The End of the Wey

We slept soundly in spite of being right in the middle of Guildford. It had rained overnight but the rain was long gone when we surfaced. We planned to meet up with Sam and my sister Sue at 12:30 on the river near Sam's office, which was only a short distance down the river. So, we set off for Guildford high street for breakfast and a bit of shopping. We enjoyed a coffee and danish in a cafe in Tunsgate and then headed for Sainsburys. Before we got there, Angela spotted a Joules store (a favourite brand), with a sale on, and so I followed her inside. We emerged a bit later, Angela with 1 item and me with 3 - ooops!

After gathering provisions in Sainsburys we returned to the boat and made ready to leave. The river upstream from Guildford skirts large water meadows and passes yet more beautiful houses. We arrived at St Catherine's lock near Sam's office and decided to go through the lock to moor the other side, because two cruisers were waiting to descend the lock. As we entered, the crew of the first cruiser came over to help. Whilst I climbed onto the front of Banjo to get the rope to secure us before the sluices were opened, the sluices were opened! The cruiser crew had not asked if we were ready and just went ahead, leaving us swinging about banging the far wall before I could get the rope across to Angela on the bank. Too many hands .....

We passed this cute brown calf near Shalford

Sam and Sue with Sam's friend Alison made it over to meet us, but the walk had taken longer than planned and Sam and Alison could only stop briefly before returning to work. It was good to see them and we enjoyed their sandwiches after they left!! Sue stayed with us as we set off upstream again for Godalming.


A horse drawn trip boat

As we approached a low bridge in Shalford, we suddenly realised that we were not going to get under it! We eased up to it and sure enough, the aerial mast at the front of the boat and the tubs of flowers would be casualties if we continued. So, we backed up and Angela held the boat in to the bank while I dismantled the mast and retrieved the flowers.

Not much room to spare under this bridge

Once clear we set off again and after another mile we reached the last lock on the river Wey, at Cattershall. Immediately after this lock we stopped and visited a friend of Sue's on his boat Baggins. A lovely boat and a Ray was a delightful man. We then travelled the remaining half mile to the end of the navigable river at Godalming Wharf. Here we were joined by Sue's son Joe and his daughter Juno.

Joe, Juno and Sue

Joe then took Sue back to collect her car from outside Sam's office, we we turned and headed back towards Guildford. Descending the locks is far less demanding than ascending, with no turbulent water to contend with. Also, we were moving faster, having the fast running river's current pushing us along rather than slowing us down.

Angela jumped ship at one lock, taking Anushka and Lola on a route march to the next lock whilst I chugged lazily along beside her. At the next lock we were re-united and covered the remaining short distance to the water meadows on the edge of Guildford where we are moored for the night.

Tonight's mooring

View from Banjo across meadows

Tomorrow we start the journey back up the Wey towards the Thames again.