On the Wey to Pyrford

Tuesday 27^th March, 2012

We both slept rather fitfully but awoke to another beautiful morning. A mist lingered over the river as the sun rose over the gardens of Hampton Court Palace. A flight of swans flew along the river and landed next to us in graceful array, displaying their wonderful aerobatic skills. The line of planes queuing overhead for Heathrow was, by contrast, unremarkable!

Our good friend Simon was on his way to crew for us, but was delayed a while by an early morning traffic jam nearby, so we went on through Molesey Lock with “Arden” and Roger and Caroline. On the other side of the lock they went on ahead and we waved them a cheerful farewell as we waited for Simon to arrive. They were still debating the colour of their new paintwork; Roger says it may be Great Western Railway chestnut brown! Robin walked up towards the town to meet Simon and managed to buy some supplies while he was out.

At 9:40, Simon arrived, full of enthusiasm for the day ahead. We all had coffee and bacon sandwiches together, then set off west along the Thames.  Once more, at Shepperton, it was strange to experience the transition in a few yards from the wide expanse of Old Father Thames to the quiet rural canal that is the Wey Navigation.

Immediately before us was the rather intimidating Thames Lock.  The lock keeper was the same chap as last year; he was as helpful and cheerful as before and remembered the boat. We stopped for lunch at New Haw Lock and finally arrived at Pyrford Marina at 3:30. There appeared to be a wedding going on at the pub opposite (what a wonderful day for it!). As the Marina is closed on a Tuesday, we had to find any open slot to moor “Many Meetings” temporarily. 

We had tea and buns before locking up “Many Meetings”.  Then we walked the mile and a half on the towpath to Byfleet and New Haw Railway Station where we caught the train. Simon and Marion got off at Surbiton to catch the train back to Simon’s car at Hampton Court while Robin continued on to Waterloo, Paddington and thence to Iver and a two mile walk back to the car that we had left  at the “Water’s Edge” pub at Packet Boat Marina the previous Saturday. Simon dropped Marion off at home and Robin drove back to the boat and stayed overnight so that he could see the marina people in the morning and book "Many Meetings" in officially.

133.4 Hours, 5.4 Hours today, 17.2 Hours this trip.

6 locks and 10 miles today, 22 locks and 32 miles this trip.

Since she was launched, “Many Meetings” has done 133.4 hours, 230 miles and 137 locks.

Through the Tidal Thames

Monday 26^th March, 2012

We had both been very tired, so a good night’s sleep was a blessing. We slept for ten hours and awoke to another beautiful morning. There was no rush to do the three miles down to the Thames, since we could only go through with the tide at about 4:00pm, so we had a nice lazy morning.

After Osterley Lock, there was a dramatic improvement in the cleanliness of the water; the filthy sludge appeared to be syphoned off by the weir nearby.  As we were going through Clitheroe’s Lock, a pleasant Polish chap appeared, saying that he had been working for two years on the other side of the road and never knew the canal was there! Proof of how the waterway system is a secret world!

At 2:00pm, we moored at Brentford Guaging lock and had lunch in the sunshine. Later we were joined in the lock by nb “Arden” No. 2 (Autolycus Canal Carrying Co, Battlebridge, London N1) owned by Roger and Caroline.  It was a very traditional narrowboat with a real engine (chug-chug – no mistaking that sound as she approached!). Battleship grey, in need of a coat of paint but much loved, she was bought as a sunken wreck in 1989. The visual contrast of the two boats side by side could not have been greater. The old and the new sharing the lock - and that very much sums up the wonderful camaraderie of the boating community.

By 3:00pm, both boats were waiting outside the Thames Lock, having left room between us for a group of good-humoured fishermen who didn’t seem to mind being disturbed (no doubt due to the copious amounts of beer being consumed). While we were waiting, two men with deep foreign accents appeared pulling a wide-beam Dutch barge.  Without asking, they walked straight on to “Arden” to tow the barge round it and were told very firmly by Roger and Caroline that it's the tradition to take the trouble to ask first before climbing on board someone else's boat. So,when they got to us they asked first! They went through the lock first (again without asking, which would have been polite) so it was about 4:20 before we and Arden could get into the lock and through on to the Thames.

