We made a very slow start to the day! By the time we returned from the theatre last night there was not really time to write up the blog so that was the first step. We also used the usual facilities but also had a little more of a look at the displays around the wharf. For £3.75 standard admission, we would have been a bit disappointed. There is not a lot to see and several of the displays are very dated and not always working as indicated.
The restored barge was brought back after having been found rotting away when the National trust took over the navigation. It gives some idea of how much larger they were than the traditional working narrow boat. From this displays it seems that families did not live aboard and the tiny cabin (probably large in comparison with a narrow boat!) had a large range, lots of small cupboards to stow things away and two benches with flip down backs that turned them into bunks. A crew of two would take the barge down to London where it would either deliver or collect cargo and then return a few days later.
The rudder seems huge but it does have a long tiller arm but even so it must have taken some effort to steer in a strong current or around a sharp bend.
Just about 11 o'clock we eventually cast off but only went the short distance to the visitor mooring in the centre of town. We tied up once more and set off do to some shopping. The supermarkets in the centre are all 'Local' types with limited and often expensive stock. However, Christine did spot a specialist bread stall where we snapped up two different loaves, a pork pie, a savoury, an almond croissant and a Danish pastry. Oh, and at the last minute Christine was tempted to add a luxurious chocolate slice to the list!
Back at the boat we had lunch before setting off once more, just over two hours after we arrived.
The former electricity works have now been converted into the Electric Theatre - oddly part of the Mill Studio part of the Yvonne Arnaud has recently added a hydroelectric turbine to generate from the weir stream that still flows underneath.
A picture of the Town Wharf from the river - here we could see why it is not suitable for mooring as there is a large sign indicating an underwater obstruction. The new building over the road is described by the National Trust as being unsympathetic to its heritage site! Despite their opposition it was nevertheless approved by the planners. Perhaps there was no other way of fitting in the widened road which carries a lot of traffic.
A view of the Yvonne Arnaud theatre from the river, just approaching Millmead Lock.
According to Nicholsons, St Catherine's Sands is 'popular with children in warm school holidays' but was quiet today. We were not sure whether the sign was a warning or an invitation!
The flat flood plain certainly helps to create a scenic route as the river meanders from lock to lock.
At the next lock we had a good chat with the lengthsman who was tidying up the lock area ready for the season (all the gate painting seems now to have been done as we found 'wet paint' signs everywhere!) He has worked on this navigation for 40 years. Just before leaving, Mike wanted to take his usual photos but the camera battery ran out as he did so. He quickly went inside and changed to a new one but in his haste scraped his head on the hatch as he climbed out. Ouch! he did not realise quite how much blood was smeared around until after he had taken the pictures and both Christine and the lengthsman were startled by Mike's appearance. (No photo thank goodness!)
Guns Mouth is the junction with the former Wey and Arun Canal. Some parts of this important link to the south coast have been restored but there is plenty of work yet to be done before anyone can complete the journey. For now, the short section from the junction is a useful mooring for a number of boats.
After the last lock at Catteshall it was a short distance to Godalming Wharf where the navigation comes to an abrupt end, with barely enough space to turn boats around. Although much of the bank along this river looks good for mooring, it is often shallow as it proved right at the end and it took a while to tie up and then the gangplank was needed for easy access. At least there are some supermarkets to hand and we will be able to stock up again tomorrow.
Amazingly, as we were trying to moor, a man came by and let us know that we had left one of our windlasses at the last lock. Since it was Mike who was the culprit it was especially kind of Christine to volunteer to return and recover it.
4.9 miles - 4 locks
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