past the work boat - they are shoring up the banks of the bridge
We only saw one moving boat today and it was, of course, at a very sharp bend. He kindly reversed to let us get round.
This boat has not changed in the last two years and we feel it has not moved in that time either.
A rather attractive railway bridge heralds our arrival at Dapdune Wharf, where we had booked a mooring for the night.
It is not often you moor under an historic crane.
Tuesday 5th September 2017
Dapdune Wharf, Guildford to Godalming
5.25 miles, 4 locks
Our next visitor was a friend of mine I met on the first day of primary school when we were both 4. A few years have passed since then (not that many, you understand!). Heather got fouled up in traffic in Guildford, but eventually made it to Dapdune Wharf, which is shut on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so a BWB key was required to let her in (and the loan of one to get her out again at the end of the day). Heather did this trip with us two years ago, but over two days then and in good weather. Today it "mizzled", some of the time. Not enough rain to need a coat and far from continuous, but just damp.
As with all boating visitors Heather was put to work holding ropes
winding paddles, pushing and pulling gates. One extra pair of hands makes so much difference to my work load, so thank you Heather for your help and your company.
This must be one of the leakiest locks we have ever come across - Unstead.
A trick we have learnt going up this river is to drape the bow line over the cratch so I can sweep it up with the boat hook, thus saving Chris a trip to the bow to throw it to me.
It did take a little longer than expected, but we made it to Godalming safely and Heather found herself fulfilling my usual role - mobile mooring pin and dog holder!
Waiting for us in Godalming was another friend, Jane, who kept Heather company whilst Chris and I moored up. Jane is two days younger than me (our mothers met in the maternity home), so is my 'oldest friend' in terms of the time we have known each other. Heather, Jane and I were Brownies together and I am glad to say we have always kept up even if there have been, at times, many years between our meets. The plan was to go to lunch - Chris (I think quite wisely) opted to go to Sainsburys to get his paper and a sandwich allowing us ladies to 'lunch'. It is two years since we have seen each other - there was a lot to catch up on! Following an excellent lunch we went back to the boat for a quick cuppa before they had to depart. A good day indeed and really good to see you both again.
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