As Paul and Mick both pointed out in comments on yesterday’s blog, our mooring at Godalming Wharf is the most southerly point on the connected waterways. We were right under the sign saying so. I knew I’d mentioned it somewhere, but it turns out it wasn’t on the blog, but in a piece I recorded for a future podcast. The end of the navigation is actually a little further on, at Town Bridge, but there’s nowhere to turn around there so most people don’t quite get to the end. Macc and I walked over the bridge several times though, in order to get to the water meadows on the other side of the river.
This morning Adrian went to do a decent sized shop at Sainsbury’s, which is right next to the river. I did a few jobs such as dealing with rubbish and the Elsan. Then our friend Nadine, who lives quite close by, called in to see us. She used to be one of the instructors at the gym at Goodwood, so we’ve known her for ages but not seen her in quite a while. There was plenty to catch up on, although meeting Macc was (of course) top priority! She had to go off to her next appointment at about 11.15, so we set off. We were still pointing into the flow, so we untied the boat, took it back slightly into the corner, I put the stern rope on a bollard, and Adrian gave the bow a push out into the river. The flow gradually took the bow round so we were pointing downstream.
Catteshall Lock needed turning, and then a boat turned up to come up. They were blocking the lock landing, so Adrian went to the Boat House side and got back on by crossing one of their day boats. At Trowers Footbridge it’s pretty clear which arch you need to take, but we assume it wasn’t always this shape.
A little further on was a pill box, something we’ll see more of on the Thames. I hadn’t noticed it at all on the way upstream.
Unstead Lock also needed turning. At each of these locks, Adrian went and closed the bottom gates, by which time I’d got the boat tied on the lock landing so could do a paddle and gate at the top. The National Trust insists both gates are opened before you go in or out.
Our plan had been to moor on one of the cleared sections between Broadford Bridge and the railway bridge. While the first stretch was clear, it had no shade or even any prospect of shade. The next mooring had one boat on it, and we looked at the length in front of it, but there were big rocks stopping us getting into the side. The third mooring was also taken, so we decided to carry on. St Catherine’s Lock is only a short distance further, and as we arrived a special train went by, with lots of Pullman coaches.
This lock is only shallow, and when we came up it yesterday we’d struggled to get in because of lack of water in the pound below. So we didn’t have to try to get to the lock landing, Adrian got back in at the bow by using the ladder. A boat had also arrived to go up so it was just as well he was already on board, but the water levels looked much better than they had been.
We were aiming for the Guildford water meadows again, partly because Macc likes it so much. As we approached we could see there was tree work going on, to reduce the size of the willow trees. We pulled in at the spot we’d used over the weekend, and Adrian went to ask the guys if it was ok to moor there. They said they’d already done those trees so that would be the best place — so we’re in almost exactly the same place, just pointing the other way. We knew we’d get a couple of hours of shade, then some full sun before the shade returned in the evening.
4 miles, 3 locks. (59 miles, 32 locks)