BO

Last night we made it to the junction of the Thames and River Wey where we were fortunate in finding a vacant 24 hour mooring.  On walking around the general area I noticed a brass bell chained to railing behind our mooring.

Then I noticed the adjacent notice, which upon reading, realised it was a ferry timetable.

So this the is Weybridge landing for the Shepperton to Weybridge ferry for pedestrians and bicycles.  Before leaving this morning I even managed to take a photo of the ferry.

Apart from the period 1960-86 a ferry has operated here for the past 500 years.  Before locks were installed to regulate Thames water levels this was the first fordable site above London.

We departed our mooring at 8.30am, cruising the short distance up to Thames Lock at the start of the Wey Navigation.  There is a large stop lock gate immediately prior to Thames Lock which was closed after us by the lock keeper.  Water was then released from Thames Lock raising the level of the short pound between the two locks by just over a foot.  I assume this is to provide sufficient clearance for boats to enter Thames Lock.

Entering Thames Lock

The lock keeper gave us a safety briefing along with taking our money for our 7 day visitors license. She wanted a rope on the yellow bollard at the stern and the use of our centreline.  We were informed that we would find the locks were particularly fierce.  After transiting five today we both agree we’ve seen fiercer locks.

I made up a short length of rope to use on these yellow stern bollards.

The second lock (Weybridge Town Lock) is around a tight corner and under a bridge.  At this point the river goes straight ahead whist the navigation turns right.  It’s a wide junction and an attractive location.

A little further along there was a pub.  We were tempted, but unfortunately it was closed.

The next lock (Coxes Lock) was in a particularly attractive setting.  The former mill buildings have been converted to apartments.

Information from a search indicated there has been a mill at this location from 1777.  The water of the mill pond was used to power an iron mill, originally built by the Wealden iron masters Raby and Rodgers, which operated on the site until 1832. It was rebuilt as corn and silk mills by 1835. The massive mill and silo buildings were erected during the first decade of the 20th century. Flour milling ceased in 1983 and the buildings converted to apartments in 1989. 

A lovely steam powered boat

And a boat whose name I can associate with.

This early part of the navigation has proven to be quite shallow and consequentially we suspect Waiouru has a rather shiny bottom.  However this is compensated by the tranquility and beauty of the surroundings.

Halfway through the cruise a group of three rowing skiffs caught up with us.  The crews we all from France with one of them from New Caledonia who called out Haere Mai.  He probably though he was calling out “Hello” in Maori but it actually means “Welcome”.  He should have called out “Kia Ora”.

Although the rowers passed us we caught up with them at Pyrford Lock as they had stopped for lunch at The Anchor.  We kept going (photo on the way back) passing through Walsham Gates Flood Lock.

We finally stopped for the day around 2.30pm on a water meadow just south of Send.  There were five boats here when we arrived but within an hour they had all pulled their pins and departed.  Perhaps we have BO?  It’s too shallow to get against the bank, but we have both the dot and DTV so can’t complain.