No intention of going anywhere today, we relaxed having a cuppa in bed. Our nights sleep had been a touch disturbed. The first train to cross the bridge behind us at around 5am, stirred us from our slumber, they move slowly across the rumbling clanking bridge. It’s not quite as noisy as Vazon Sliding Bridge on the Stainforth and Keadby and has far fewer trains. Then Tilly woke me as her body decided it didn’t want anymore to do with last nights Ding Ding! Unable to bend well I had to enlist Mick in the tidying up aspect. I just pointed and gave Tilly a chin rub before returning to bed.
Long cat temperatures
Our mooring sits pointing north/southwards. So the morning sun sprinkled itself through the trees of the off side of the canal whilst we had breakfast. Day boats from up ahead started to come past mid morning, followed by NB Ella and one or two others brave enough to cruise in the midday sun. We however stayed inside at our shady spot.
This south outside is good
Tilly spent all day out and about. Only one woofer to have a go at her today, the rest passed by without noticing her.
Mick caught up with cycling, I put scripts in a folder and then sat out under the canopy of trees in my office for the day. There was Act 2 to re-read of my next show before talking to the writer about it.
On our way down to London I was contacted by Joshua Richards an actor I’ve worked with in the past at Hull Truck, if you watch Emmerdale you may know him as wrestler Bear Wolf! A couple of years ago he directed ‘A Regular Little Houdini’ which won quite a few prizes. He and the actor/writer Daniel Llewelyn-Williams, were approached about remounting the show, expanding it a touch as it had been a one act play along with expanding it visually from a chair and a suitcase to something more.
Today’s Office
I got chance to read the script before I decided to do it, which was a first for me. It is a great script, a wonderful story that as I read it conjured up an atmosphere of the docks in Newport Wales in the 1900s.
Houdini our first second mate five years ago today.
It has Houdini in the title, the name of our first second mate. So what was not to like, plenty of lead time too and it should fit around Chippy panto and our plans to cruise this summer. Oh and there was one more thing that swung it, it is being produced at the Vienna English Speaking Theatre, in Vienna, in January!
Mine!
Tilly climbed trees, stuck her arm down holes whilst we prepared a barbecue, my office transforming itself into our leafy terrace for the evening. Only one problem, due to our wonky mooring our table top was being used as a plank to get on and off the boat. We managed in the end and enjoyed sitting out watching all the runners and cyclists sweating their way along the towpath.
Our leafy terrace
0 locks, 0 miles, 1 sickly cat, 31ish degrees C, act 2, 1 writer, 9 hours plus!1 very exhausted cat, 4 veg kebabs, 2 chunky turkey steaks, 2 cobs of corn, 1 troublesome back, 5 years full time CCing.
Rain hit Oleanna’s roof for much of last night, but by first thing this morning it had dried up. Mick headed off on a bike to find a Waitrose for a free newspaper, along with £10 of shopping. He was fortunate as when he returned we had a couple of major down pours, the sort that would soak you to the skin despite waterproofs.
Paws crossed for finer weather
10% chance of rain! Well we’d got that 10% and we weren’t going to set off whilst it was at it’s worst. By midday the sun was trying to make an appearance so we made ready to push off. A boat appeared from behind, we had a locking partner.
The Anchor Pub was already attracting customers and would be a handy place for a delivery should we need one on the way back. The crew of NB Montana were setting the lock when I reached them after dropping off some rubbish.
The Anchor
I’d set the bow rope on the port side roof, but as the boats came into the lock we ended up on the starboard side, I’d be needing a boat hook to get the rope. The hook we were left with at little Venice is nice and light weight with an aluminium pole so easy to handle.
We tied up as we’d done yesterday using the yellow post at the stern. NB Montana tied up using all three ropes, but not one of them round the yellow post. There was a lot of rushing around trying to stop their boat from surging forward and backwards, the centre line getting tighter and tighter whilst Oleanna just rose up the lock gracefully. I mentioned to the lady about the yellow post, she wasn’t aware if they’d been told about it at Thames Lock.
