What takes two hours to go up and half an hour to come down?

Friday, 29 July 2011 19:49

We took our leave of the Basingstoke Canal and the River Wey Navigations in style.

Rather nice houseboat at Hermitage, isolated but close to Woking

After leaving Brookwood, we went on back down to Arthur's Bridge .....

Sarah, one of the Rangers met us at St John's Top Lock

We had no trouble descending the locks - the Rangers had been there early and made sure that the pounds were well topped up. What had taken approximately 2 hours on the way up, took us just over half an hour on the way down. It was all in the preparation - and taking the water with us!

We moored at Arthur's Bridge again as we planned to visit the Brooklands Museum and old racecourse. There is a bus from Woking that goes right to the museum and also Mercedes Benz World, which is next to Brooklands. (Photos when I manage to get around to them!)

Bridge Barn pub

We drooled over the vintage cars, John and Dom had a go in the F1 Maclaren Mercedes, with a simulated race track, and we were a bit emotional in the Concorde Tour! The day culminated in a meal at the Bridge Barn, which was good value Beefeater grub.

We had a very early start the next day, as we wanted to get back onto the Thames. Woodham Locks were set for us and we descended them much more quickly too, with the crew nicely in the swing of things.

Leaving Woodham Bottom Lock

Turning onto the River Wey Navigations

We only had four locks to do on the Wey, and as we went I took some photos of things I had missed on our way up the Navigations:

The rope roller on Weybridge Town Lock top gates

The sign under Weybridge New Bridge - does this mean our depth was measured or the water depth?

This is Thames Lock, the moorings above and some reflections

I wondered what these spiky things were for!

Leaving the Navigation, we noticed that the direction sign had changed - someone had cut the trees back. Did they read my blog?

Goodbye River Wey Navigations

Once we were back on the Thames, we went upstream to Kris Cruisers at Dachet for fuel and a gas bottle. We were also able to show Dom Runnymede and Windsor Castle in the distance. We turned around and moored above Runnymede for the night. We will explore Runnymede on our return up river later in the year.

It had been one of the longest days we have ever done as you can see from the stats below:

Basingstoke Canal, Arthur's Bridge to River Thames, Runnymede (via the Wey Navigations and Datchet)
10 hours 4 minutes, 21.81 miles, 17 locks