The National Trust Strikes Again!

 Saturday 24th July 2021 at Shepperton.

On Friday, we took everything that we needed to go from home to the boat in the car, so that on Saturday, we only had to take ourselves. While at the Marina, R saw Geoff Cook, the owner and settled up our mooring fee. Geoff warned R that the National Trust lockkeeper at Thames Lock might try to charge him a licence for the week that we had been in Cartbridge but that was not correct as Geoff's agreement with the National Trust was only berth holders needed a licence when in the Marina.

Saturday was an early start from home on the Old Faithful no.32 bus. It arrived in Guildford on time, so we were able to catch our connecting bus without having to wait an hour. As a result, we arrived in the Marina by midday - in good time to get off the Wey and on to the Thames tonight. Below is our mooring as we waved goodbye.

Papercourt Lock is not only pretty, but it is known as the "lock that moved". The old lock is now a bywash between the new lock and the lockkeeper's cottage. Nobody seems quite sure why the lock was moved. What is known is that the old lockkeeper's cottage was demolished in 1922 and a new cottage built. The lockkeeper, one Alfred Wye, was not happy with the place that the new cottage was to be built, so in the night he moved all the surveyor's pegs to his preferred position and that is where the builders built it!

In the week that we had been away, the "pennywort" weed has become much, much worse, no doubt due to that heatwave. The National Trust needs to do something about it before it chokes the river. 

 Coxes Mill, built in 1770, is a magnificent building, 10 stories high. It was then the tallest non-ecclesiastical building outside London. At various times it was used to grind corn, make paper and later as an iron works.

At Thames Lock, we were met by the lady lockkeeper who told us, in no uncertain terms, that we had to pay a week's licence for the time that we had been in Cartbridge Marina. She said that, unlike Pyrford Marina where no licence is required, if you moor there in Cartbridge, a licence is required. This is clear descrimination by the National Trust against the newer marina and, according to Geoff Cook the owner of Cartbridge, a direct contravention of his agreement with the National Trust. As we had no option, we had to pay the licence, otherwise we would not have been let out of the lock!!!

 Just outside the entrance to the River Wey, we found a lovely mooring for the night.

 R managed to get hold of Geoff on the telephone and to say Geoff was angry at our treatment by the National Trust would be an understatement. Since then both Geoff and R have been in touch with the National Trust to protest at their descrimination and claim a refund.

Today: 8 miles, 8 locks and 4.3 hours.

Trip: 299 miles, 174 locks and 158.0 hours.