Time to turn the engines back on, not a rumble from NB Montana! He tried again and again, still no joy. We said we’d wait for them at the next lock, for a while anyway and left them to bow haul out of the lock making way for a boat to go down.
Pretty summer house
The next stretch was narrow and slow going. We think it was both the depth but also the current as we were heading upstream. A quick look at a map showed us that RHS Wisley isn’t too far away and to keep an eye open for an Elizabethan Summer House. There it was nestled in amongst the trees.
Walsham Lock Cottage
You don’t get bells like that anymore
The lock cottage at Walsham Flood Gates watched our progress, Mick was impressed by the telephone bells by the front door.
Moorings
Now we were back on the river, wider and deeper. The moorings by the lock looked like they’d be fun to reverse out off and not get drawn towards the weir!
Waiting, but for how long?
A boat was just coming out of Newark Lock leaving it all ready for us. How long should we wait? We decided on ten minutes or until a boat came the other way. The sun was now out, layers could be removed as we waited. After eight minutes a boat appeared above the lock, oh well we’d have to ascend as we were in the way.
A lady came to help and we left her with a message for NB Montana that we’d wait at the next lock, they’re on a mission to reach Guildford today for dinner.
This looks a good place for the way back
I’d seen that NB Huffler had moored at Papercourt Meadows a few days ago, this had to be those meadows. Wide grassy, perfect place for a barbecue, maybe on our way back. We noted a couple of places that looked deep enough to moor as boats were already tied up.
Very pretty
I hopped off just before we reached the bywash from the weir and walked up to the lock, pausing to take photos. What a picturesque scene in the sunshine with the cottage and stepped weir, chocolate box.
Family
A family of Egyptian Geese were preening themselves by the top gates which kept me occupied as we waited. NB Montana could be seen making her way through the meadows, as they got closer I spotted a second boat hot on their tail. Should we go up on our own or wait. We waited saving them an extra ten minutes emptying the lock.
This time they used the yellow post and both boats sat calmly as they rose, affording everyone chance to have a chat. Paddles were wound in unison. They’d had a chap this morning lift a paddle straight up which had sent the plume of water straight into their bow and inside the cabin. She got him to quickly close the paddle and avoid them sinking, they still had a wet floor that needed mopping up. Have to say we never go up hill with our cabin doors open just for this reason.
Nearly at the top
We led the way for the next two miles. Pretty rural turned into offices/factory at the cut side. Another flood gate at Worsfold where the National Trust work yard is. Nicholsons mentions a turf sided lock here, but we didn’t spot it, we’ll have a better look on the way back.
Bar on a chain to stop you leaning over
The river now winds and twists towards the next pretty lock, Triggs Lock with another fine cottage. The bottom gates when open lean over the channel so, as on other gates, there are chains and a bar to help you pull them towards you from a safe distance. This was to be our last lock of the day, so we waved NB Montana goodbye and hoped they had a lovely evening.
Triggs Lock
Through the next bridge was a trimmed stretch of towpath, we arrive just as a group of canoeists did, they loitered exactly where we wanted to pull in but they got the message in the end. The wind had been doing it’s best to aid us in mooring when the canoes had been in the way, but now had disappeared. Oleanna just wouldn’t go into the side, Mick hopped off but no matter how he pulled on the centre line she just wasn’t having any of it. A blast of reverse to get her back close enough for Mick to jump back on and we headed off to try the next place.
This was also too shallow, a shame as there would have been a great view of Send church from our bedroom in the morning. The next trimmed length we were determined to moor in. The bow came in close enough to hop off, but the stern wouldn’t. Any further along the river and we’d be too close to roads for Tilly, so here it was to be. Spikes banged in and plank deployed, the first time since the Lancaster. This reminded us that we really need to get a longer one very soon!
What is this?!!!
Excuse me!!! Just what were they thinking? This outside had water everywhere! How was I meant to be able to get to it? Tom showed me this sloping thing, it smelt like ours but really! No thank you!! A thin slice of tree is no good for anyone!
