Hi All,
Tuesday 15th August - last night, having showered, we settled down to an
evening of curry and Corry. At 9.30, the skipper from the boat behind us
banged on LT's roof to let me known the river had dropped about 12 inches
and I might like retie the boat. Must have looked a right sight in my
dressing gown and slippers messing about with ropes. This morning was spent
pottering, polishing and general this, that and the other. We had expected
the visitor centre to open at 11am, only to find out they were shut today
and tomorrow. I had a brief look when we arrived and it's most interesting.
All about the navigation from the conception. The canal travels through the
middle of Guildford, lots of folk around enjoying the riverside eateries and
watching the boats. In a few minutes we are at Millmead Lock. One boat is
waiting and one coming down. The lock mooring a shallow and LT runs aground.
Another boat joins us in the queue. Soon we are going up with Nb Weyward
Girl, get it, Wey-ward. Nice young couple fitting her out themselves and a
smashing job they are making of it. The river twists and turns and turns and
turns, some 90 degrees. At St Catherine's Lock we are warned about Broadford
Bridge and it is suggested we remove everything from LT's roof. This is good
advice and she only just makes it. The air draft here is 6 foot. Chimneys on
and off, in the end we leave them off as all the bridges up here are very
low. The sun is out it's quite hot and the river is lovely. Unstead Lock is
damaged and getting the gates open takes some doing. A National Trust man is
on hand to help and is going up and down the river checking water levels and
adjusting where necessary. There are markers he informs me, but the best way
to gauge the level is by 3 bolts on the lock gates. The correct level is
with water just under the bolts. More twisty turny and our last lock
Farncombe, which is open and we go straight in. Tying up back and forth as
before but we still open the paddles very slowly. They are fierce these
locks. At 3.45 we arrive at the navigation end and tie up on visitor mooring
in Godalming. Very good moorings but only two. Eventually Oxford Blue joins
us and breasts up. On route we have seen Nb Iona, a horse drawn trip boat.
She moors here and it is interesting to watch her come in with the horse on
one side of the river and the boat on the other. Apparently the boats are
sometimes interfered with here, so it's chimneys off, cans off, Francis
light off, everything off. The crew of Oxford Blue are eating on board so
with someone around, the little darlings should leave us alone. Tonight we
are eating out, recommendation by Julian T, posh frocks?
More later.
Regards
Andrew & Wendy from The Cut - Godalming - Batteries at 91%
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