Monday 14th June 2021 in Guildford.
Most years, the wild rhododendrons are "blind", i.e. they don't bloom, but we've noticed that this year is an exception. It makes a pretty picture by the water.
It was a hot day and even the cows on this water meadow were trying to cool off. This navigation is bordered by lovely water meadows for much of its length.
After the problems at Coxes Lock, we were even more cautious than normal with the paddles. The water flows are very fierce, especially when going up.
Bower's Lock is in a lovely setting surrounded by mature oak trees.
At Stoke Lock there was a minor drama. A family of Egyptian Geese were trapped behind a floating barrier. Mum, Dad and two of the goslings made it across fairly easily..
Then gosling number three struggled across. But number four tried and tried but the poor little fellow just couldn't make it over the barrier. He must have been the "runt"!
Eventually, we lifted the barrier so that number four could get under it and the family were safely reunited. Cheers all round (from we humans!).
When we arrived in Guildford, we moored up outside the White House Pub. Erika, who happened to be in Guildford, came round to see us. Meanwhile, Mel and Peter went off into Guildford to find a replacement phone for the one that Mel had dropped into the Thames.
Then M received a text from her brother John saying that they were on the train on their way to Guildford for a day out. They had no idea that we were also in Guildford, so M called them (they were in M&S by then!) and they came down to join us.
The centre of Guildford is a lovely mooring but a bit noisy for an overnight stay. So, with John, Christine and Jessica aboard MM, the two boats moved upstream through Millmead Lock and on to the water meadows above the town, where we have moored each time we have been in Guildford. As before, it was lovely and quiet. And very pretty.
John, Christine and Jessica went for a long walk and then came back for tea in the sunshine with Mel and Peter.
Such a wonderful surprise to see Erika, John, Christine and Jessica, because they all happened to be in Guildford today. A case of Many (Chance) Meetings!
Today: 6 miles, 3 locks and 3.4 hours.
Trip: 219 miles, 105 locks and 95.4 hours.
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