Monday 18th to Saturday 23rd September 2017 on the River Wey.
We are back on MM and heading out of Pyrford Marina on to the River Wey (or technically the Wey Navigation and the Godalming Navigation) for two weeks since the construction on our house has got to the point where we are without drains or water so we can no longer stay there.
As we prepared to leave Pyrford, we walked round the marina looking for a friend's narrowboat. When we were on the far side of the marina there was a very heavy rainstorm - so we got very wet, despite taking shelter under a large tree!
To add to our troubles, this morning the central heating boiler on MM failed. Luckily Steve at Pyrford was able to help; he and R quickly identified that the air pump had stopped working and R was able to order a new one for delivery in two days' time. In the meantime, running the engine heats the water, so we can still have a shower, even if the boat is rather cold!
We cruised south as far as Newark Priory Lock where R realised that he had left our special "River Wey" windlass back at Pyrford Lock so he walked the two miles to Pyrford to retrieve it, and then two miles back - by which time it was getting dark so we stayed put for the night. The early morning was magical as the sun rose through the mist.
We moored that evening next to the water meadows in Guildford; one of our very special places as we moored here when MM was brand new in 2011. R relaxed in the evening sunshine.
The canoeists and rowers were out in force on such a lovely evening.
Next day, R managed to pick up the replacement part for MM's boiler and was able to fit it without any difficulty. Great to have heating and hot water again!
The early morning mist lingered over the water meadows.
We set off for Godalming, St Catherine's lock is a special one for us as it can be seen from the train between Reigate and Guildford and we always look out for it when travelling by train.
Duck! Not the feathered variety but one of the lowest bridges on the entire waterway network!
In Godalming, Erika, Lucas and Rory came to MM with Erika's neighbour Karen and her son Stanley and we took them out for a short cruise to Farncombe and back. They three boys were fascinated.
Karen and Erika also seemed to enjoy themselves; although R does not seem to have got the joke!.
The evening light, moored up in Godalming was beautiful, reminiscent of a Constable painting.
While we were in Godalming, we were lucky enough to see the trip boat nb "Iona", one of the very few traditional horse drawn trip boats on the network, pulled by "Buddy" the horse. Such a lovely sight.
On Saturday, there was the annual River Wey Festival at Dapdune Wharf in Guildford.and we arranged for Erika, Dan, Lucas, Rory, Charles, Emma, Penny and Minnie to join us there. We set off from Godalming early and planned to pick up Erika and family on the way. We met up at Unstead Lock, but a locked gate (with anti-climb grease on it) meant that they couldn't get on to the towpath so they handed the boys to us over the high hedge and we continued with the boys while Erika and Dan went to try to find where they could park the car and access the towpath.
Eventually they caught up with us and, as we went through St. Catherine's Lock, we saw the Reigate train approaching Guildford.
When we got into Guildford, M received a phone call from her sister-in-law Christine asking where we were because they were in Guildford. It turned out that Christine, John and Jessica had been on the train that we had seen at St. Catherine's! They came and met us at Millmead and we all sailed up to Dapdune, where they were forced to walk the plank!
After John, Christine and Jessica had left, we all walked in to the Festival at Dapdune Wharf (on the other side of the canal from MM's mooring), where we met up with Charles, Emma, Penny and Minnie, who were already there with a super picnic lunch.
The Festival exceeded all expectations. There were all sorts of craft stalls, excellent food and drink facilities, Morris Dancing, an exhibition of commercial diving, a model railway, archery, a climbing wall - so much to do and see. Dan queued to buy some delicious "hot dog" type rolls while Penny and Minnie were fascinated by a man tossing pizza bases in the air and cooking them in a proper pizza oven.
Meanwhile Emma was choosing her sweet treat from "Waffle On", a waffle on a stick coated with chocolate and sweets.
Later, Emma tried her hand at archery and retired after her first arrow hit the bulls-eye. Minnie tried too, but was not quite so successful, although she loved the idea.
We all went back to Erika and Dan's house for a delicious supper while the four cousins played together and then bathed together. Just a brilliant day.
Charles and Emma dropped us off at Dapdune where we were just in time to see the tail end of the illuminated parade of boats, which was spectacular.
The boats were covered with thousands of lights, one of the steerers even had lights all over his clothes and on his hat!
Six Days: 19 miles, 16 locks and 20.9 hours.
Trip: 337 miles, 311 locks and 224.0 hours.
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