Friday 9th July 2021 in Guildford.
Today, Sandy and Trevor, friends from M's old RGS choir, are joining us for the day. They were coming to Guildford by train - but we were moored overnight at Godalming - so an early start to cruise the now familiar three miles and three locks back to Guildford. We were relieved to see that the river had gone down to its normal level, but it always looks as if MM will never fit under Shalford Bridge!
Going with the river current, we arrived in good time and R turned MM above Millmead Lock.
Unfortunately, half way through the turn, MM picked up something substantial on the propellor. Luckily, two crew from the "Swingbridge" charity workboat, moored next to the lock, helped R to complete the turn and moor up MM using ropes. R then went down the weed hatch to find out what we had picked up. It turned out to be part of the metal frame of a folding chair that had wrapped itself right round behind the propellor very tightly. Despite the fact that the River Wey is cleaner than a canal, you cannot see much, so it a question of trying to work out what is happening by feel alone. It took a while (and a few expletives). Meanwhile M went to meet Sandy and Trevor at the station.
We decided to go to Godalming and back again and, at St Catherine's Lock, M narrowly missed photographing the Reigate-Guildford and the Guildford-Reigate trains passing each other in the same picture. Maybe next time?
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Sandy tried her hand at steering and did a very competent job.
At Godalming, we filled up with water and then had lunch on the grassy bank next to MM in the sunshine.
Trevor surveys proceedings from a bollard.
We said goodbye at the Guildford water meadows and they walked back up to the station. It had been a truly lovely day in every respect.
So nice to see Sandy and Trevor again after so long. They had been on MM for a day trip with us once before - but that was eight years ago!
Today: 9 miles, 9 locks and 6.3 hours.
Trip: 267 miles, 146 locks and 134.3 hours.
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