Not a great start to our journey

We had a lovely peaceful night moored just beyond the weir. From arriving on the Wey we travelled approximately 100yds! It was late ( for us ) so we decided to stop around 2.30pm.  Ian did a few jobs around the boat, one being fairly urgent, having to unblock the U bend on the kitchen sink. It had been smelling horribly for the last few days. I went fishing but didn't catch any Carp mores the pity. Plenty of Perch and Roach to keep me happy though. We consequently didn't rush to get underway this morning. After all, we only have 20 miles to do till the end of navigation at Godalming. After a leisurely breakfast, we pulled pins and headed for the first lock, Town Lock. We had literally travelled about half a mile when the high pitched squeal of the engine temperature alarm sounded. Ian looked straight at the water gauge and sure enough, it was showing red. I got the boat into the side the best I could but the foliage made it impossible to get off. I had to cut engine and drift because we had no ropes to hold us into the bank but Ian had to check out what the problem was. Thank goodness we were going against the flow as the boat behaved herself and stayed exactly where I put her.

The boat stayed where she was

 Ian did a bit of tinkering, filled the header tank with water as there appeared to be a lot of water lying about, started the engine and thankful no alarm, Great problem solved! I spoke too soon because no sooner had we pulled back into the main channel then the alarm sounded again. This time we were near enough to Weybridge New Bridge for me to get the boat back into the bank and Ian to jump off. We knew the lock was nearby and felt if we could just get onto the lock landing Ian could have a good look. Nothing for it but bow haul the boat through the bridge on the centre rope and me to use the pole to guide the back if needed.

Safely on the landing.

After 15 minutes he had filled the header tank with water again, kept switching on the engine to see where the water was coming from ( he thought maybe a hose had split ) and suddenly noticed that the water level was remaining the same. So, deducing that maybe it had been air locked with water having blown out of the overflow valve, we both walked to Town lock to make sure no boats were coming down. Impossible to see the lock from the landing and our River Wey guide stated we must send someone ahead first. Anyway, all was clear so I suggested that Ian brought the boat in just in case the alarm went off again.

The first time we have had to use the long handled windlass. It was hard work as the paddle gear left a lot to be desired!

Bringing Free Spirit to the lock and so far no alarm!

Would you believe the alarm hasn't sounded again and we must have travelled 6 miles and gone through 4 locks and no overheating! Maybe Ian was right about the airlock. I just thank my lucky stars that we were not travelling on the tidal Thames!!! I may be a little apprehensive when we do the bit from Teddington to Brentford in a weeks time though. The anchor is ready and waiting just in case!

We are now moored on Walsham Meadow. Lovely place to walk and take Jade swimming. The forecasted rain didn't arrive until after 6 pm so we enjoyed the afternoon sunshine and reflected on the start of this journey with the hope that nothing more will happen!

Steam powered although the owner told me she doesn't run anymore

Looking down the Basingstoke canal at the first lock. Unfortunately, we are unable to travel this canal because we don't have enough air draft to get under the extremely low bridges!

Newark Lock

Newark Priory by Newark Lock

There's a bit of a story to tell at this lock. 2 boats were leaving the lock and even though they knew we were behind them failed to close the top gates. Now I know it states that we should leave the exit gates open but I thought it sheer bad manners for them to ignore the fact we were behind. I was chuntering away to myself when suddenly out of the corner of my eye I spied a movement. Couldn't believe my eyes when this Mink suddenly appeared. I always carry my camera and am so glad I did.

I took lots more photos some of which I will post at a later date on my 'And finally'.

And now to my And finally:-

Scotch Argus

Don't think the ants appreciated the ladybird eating their aphids.

A very scruffy Jay

Mistle Thrush

River Wey...... here we come.

Another spectacular dawn on the Thames.  Sometimes waking before 5.30am does have it's advantages even though I could have wished those Canada geese further with their awful racket as they flew overhead! 

 We set off well before 8am with the sun streaming down and only a light breeze. Our Thames license runs out today and we wanted to be on the River Wey by early afternoon. First lock was another Self Service, Old Windsor lock, but half way through the operation the Lock Keeper arrived and took over.

Loved the reflections of this bridge. We think it is the new Victoria bridge

Noticed a couple of unusual weather vanes on route.