Tree!
However the trees here were good. Good for climbing. I soon discovered that I could jump the gap over the water and onto the roof when a rude woofer came to see me. It didn’t stay long when I showed it what I was made of.
I really wasn’t sure about this outside, so She came out to go for a walk with me. I like this, both of us discovering new things, mostly trees and friends for me. Today however we discovered that most Southern Woofers are very rude!
One came running from quite a distance, so I decided to head up a tree. Here I had to cling on whilst it shouted at me for ages. It’s Tom just smiled and walked by calling it’s stupid name. In the end She had to risk her life and stand in between us as the woofer just wasn’t going to leave. Have to say I was glad when it did my claws were starting to ache!
Action shot
I discovered that I could jump onto the side hatch with relative ease which came in handy later on when the stupid Tom came back with his exceptionally rude woofer. Doors were closed very quickly on the boat locking it out. Why was the Tom stupid? He had a lead and knew I was there so why hadn’t he used it?! Stupid and selfish, if I’d been a little kid running away I bet he’d have apologised. Maybe he is scared of his woofer and can’t keep hold of it or is even afraid that it might bite him. Anyway my Tom was so not impressed! I now HATE woofers!
Last night I’d prepared a sponge for a loaf of Sour Dough, this had been getting frothier all day. So once we’d moored up I mixed in the other ingredients and added some yeast so that we wouldn’t have to wait until midnight to bake it. It rose nicely over a couple of hours. Then as I popped it in the over I happened to give the tin a slight knock against the grill pan. My recipe warns against this as with no gluten the loaf can collapse, all those hours of rising gone immediately to waste.
The loaf looked okay as it went in the oven, but when I turned the temperature down I had a look. It had sunk by about a quarter, a big dip in the middle! I toyed with abandoning it there and then, not wasting gas. But baked it in the end, we’ll see how it turns out for toast tomorrow.
Sunken!
4 locks, 2 flood gates, 5.19 miles, 1 summer house, 1 broken boat, 1 meadow mooring noted, 3 shallow moorings also noted, 0 outside close enough, 2 rude woofers, 3 woofer incidents, 1 freaked out cat, 1 totally selfish dog owner, 1 sunken loaf, 1 migraine brewing, 1 property game put off till tomorrow.
What a wet start to the day. Mick managed to cycle to the shops first thing to get some gluten free crumpets. We had eggs to eat up and I had nothing to absorb the runny yolk. A loaf of bread was a possible but my sour dough starter is in need of waking up so in a days time I’ll have a homemade loaf, crumpets are a treat anyway.
Yum
He returned with some bacon to accompany the eggs. Then the rain set in.
Over the next few days we need to keep moving, my panto meeting next week necessitates being near public transport, so we couldn’t just sit the day out. We did however delay our start, hoping the rain would ease.
The solar panels had been needing a wipe down so with a constant shower provided by nature Mick tried out his new waterproof coat and gave them a good clean down. Mick sat catching up with the Tour de France coverage and Tilly sulked in her escape pod as I pottered away the morning.
There hadn’t been much scratching in Tilly’s pooh box this morning, so I was a bit surprised at an aroma that was building up. ‘Not me!’ ‘Nor me!’ said Mick, it certainly wasn’t me! Now our neighbours here might be posh driving their Porsche, but they could still pick up after their dogs!!!! GRRRRR!!!!!!!!!! Mick had managed to pick up about a weeks worth on the bottom of his shoes, which was now deposited on the floor. Maybe the owner had been leaving it for their staff to pick up. Have to say one thing for the dog, it must be fed on something expensive as the aroma wasn’t as pungent as you’d expect from so much.
A nice picture of horses instead of pooh!
This then kept us busy for sometime, cleaning up. Thank goodness we don’t have a carpet!
The rain kept coming and in the end we decided that we’d risk Tilly going out for an hour. After twenty minutes it had stopped raining, time to go if I could get the cat back. One call out on the towpath and I got a reply, Tilly sprung out of the friendly cover and we could be on our way.
