Saturday 15 June 2013

A Chance to get a Wey

This morning we drove the forty minutes or so from home to Godalming, and got the train to Guildford.  We walked along the River Wey, and met up with Doug and James on Chance.  They were moored at the meadows just out of town.
 


After tea and cake, we set off for the short trip back to Godalming.  We've walked this part of the river a few times, but never done it on board a boat.  The first lock is St Catherine's Lock, and is pretty shallow.


Some of the bridges have pretty low headroom, and you can understand why there are problems when the levels rise.


We passed the junction with the Wey and Arun Canal, which is under restoration further down its length.  It wasn't immediately clear which way to go, as the sign is very small.  All that's left of the canal at this point is an arm used for moorings.


Unstead Lock comes next, and this one is a bit deeper.


This bridge has clearly been significantly changed at some point in its history.


We've often had days out to Farncombe Boathouse, where there's a decent café, and always something going on to watch.  Catteshall Lock is immediately beyond, and the lock workers have to cross the road at the bridge.



This lock, like the others, has very fierce paddles.


Godalming Wharf is a short distance further on, with the trip boat, Iona, moored up in front of the old wharf building.  We went round the corner and tried to get onto a mooring but it was too shallow.  So James reversed back, winded, and then we realised that a boat which had been moored up had gone, so we took its place.


As we had lunch on board, people started arriving for a trip on Iona, which is a horse drawn boat.  Their trip lasted a couple of hours.



After lots of eating and talking, we all walked up through Godalming, to where our car was parked at the railways station.  It was a great day out with good company, and really nice to do a bit of waterway we've seen only from the towpath before.


2 comments:

Graham and Jill Findlay said...

Just can't resist those Wey puns eh?

Adam said...

I thought it was compulsory!