We had gone through Bell Weir lock and as we exited Ian reminded me that the next lock Penton Hook was approaching. How could I possibly forget this lock! 3 years ago, and at roughly the same time in the year, I broke my wrist tripping over one of the bollards. If you would like to have a look at that post click here 

Approaching Penton Hook lock

I was amazed that 2 out of the 3 lock keepers remembered me. There was shouts from them begging me to stay on the boat. My accident is still the only one written in there incident book!

Last lock on the Thames for a while was Shepperton lock. A beautifully presented lock with an amazing display of flowers The lawns could have graced any bowling green and for two years in a row they won the best kept lock award.

We have now reached another first for us, The River Wey.  Both of us are really looking forward to the trip. I will leave you with a few photos as we enter the Wey.

Stop lock

Waiting area until the pound is flooded

Thames lock

Stop lock gate is closed ready for filling the pound

We must have risen by several feet.

Thankfully there is no need to purchase this windlass. We were loaned one for our week long stay.

And the best news for me is the carp swimming around by the weir. Fishing may be good on the Wey!

And finally:-

Hoverflies

Tiny caterpiller

Mooring ticket and irate fishman

They say things come in threes which is a bit worrying as we have only had two incidents so far.  Our first incident was when we returned to our mooring in Windsor after a few hours at Windsor Castle.  Yesterday I mentioned the daft mooring permit that stated we had to move by noon today, even though we hadn't arrive until mid afternoon and we were on 24 hour moorings. Sure enough an envelope had been stuck to the cabin side stating that we had overstayed and a further fee of £8.00 was payable at the leisure centre or we could be fined! Well we did no more then pull pins and leave post haste. No way would we the council get a penny more from us especially as we had only been moored for 22 hours!

Red ticket stuck to the side.

 So needing to empty loo we headed upstream to Bovney lock and then back down stream to find ourselves a mooring. After several attempts at what thought to be good bank side mooring and finding the river to shallow, we continued down Romney lock with the hope of finding a mooring on Windsor great park. Sure enough a perfect spot with two fishing pegs either end. Great for getting the woofit off. We had settled ourselves, sorted the telly, made sure we had an internet signal and I had just started fishing when I was hailed by a chap clutching a holdall full of rods. He told me that we had to move and couldn't moor there. This was fishing pegs and he had spent £50 baiting the swim over 4 days so he could night fish. So I asked him where the 'no mooring' signs were. He got more irate and said the signs were all along the bank. I then got off the boat and asked him to take me to the signs. If they were present then we would move the boat. Off he marched with me in hot pursuit and even though we walked quite a long way, not a single sign was to be seen. He started muttering about how he paid to fish these waters. I matched him by stating I also paid to fish these waters by an environment agency rod license, and we had every right to moor on the river as we had paid for the privilege. Suddenly he did an about turn and then asked very nicely if we could move away from the pegs. I was equally pleasant and asked exactly where we could move to. He pointed to bushes and trees and said why not there. In the end he gave in. He new he hadn't a leg to stand on. He just wanted us out of the way and he chose the wrong people to mess with. Ian even gave him our Nicholson Thames guide showing the moorings on the park! He left to find another peg!  So I'm now wondering what our third incident will be!

Anyway as I mentioned earlier we did the touristy thing and visited Windsor Castle. Cost us £16.15 each as an OAP the proper price being £17.50. I loved the State Apartments, Queen Marys Dolls house and St George Chapel and we just about caught the end of the Changing of the Guard but the tour of the kitchens were closed as was the Semi State Apartments. We couldn't even walk in the grounds so in away we felt a bit disappointed. After leaving the castle it was lunch at a Wetherspoons ( club sandwich and chips ) and then on arriving back to the boat we found that note!

Kate conversing with the Queen

While Harry mimics Usain Bolt

Windsor Castle

Unique dinner set

Great Hall

As this was shut off from the tours we are assuming it is the Queens private apartment. Put it this way, I managed a photo through one of the State rooms windows but when Ian tried he was told off in no uncertain terms!

Had to get this photo. Bit sad really I know.

Flower sellers

Air bus

And finally:-

Peacock Butterfly

Demoiselle Agrion

Bonding pair of Swans