A Day at Home and Adrian Visits.

 Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd July 2021 from Guildford to Godalming.

On Friday we took a day off. We left MM moored next to the Guildford watermeadows and walked 100 yards up to the road, where there is a bus stop for the No. 32 bus. The bus picked us up on time and dropped us off 100 yards from our house. It couldn't be easier! We spent the day at home and then caught the bus back to MM, where we treated ourselves to supper at Wagamama. Delicious!

On Saturday, Adrian came up for the morning. It started to rain just as he arrived but it was really lovely to see him and it gave us the opportunity to have a catch up, even if there wasn't time for a cruise.

After Adrian left, we set off south again towards Godalming.

The river is running high at present and water was rushing over the top gate at Unstead Lock like a waterfall. When we filled the lock, it was also running over the bottom gate, so it was quite difficult to open the top gates.

 

On the way, we reconnoitred the mooring outside the "Manor" Beefeater Pub, where we plan to meet Charles, Emma and the girls tomorrow.

We stopped at Farncombe Boathouse for diesel and water. The guys were very helpful and said that they had been very busy with day boats but not so many weekly rentals.

While we filled up, M swept the roof. One of the penalties of mooring under trees is all the stuff that falls on the roof, particularly when it rains. In this case, Black Poplar trees.

Catteshall Lock, the southernmost lock on the Navigation, is another in a very pretty setting surrounded by water meadows.

The sign in the photograph above talks of the history of Surrey as a centre of papermaking in the seventeenth century, initially for brown wrapping paper, but later for quality papers, all made from rags brought up the Wey Navigation.

Finally, we arrived in Godalming, where we moored up on the wharf for the night. This is the southern most point on the canal network and a lovely mooring.

 Today: 3 miles, 3 locks and 3.4 hours (inc. power)

Trip: 249 miles, 127 locks and 119.3 hours.