Sharp right after the bridge to the lock
A short distance on is Town Lock. Ian had warned us yesterday to pull in just after the first bridge and walk up to the lock as it is at right angles to the channel. This we did and sure enough the lock was full with gates open. Here on the Wey you are asked to leave the gates open, both of them. So if the lock is set against you there is more to do especially as you have to walk round.
Round the yellow post
With the lock set and both gates open Mick brought Oleanna in. With the gates closed Mick passed the stern line up which I passed around the yellow stake and returned to him to tie off on the boat. I’d laid the bow rope on the roof with a loop to make it easy to get hold of and pulled Oleanna into the side and wrapped the rope around a bollard.
Mick helping to set the lock
The Wey windlass has a long reach, making it easier to wind the paddles up, it does mean stretching somewhat though. I opened the paddle a bit and the plume of water came out. Oleanna stayed put so I opened it up some more, then more until it would go no further. The gear on these paddles is reminiscent of that on the Huddersfield broad it stays put magically until you start to wind it down, no visible break on them.
It doesn’t feel right leaving gates open
Once Oleanna was up at the top Mick was able to walk round to open up the off side gate as I dropped the paddle and set my rope on the roof for the next lock. It does feel odd leaving lock gates open.
Coxes Lock
Coxes Lock sits just past three fantastic mill buildings, Alexander Raby Mill, Daniel Lambert Mill and John Bunn Mill. These buildings have had a number of different uses through their 200 odd years. Foundry, flour mill even silk weaving for a time. Originally powered by a water wheel with a large mill pond, level with the lock, which was dug to alleviate the barges becoming grounded. This was superseded by steam and then electric. They have now been converted into apartments.
The Mills and NB Huffler
As Oleanna rose in the lock a boat headed down towards us. A cruiser moored on the lock landing had left enough room for them to tie up, but they decided to hover in the cut for the lock to be ready for them. This turned out to be Nb Huffler heading back down stream.
Altered lock beams for the road
Marvelous we thought, the locks would now be sat waiting for us with open gates, but sadly this wasn’t the case, New Haw Lock sat with it’s gate very firmly shut. We reset it and worked our way up. This lock has had a new road bridge built over it’s bottom gates, necessitating the beams to be cranked, these are always hard to get moving and quite painful to push. The pretty lock cottage more than made up for this.
Pretty Lock Cottage
Just as we finished and were about to leave the chap from NB Ella appeared behind. I helped close a top gate and then hopped back on board before Oleanna was dragged towards a weir.
Without the M25
Up ahead we now had the crossing of all sorts. M25, railway and a canal junction. Each support to the motorway has been decorated, most with elaborate writing and one with a very good painting of a Sphynx cat, not my favourite I prefer my cats to have fur.
Not my favourite breed
Then the Basingstoke Canal heads off to the west. We hope to be able to cruise up there, but water levels are bad as their supply is from springs not reservoirs or rivers. A phone call is needed before we go that way as the locks are only open on certain days and have to be booked in advance.
The Basingstoke Canal
Then the railway, nearby is West Byfleet and New Haw station. Way back when I used to do work for a scenic company based here, my first job painting the Muppets Christmas Carol grotto that was to be at the Trocadero in London in 1992.
By now we were wanting to stop, as soon as we were a distance away from the motorway we tried pulling in, but had no luck. Further on just before the Anchor pub at Pyrford we tried again, here the water was deep enough. Soon after NB Ella pulled in leaving a good gap in front of us as they have a dog.
GET LOST!!!
Blimey! They promised me a better outside, so many trees, some thin, some thick, others giantly big. Loads of friendly cover too. It was certainly heading towards having a Mrs Tilly stamp until a woofer came and spoilt it all. She said to Tom to pick me up, but I didn’t need that. When Tom came between me and the woofer I headed back towards the boat only to be followed at speed by said woofer! This happened several times. It stopped within swiping distance scared off by my huge tail and arched ridge back. No need to get the claws out, but it was a close thing!