Thames Lock at Brentford

 So “Arden” and “Many Meetings” sailed up the Tidal Thames in stately fashion, side by side. Roger and Caroline were going up to a fly-boat meeting in Stockton, near Rugby, and had decided to go up the Oxford Canal rather than risk the Grand Union summit, which still has restrictions on the summit due to water conservation.

At 5:30, we went through Teddington Lock together. The lock-keeper was very nice and courteously called Robin “Skipper”.  We had to get a one-day licence as we needed to overnight on the Thames. The river and its banks looked beautiful; so many people walking, cycling, sitting, talking or just watching the world go by. Rather surprisingly, by contrast, there was very little traffic on the river.

At 7:00, we approached Hampton Court Palace just as the sun was setting. “Arden” was already there. “What kept you?” asked Roger, grinning! Understandly, he was amused by the fact that his traditional old engine was faster! We moored next to them, right outside the Palace, feeling very arisocratic.  It was a beautiful evening.

128.0 Hours Total, 4.3 Hours today, 11.8 Hours for this trip.

9 miles and 5 locks today, 22 miles and 16 locks for this trip.

Adrian and Family on Board

Sunday 25^th March, 2012

Jamie and Alex were the only ones who slept well!  They slept on the dinette; Adrian and Sandra slept on the main bed while Marion and Robin slept on the sofabed. All the beds were really comfortable but it was a bit cosy, and with six on board there was a lot of condensation on the windows in the morning!

Robin got going down towards Hanwell while Marion made breakfast. It was another beautiful morning and, after breakfast, everyone was up top on lock duty and steering. We stopped for lunch about midday after the first two locks and just before going down the Hanwell flight of six locks. When we started down the flight all the locks were about half against us, they had obviously been left full but a lot of the water had leaked out overnight. Some of the gates were leaking quite badly. The towpath had been re-surfaced over the winter but it appears that nothing had been done to cure the leaking locks. Our “crew” did very well and we went down the flight very quickly.

Below the flight, we travelled a little way downstream before mooring up (the water at the bottom of the flight was shallow, disgusting and reeked so we decided not to spend time there).  However, it was nice to see further down that new allotments had been laid out just next to where we moored and people were busy digging in bags of compost and manure.

We had tea and biscuits (and endless compliments about the boat from passing walkers). Darren of Kingsground would be really proud to know how everyone marvelled at his beautiful paint finish.

Adrian, Sandra and the boys left about 4:00pm. We all walked up to Adrian’s car parked next to the “Fox” pub to see them off.  It was really lovely to have seen them and they all seemed to enjoy themselves.

We tidied up and generally cleaned the boat a bit. Robin cooked supper in the oven and used the oven thermometer that we bought in Maine to check the temperature. The oven does get to temperature eventually (it takes ages) but there is a very big difference between the top and bottom of the oven.

Over dinner, we celebrated with a lovely glass of white wine the fact that it's seven years today since Robin first sent Marion a text message (from Limoges airport) to suggest that we should meet up. Hope he doesn't regret it!!!

The new(ish) moon was in beautiful juxtaposition with Jupiter and Venus; all were mirrored in the water. Quite breathtaking. Fortunately the dusk also obscured the filth in the water; one wouldn’t want to fall in round here! The water bubbles ominously, is black and reeks. Distant recollections of Quatermass spring to mind…

Hours 123.7 total, 7.5 this trip, 4.3 today

13 miles and 11 locks this trip, 7 miles and 8 locks today

Setting off at Last! Hooray!!!!!

Saturday 24^th March, 2012

What a wonderful start to this year's cruising! It was a glorious morning, more like early summer, with predicted temperatures of 23-24 deg C.  We heard the first skylark of the season. It was strange to have summer-like weather  yet to see the trees still bare of foliage other than the Blackthorn and Pussy Willow.

