On our Way, Leaving the Wey Way Behind

Another slow start today - it was just too beautiful where we were to rush off. We took the dogs out for a long walk along the towpath, stopping to chat to fishermen and other boaters before rerurning to Banjo for a very late breakfast. Everything put away, we weighed anchor (it was pretty heavy!), and set off downstream. 

Heading downstream

We passed Pyrford and a packed riverside pub in glorious sunshine. We did consider visiting the marina here again to see if they had any gas, but decided to press on and hope they would have some at Shepperton marina once we we were back on the Thames. After another couple of locks, we came to a boatyard called TLC at Parvis Wharf. Hopefully, we called out "do you have any 6kg propane tanks?" - the reply "yes"!! So, we backed up and swapped our empty tank for a nice full one. The people who run this yard and chandlery are Stuart and Julia and their enourmous greyhound Mr Jolly - all three are delightful, although Mr Jolly didn't even bother to get up off the cool floor in the chandlery.


Angela outside TLC - fine suppliers of gas 'n' stuff

We found a surprising number of locks set against us today. Although there were still a few boats heading for Guildford, there were clearly a number heading away too.

Fabulous converted mill

We reached Weybridge, and passed through the last lock we would have to operate for a week! The remaining lock on the Wey is operated by the keeper and then we are planning a week on the Thames where all locks are keeper operated. The stretch of river between Weybridge Town lock and Thames lock has many beautiful houses. Angela left Banjo with the dogs here, and walked to the final lock whilst I coasted along gawping at the houses.

A des res

Geese getting ready to launch their boat

I was re-united with Angela at the entrance to Thames Lock, and once everyone was back onboard, I set off to find the lock keeper amd return our borrowed windlasses.

Heading into the lock-keepers cottage with windlasses

As I may have mentioned on the way through here last time, the lock here is in two parts - the conventional lock, and the area (pound) immediately below which is used to equalise the levels between the Thames and The Wey. I found the lock keeper assisting a boat into the lower lock, after which, he opened up the main lock for us to enter.

Last look back at the River Wey

We then dropped down and swapped places with the other boat that was on the way up. The lower lock then emptied and we left the Wey behind. It has been a lovely trip down to Godalming and back on a really beautiful river - we hope to come again before too long.

We planned to head through Shepperton lock and moor on the Thames somewhere towards picturesque (not) Staines (attractive name too!). But, as we left the mouth of the Wey, we spotted a nice empty mooring spot on the Weybridge bank of a wide expanse of water. There are a couple of large islands here and the resulting waterways are a bit like Spaghetti Junction!

Tonight's mooring

Fine boat moored behind us and cheap flats beyond

On the opposite bank there is a large weir, with most of the water channeled through a small gap creating a torrent of water. Canoeists were practising on a slalom course that has been setup just below the weir in the white water.

Slalom canoeists

We took the dogs on a long walk along the river bank and around onto the Thames on what has turned out to be a lovely hot evening.

Angela and dogs about to pass through an arch with what appears to be a prison cell in the left side? 

It looks as though it is going to be hot for quite a while now, and as we head for bed tonight, the barometer is as high as we have seen it - how lucky are we?

Hot hot hot