Property Game
This one is on the Wey and comes with a slipway for a small cruiser.
3 locks, 4.09 miles, 1 wet day, 2 outsides,3 mills, 1 huge dollop of pooh, 1 very clean cabin floor, 10 groundplans completed, 3 muddy paw prints! 1 shady mooring we’d like next week.
Teddington to nearly Weybridge New Bridge, River Wey
Sailing classes
Rain. At least we knew it wouldn’t rain all day, so we sat it out. By about 10:45 it was drying up so we made ready. NB Ella must have been waiting too, they pushed off a few minutes earlier than us, still with their pram hood up should it start to rain again. We had our waterproofs at the ready.
Kingston
Upstream from Teddington is Kingston-upon-Thames. Here there are several places with 24 hour moorings. The signs take a bit of getting used to, canal dwellers don’t often associate a big white P on a blue back ground with a mooring and signs with lots of writing on canals tend to warn you of hefty fines should you not have a permit to moor there. There were a few spaces free which we could have pulled up in, but today we needed to be off the Thames as our licence only covers us for 24hrs.
New with the old
Muriel
NB Ella pulled over after most of the bridges on a long length with no boats, we hope they managed to find some means of mooring there as we suspect there was a reason for it being empty. We carried on, I managed to have a chat with Gemma my Production Manager before we reached the first lock, I’d had ideas of how to find my painting fee.
Really posh house, Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court sits alongside the river, a long high brick wall leads you to the gilt ornate gates. There were spaces here to moor also, but we’ll come back to make the most of a visit in a few weeks time. It’s a pricey place, but with a 2 for 1 with a train ticket it will be more attractive.
Obligatory chimney photo
Molesey Lock would be our first Thames lock, one of only two today. A Dutch barge was waiting it’s turn so we followed them in. In Thames locks you are required to rope up for and aft and turn your engine off. If the lock is manned the gates and paddles are operated for you. This was our first Thames lock three years ago also, I’d had reduced digits for almost a year and ropes in locks still bothered me (not saying that they don’t now). Today the water pushed us back and forth, I had to step down out of the way of my rope, Mick ended up turning the engine back on as we were moved around so much, the crew on the Dutch Barge didn’t seem to have any hassle.
Onwards past more houses for sale and some boats too. Numerous Islands and posh houses. We’ve decided to only point out the exceptional ones to each other as there are so many. Approaching Sunbury Lock two boats came towards us but we were too far away for the Lockie to hold the gates for us, another boat was waiting to come down.
Our transit licence
Rivers and landings are not really designed for narrowboats with low gunnels. We pulled up and cast our ropes over bollards to await our turn, our gunnel lower than the overhang on the landing. I managed to get a fender in between Oleanna’s cabin side and Mick spent the next few minutes as the lock was emptied doing his best to push the stern out. Sadly we didn’t escape un scathed, I have a couple of places where first a polish will be tried before a touch of paint!
Not much of todays cruise had been familiar, that was until we pulled up at a space outside The Weir pub for a lunch break. We’d stopped here last time too. As we were tying up a small inflatable ‘Swan Rescue’ boat pulled up in front. A handy loop to tie to for them as we dug out our mooring spikes.
After lunch we continued on our way upstream. Mick called ahead to our next lock and was given instructions of what to do on our arrival. At Shepperton Junction we chose to turn left. Here numerous islands give you so many options of which way to go. Nicholsons doesn’t show these clearly, but the Waterways Routes map did, second exit, straight on.
That way
There ahead of us a green sign pointing the way, or should I say Wey. Sorry!
Open for us
Soon we approached the bottom gate which was open for us and pulled in where we’d been told to. Ian the Lock Keeper came down to greet us, ‘Welcome to the River Wey’. We’d been slightly speeded up whilst on the Thames, now Ian slowed us back down. Plenty of time to chat with our personal Lockie.
Very neat around the lock
He suggested we filled with water as the tap has the best pressure on the river. Whilst we did this he gave us various pieces of information we’d need whilst on the river, he also checked what draught Oleanna has. Today Thames Lock had about 2 ft of water over the cill, not quite enough for us. No problem.
