|
The Tuesday Night Club Official Web Site |
The Tuesday Night Club on Tour
Tours 2000, BCN, Severn Estuary, K&A and River Wey
39 - Monday 7th August - Guildford to Newark Lock. River Wey.
Weather - hot and humid all day. Bit overcast at times. Few spits of rain.
We woken up in night by Wendy talking in sleep and cows brushing against boat, Neil thought we were under attack! Upon waking we noticed a parrot disaster!
Mother-in-laws favourite old handbag had been placed up to SCSI's cage. There was a few holes in it and a few nibbled edges! After compulsory fry up
(not welcomed by Captain!) we start of early at 9.40! While dropping down in the splendidly
refurbished Millmead Lock, Neil noticed something clinging to the lock side, it was a huge freshwater crayfish. We push the boat a way to ensure we
didn't crush it. Not long after (before Neil could get a video of it) it jumped back in to the water and scooted off.
We stopped again at 10.05 on Guilford Town moorings for Linda and Wendy to go shopping. The last washing was being done, so Neil
stayed on board with engine running. Off we go again at 10.40. We stop at Stoke Lock for final water fill up (11.30 - 12.30), this is on the
downstream waiting area. There were a couple of cruisers coming up so we got the stern on the end of the lock waiting area. We were aware that there was
a nearby sewage farm, but we were greeted by a pipe pumping out raw sewage into the river (and narrowly missing the side of the boat! Neil is very well
aware what the smell of raw sewage is, due to his self pump out experiences and this years "mishap"! While we were filling with water (yawn!
another hour!) Neil went to investigate the offending pipe and followed the direction. This pointed towards a septic tank in the grounds of the NT lock
cottage. This was obviously very full up! Neil phoned up Ian Clarke and he has put the matter in hand with the EA pollution dept. Ian has just phoned
me, despite his very clear description of the location of said offending pipe, they were unable to locate it. Neil will be phoning the EA's Phil
Charlesworth tomorrow to get him on trail!
After an aborted shallow mooring above Newark Lock, we found a deep river, meadow mooring below the lock, a
couple of hundred yards below our last stop here. There are yet more cows grazing right up to the boat and Neil spotted yet more baby frogs. That
night we ambled up the towpath and road into Ripley and went to the excellent Seven Stars pub. Very friendly landlord, whole family seem to work
in the pub. Well kept Green King IPA and Abbott and a good range of home prepared / cooked food.
 Coming back through Guildford. The old wharf seems to be used by people sleeping rough. River Wey and Godalming Navigations. |
 The smoking gun! The cesspit overflow at Stoke Lock! River Wey and Godalming Navigations. |
 Our river mooring below Newark Lock. We are proud to show our grot mini rotary washing line. (every boater has got one!) River Wey and Godalming Navigations. |
 Mother-in-law (Senior White Weather Witch) having some shuteye. River Wey and Godalming Navigations. |
 The Seven Stars pub at Ripley. River Wey and Godalming Navigations. |
|
Home Page | "Earnest" | "Beatty" | Canal Restoration