We finally departed from Harefield Marina at 11:20 after four months of "over-wintering". (Hour meter 116.2). We may pass that way again but we doubt whether we shall have another winter mooring there. It was great fun to have met Bob Blues and his ‘Dekadance’ Internet Radio station, broadcast from his narrowboat. Sadly, there was no sign of him as we left so we didnt have a chance to say cheerio, although we did see his friend Angela chatting to someone on the pontoon.  It was only as we were about to depart that we discovered that another Kingsground boat called "Reflections" was moored next door but one to us!

The sun and the early warmth had brought out the boats, walkers and cyclists in equal measure.  Even John Betjeman would have agreed that Slough looks more attractive when bathed in sunshine!

In Denham Deep Lock, we bumped the side of the lock.  As a result, the breadboard fell over and knocked the cafetiere on to the floor.  That's the second time we've broken it; last time was on the way up to Harefield in November when we ran aground at Hanwell.  So for now, it's just instant coffee. Bother!

We moored up at the Malt Shovel pub (great name!) at Bridge 188 to take on water. There was a boat already on the water point and they took forever to fill up but we had a Magnum each in the sunshine while waiting, so the time passed happily!

Whereas the other boat had taken over an hour to fill up with water, it only took us about 25 minutes, thanks to the super-dooper roll-flat hose that Robin had bought from a company in Australia. The chap in the boat before us must have had a very small one (hosepipe that is!).

Immediately after taking on water, we went through Cowley Lock. Three lovely young ladies of Oriental origin were so taken with the boat that Marion invited them on board for a guided tour. An English narrowboat must have been a complete mystery to them! Shortly after, three coloured ladies asked if they could rent "Many Meetings" from us!

We moored at Packet Boat just after 4:00pm and got ready for the arrival of Adrian, Sandra, Jamie and Alex.

We were so pleased that they arrived in daylight (about 4:30).  They'd had a long day already as Adrian had to go over to Newport on the Isle of Wight in the morning to pick up the boys from their home over there. We all had tea and biscuits, then Robin and Adrian went to play musical cars! The two of them drove up to Harefield to pick up the Polo, drove both cars down to Hanwell and then drove the Polo back to Packet Boat. On the way back, the traffic came to a complete stop for 40 minutes, so dinner was a bit late. We all ate in the Water’s Edge pub at the marina – very nice too.

Once back on board, we set up the beds. Six sleeping on board is an experience! It's rather like camping and it was a bit of a juggling act; a trifle crowded but basically worked well.

Hours 119.4 total, 3.2 today

6 Miles and 3 locks

Guy, Sarah and Sadie for Dinner

Friday 23^rd March, 2012

In the morning we went shopping for food supplies then drove up to the Marina. We arrived at Harefield at about 3:00pm, unloaded and put everything away. At about 5:00pm Guy, Sarah and Sadie arrived and we had a great evening together on "Many Meetings".  Vast quantities of crisps were consumed!  Marion cooked an excellent Spaghetti Bolognese (who wrote this????). It was really good to spend time with them as our paths have rarely crossed in recent years. They were supposed to be coming back the following day to join us on our cruise down to Packet Boat but had to cancel due to their busy schedule.  Once they had left, we turned in for the night.  Sleeping on the boat is always such a pleasure; the peace and silence of the waterways at nightime is truly lovely.

Spring Cleaning

Thursday 22^nd March, 2012

We drove to Harefield Marina where "Many Meetings" has been moored up all winter.  Our first task was to wash her!  Because many of the boats in the marina have solid fuel stoves, she was covered in a thin layer of coal dust resulting in black streaks down her paintword caused by the winter rains.

Then we loaded into her cupboards the basics for our trip down to Pyrford in a few days time and drove back home for an evening performance of "Half a Sixpence" performed by ESOS at the Harlequin Theatre in Redhill; one of Marion's four bicycles had a starring role in the show!