Heading into Thames Lock once the level had risen
Thames Lock was first built in the mid 16th century, the river was the second in England to be turned from wholly unnavigable to navigable. The lock led straight down into the Thames which at that point was tidal all the way up to Staines. Navigation on the Thames relied on ‘flash locks’. Flash Locks were a bit like weirs, when the water had built up sufficiently upstream paddles were removed and the boats would rush through on a ‘flash’ of water, hence the phrase ‘gone in a flash’. This was quite dangerous, going up hill was harder, boats had to be winched up stream when levels were suitable. This method of moving boats was used on the Thames until the 20th century.
Oleanna excited to be on new water
By 1653 the Wey had upgraded it’s flash locks to ‘pound locks’ those we know today, Thames Lock being one of these. The River Thames was slower with their upgrade leaving it until the 19th century. The construction of a weir and Shepperton Lock on the Thames meant that where the Wey joined the Thames the level dropped by about three foot, this stopped laden barges from being able to enter the navigation. Something had to be done.
That’s a lot of water!
A new cutting was made joining the existing lock to another channel down stream of the existing one. Finally the old route was blocked off and a single gate added to the end of the new link/chamber. This now created a staircase lock, on a bend. Ian today closed the gate behind us and lifted paddles at the lock above rising the level in the bottom chamber by around a foot, this would mean we’d easily be able to get over the bottom cil into Thames Lock.
Nearly there
Once in the lock Ian tied our stern line to a yellow post right by the bottom gates. The bow line was passed up, around a bollard and passed back down to me. He then lifted a paddle on the same side of the lock as Oleanna. Just a bit to start with, then a touch more when he could see how she reacted. The stern line thankfully stopped her from moving forward into the plume of water coming through the gates. We gradually rose to meet the first reach of the river.
Up at Wey level
Not being a busy river we could leave Oleanna tied up in the lock whilst our licence was sorted out. We opted for a three week licence, this is only about £20 more than that for a week. If we over stay by a day we’d be charged another £25. We also get a 10% discount with our National Trust membership. With three weeks we hope that we might be able to go onto the Basingstoke for sometime (another licence required) and still make it back to the Thames before our Wey licence runs out, the Basingstoke Canal runs off the Wey.
New licence
An information pack was handed over in return for money. A long handled windlass has been loaned to us for our stay too.
A line of moored boats just after the lock had a space. These are permanent moorings, but Ian said we’d be fine for a night if we fitted, sadly Oleanna was quite a few feet too long. On we pootled looking for possibilities. We could tie up after Town Lock but with a road close by that wouldn’t be suitable for Tilly.
Posh
The river bends around large properties, the biggest I’m surprised I didn’t get my camera out in time to take a photo, was huge with striped immaculate lawns. Blimey it’s posh round here! Maybe I’d better give Oleanna a wash. Soon a stretch of rusty piling showed itself, we gave it a try. Oleanna came into the side with ease. No chance of using nappy pins or chains as the piling was too thick and may not cope with anything round it, so we resorted to pins.
Mine!
Wey Hey Hay!! Trees!!!! This Wey outside wey beats the Thames outside. There may be quite a few woofers about, but there is plenty to play in. There is also some Tilly cover by Oleanna.
Tree!
No woofers can see me in here
I quite like the look of the neighbours houses too. That roof looks like I’d have a good vantage point from there.
Our neighbours for the night
Property Game
This barge has 3 bedrooms and lives on the Thames. Two years ago it had a major refit.
A bungalow, still on the Thames.
Answers and links in tomorrows post.
3 locks (maybe 4 if you count the bottom chamber at Thames Lock), How many ‘Thames Lock’s are there? 10.99 miles, 1 left, 1 rainy morning, 1 rib in the way, £500 saved, 2 many choices, 1 personal lockkeeper, 2nd licence in as many days, 1 loaned windlass, 3 weeks, 1 happy cat, 1 master ground plan copied.
