Perfect Harmony

Perfect Harmony
Moored at Huntingdon

Saturday 22 June 2013

22nd June '13

I wrote a lovely (to my mind) blog last night that suddenly disappeared and cannot be found. I was so fed up with it that I abandoned any attempt to re-write it so here I am - the day after mid-summer trying again!

 
 
This is just beyond where we moored the night before and we went into the marina there - a really easy to get into and out of place, which was pleasant and it cost £10 for a 10 minute pump-out, which was pretty reasonable we thought. They also have fuel, water and an elsan point there, which has been noted for the return journey.


This is the only remaining turf lock on the navigation, but the gates were both open since it's only used when necessary. The countryside opened out along here from being densely wooded to suddenly being able to see into the distance. It's surprisingly flat around here, which I don't associate with Surrey - certainly the bit I used to live in was very hilly.


I'm still amazed by the age of this navigation and can't get over how advanced they were in terms of waterways and transport systems, when you think that the road system was still very basic and most people rarely left their villages.


This is Newark Priory, still in ruins nearly 500 years later - but still there! Says something about the method of building then.


Here we are basking in the evening sun after a good downpour earlier. We are moored by Highbridge which is only about half a mile away from the New Inn at Send where we'd planned to meet Mum. We'd wandered down and had (to my mind) a very disappointing lunch and I was quite worried about how it was going to be the next day.

Today we discovered what all the neon yellow posters with arrows on that had been adorning all the bridges and locks since we've come onto the Wey, were all about. There is a London to Brighton trek today and tomorrow for the British Heart Foundation. Hundreds of people are walking (some running) past the boat today going from Epsom racecourse to Brighton racecourse, continuing overnight, although there's a campsite for the faint-hearted (or the less crazy ones in my view). At least the weather's not too bad for them, a few very light showers but generally quite warm if a bit windy.

We cruised down to the New Inn and walked up to the shops to do the obligatory lottery and buy a paper to tell us what's on the TV we can't watch (can't get a line to the South apparently).


Here's me and John with my Mum and her friend Jenny outside the boat! We were able to get Mum aboard so now she knows what we're talking about when we mention our home! We had a brilliant lunch in the pub so all my fears from yesterday were unfounded (should have had Fajitas yesterday instead of ham, egg and chips). Thank you Jenny so much for bringing Mum to see us AND for the lovely cake - lemon drizzle - can't wait for tea-time (soon).

Tomorrow we head off through Guildford towards Godalming - not sure how far we'll get, we shall wait and see. Oh I heard a cuckoo in the distance yesterday and the parakeets have disappeared!

1 comment:

  1. Hi Glad you enjoyed your day with mum she does look frail hope you enjoy the rest of your trip love to you both x

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