After collecting water at Cartbridge Wharf
(where fortunately the BW key fitted the National Trust Lock) ...
... and feeding the always hungry ducks, off we went.
We've decided to cruise to the end of the navigable River Wey at Godalming, stay for a couple of nights and then move back up to Guildford for the Bank Holiday weekend as we are once again meeting up with George's sister Diane and husband Paul.
Approaching Trigg Lock ...
... passing outstanding countryside ...
... and small communities nestled in the folds ...
... we safely manoeuvre round that bend, avoiding weirs, shallow water and bridge supports ..
... and execute that left hand bend into ...
... Bowers Lock site of ...
... Bowers Mill and Wharf (taken yesterday) ...
... two boats timed it just right as we exited the lock, a hire boat and a National Trust working boat.
Pollarding the willows creates lovely shaped trees which wont grow too tall
A sample of the life style in Guildford perhaps?
... under the very pretty Woodbridge Old Bridge we come across these ...
... tree sculptures - a ship wreck ...
... an otter ...
... a family of ducks on the seat backrest ...
... hands ...
... and feet ...
... a dragonfly ...
... and a rearing antelope ...
... created by the Tree Pirates 2008 ...
... in Woodbridge Meadow.
Dapdune Wharf with its treadwheel crane, pretty cottages ...
... visitor moorings and centre and ...
... a fine restored Wey barge.
Walnut Bridge as we enter Guildford ...
... signs of industry still apparent ...
... a steel fabricators?
Town moorings ...
... and contemporary sculpture outside the Electric Theatre ...
... and ooooh ... more retail therapy under Town Bridge ...
... I wonder if he gets tired of waiting for a boat to arrive at Town Wharf?
The oh so subtle sign directs the navigation to the left ...
... and surprises us at Millmead Lock bridge which has temporary low headroom - we had to stop short and remove the plant pot holders from under the herb pot to enable us to proceed ...
... and as we ascended the lock we saw the two young ladies in this rowing boat staring with horror as they realised that they needed to 'get out of our way' it took a good 5 minutes and a lot of panic to operate the oars in unison and pull over to hang desperately to the bow of narrowboat Telford as we passed them - alls well that ends well as they say!
The Boatman pub looks beautiful from the riverside
(and horrible from the street above as we found out later) ...
... looking back at the lovely green recreation areas around the river ...
... now that's a good mooring spot, we'll remember that one just past the rowing club ...
... and that fabulous house!
We're now on the Godalming navigation of the River Wey passing smart houses and apartments ...
... and some beautifully kept terraced gardens.
Looking back at Guildford - on the hill.
... a beach on the river? ... apparently a favourite haunt of the local children during warm school holidays ...
... and the Old Ferry Footbridge marks the site of the old St Catherine's Ferry on the Pilgrim's Way.
The roller assists horse drawn boats to steer around the bends - the ones on this stretch of river assist narrowboat Iona (The Packet Company) a horse drawn trip boat operating from Godalming Wharf.
... cooo this is a big one!
It's been a good road today (all the locks were set in our favour) and it was no exception at ...
... St Catherine's Lock ...
... nice touch ...
... where we met a lively bunch of school children here away from their classroom for 5 whole days on a field trip, they were very interested in our way of living and helped with the lock gates too - thank you!
Large wooly cows with horns ...
We wondered if this cottage belongs to the Lengthsperson for this stretch of river as the boat outside belongs to the National Trust.
Daughter and Dad netting crayfish under the railway bridge - there's 5 in the goldfish bowl already!
Approaching Broadford Bridge ...
... the lowest on the navigation - there was no more that 3 inches between the underside of the bridge and the top of our satellite dish on the roof! I hope the river doesn't rise any before we return this way!
Passing signs of past industry at Guns Mouth at the junction ...
... green, not blue and white we had to get quite close to see if it was relevant to us - it was! Navigation to the right and access to moorings along the yet to be renovated Wey and Aron!
... by now we're getting used to looking out for these signs...
... it must be some property through there with its own mooring and bridge ...
... through Unstead Lock - the mill building no longer in existence ...
... there was a hired day boat behind us - not sure if they were sure whether they were coming or going!
... through more beautiful counryside ...
... "what's occuring?" as Geoff would say
(Seyella) ...
... deja vu here I thought I was back in BW waters with the work boats ...
... tied to the trees!
A picture-book cottage
... right here ...
Farncombe Boathouse - I bet there wont be many of these hire boats still here when we make the return trip in a couple of days ...
... waiting for George to set the last and only lock ...
... which was not already in our favour ...
... George likes this name.
End of navigation for the River Wey - we understood that there were lots of mooring here but couldn't see anything - we also understood that the non-towpath side was usually private so we didn't attempt to moor just around the corner from here on the right had side ... instead we winded (turned around), and went back about a quarter of a mile ...
... and found a beach to ourselves - quiet, secluded - great!
