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The Tuesday Night Club on Tour
Tours 2000, BCN, Severn Estuary, K&A and River Wey
40 - Tuesday 8th August - Newark Lock to Teddington. River Wey and River Thames.
Weather hot, humid but overcast, rain in afternoon.
We shoved off from below Newark Lock at an early Wey time of 8.30. We passed nb Polly Otter yet again, just above Pyrford Lock. Kevin Maslin has informed
us that it is owned by Social Secretary of BCNS, small world! Passed Woodham Junction at 9.55. It has been rumoured that by no surprise, the Basingstoke
Canal is closed. Glad we did it at Easter. Neil phoned up the EA Pollution geezer, Phil Charles, he was not about. He did phone back to tell
us that he did indeed go down to Stoke Lock yesterday and sorted it all out. Apparently
they are allowed to discharge the "top" of their cess pit. This is
meant to be filtered and aerated. This last bit of plumbing was blocked by a sock and
should be sorted by now.
We arrived above Coxes Lock in intermittent drizzle at 10.45. There was a NT work flat with two jolly NT navigation men at work.
Apparently a boater had reported a badly leaking paddle. This turned out to be slightly worse, the gate paddle recess above had a blown out plank. They
said they had arrived with the wrong equipment (a replacement paddle), but they said they would have it sorted within a few hours. All us boaters (now
3 boats, pulled together and helped them out). The patch was made from a bit of second hand plywood and reclaimed nails! All in all good old 1960's type
stuff (gates nearly dated from that decade as well!) They said that the whole navigation was held together like this, but that is part of it's
charm. With good blokes about like Kevin and (Dave?), who have the brains to make do and mend, it all holds together! The said they were paid about 3GBP
per hour! BUT they did get a character, listed cottage chucked in, with most expenses paid. The job was fairly secure, which is more than can be said for
any nowadays. Just under the two hours we were on our way again.
We arrived at Thames Lock at 13.35 and had our dinner waiting for the lock keeper to
come back on duty at 14.00. At 14.25 we were on our way again. The Pound lock gate below had to be used again to get out on the Thames. The
Shepperton "whirlpool" was yet another none event and we trickled of
down the Thames, still at Wey speed! At Sunbury Lock a cheeky GRP cruiser pushed
in front as we were moving up. Neil, on ropes, got 13 ton narrowboat rather near their transom! The lock keeper was watching all this and as they were
trying to pull off in front of us, he gave them a crossed arms. He used what we took to be Thames lock keeper sign language for a narrowboat ie two hands
close together, them a come on signal. All new to us! He smiled at Neil as we came in and gave a grin, nodding towards the wayward cruiser!
After this we settled down to our creeping along, Linda steering in a downpour. We
pointed out to mother-in-law the river levels when we were last here in April, ie 4-5 foot higher, below the locks! Neil was playing with GPS (I
don't think we went over 4mph!)and wished he had got the external aerial kit. We stopped at Walton Marine, but they did not stock Garmin stuff.
We arrived at Teddington at 17.45. Neil got wasp sting in ankle from yet more bl**dy wasps living in rotten wood (the wood bumpers down the side of
Teddington's grot moorings! Neil had already phoned Brentford for tomorrows passage. Their core time working was from 8.45. Neil hobbled up to Lock
office and told them about their bl**dy wasps. They said we should leave about 10.30? Neil said no, no, no! going down on the ebb is for wimps! we
want to know what time Richmond Weir goes own as we would punch the tide. This would be at 8.40, so we would leave at 8.30. The tide was only Neaps
anyway. That night we went again to the very excellent Cedar Lebanese restaurant, in Teddington High St. They even coped with Mother-in-Law and
did her a nice omelette!
 Pryford Lock. River Wey and Godalming Navigations. |
 The rather precarious bridge over the tail of Pryford Lock. River Wey and Godalming Navigations. |
 The Anchor pub at Pryford Lock. River Wey and Godalming Navigations. |
 Pryford Lock. River Wey and Godalming Navigations. |
 Leaving Pryford Lock. River Wey and Godalming Navigations. |
 The Anchor pub, extended two times since we last went in it! River Wey and Godalming Navigations. |
 Pryford Marina. River Wey and Godalming Navigations. |
 NT staff repairing Coxes Lock. River Wey and Godalming Navigations. |
 NT staff repairing Coxes Lock. River Wey and Godalming Navigations. |
 NT staff repairing Coxes Lock. River Wey and Godalming Navigations. |
 Coxes Lock. River Wey and Godalming Navigations. |
 Town Lock, Weybridge. River Wey and Godalming Navigations. |
 Weybridge Town Bridge extends over river Wey. This is navigable up to the railway bridge for small craft. River Wey and Godalming Navigations. |
 Leaving Thames Lock at Weybridge. River Wey and Godalming Navigations. |
 We have come from the River Wey. Ahead in picture is the navigable loop of the Thames up to Shepperton Upper Weir. River Thames. |
 Shepperton Lower weir. You have to pass in front of this to get to and from the River Wey. River Thames. |
 We come out in front of Shepperton Lock. River Thames. |
 Desborough Channel, below Shepperton Lock. River Thames. |
 The bailey Walton Bridge has been replaced by and equally temporary bridge, next to it, upstream. River Thames. |
 Overnight stop in Teddington Lock cut. River Thames. |
 The suspension footbridge in front of Teddington Weir. River Thames. |
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