Well we are back home now, with 2 very excited dogo’s greeting us, thanks Kim for looking after everything. A wrap up of our last day….

As usual Gareth soon appeared after we got back to Pyrford, this time fitting our reconditioned alternator, all working well and a job well done in a week. He will be maintaining our boat in the future.

We decided to visit Wisley one more time, after packing the cases. The parking spaces were scarce, and entrance queue long, but visitors seemed to dissipate over its large acreage once in. There was a Miniature Cyclamen display, and the Autumn colours were stunning.

I reluctantly drove back, it was time for a final polish and sort out. We’ve loved our time aboard, Prime Time indeed ! Fortunately we have plans for next year already, including our pre Covid Rocky Mountainer Train trip and Alaskan cruise, finishing up with Sea Otter Rally at Tamworth in the UK. Something to look forward to, till then Cheers !

A gentle start to the morning saw us entering the River Wey at 10am. We were the only boat thru yesterday, and the lockie reckoned we’d be the only ones today. No wonder he wanted to chat for a while.

Then it was onto Town Lock at Weybridge, where we moored up and strolled into town. It’s changed a lot in 40+ years…

There must have been 20+ coffee shops, as well as restaurants, only the library looking the same. The old antique shop at the bottom of town finally closed down, the only shop I remember as a child. At £18 for 2 coffees and cake I don’t think I’ll be stopping again, Godalming was much more attractive and welcoming.

Then it was onto Coxes Lock, looking lovely in the sun and the Qantas Dreamliner overhead again. Our last lock for the season was New Haw, and it made us pay……Hazel really struggled to close 1 gate, right on the limit for her, and being a deep lock and going upstream it was difficult for me to climb out and help. I also removed a couple of cubic metres of floating pennywort before we could get out. We were both tired leaving that lock, you wouldn’t want many of those in a day ! However the downs were replaced with ups as a Kingfisher flew in front of the boat as we got near Pyrford, he even caught a fish right in front of us.

As a celebration we moored up in front of the Anchor pub for lunch, before topping up the diesel, and into the Marina on our winter ropes. Engine stop and finish. 😢

What a difference 24 hours makes, no wind and a bright sunny day this morning, a perfect start for our final cruise of the season.

So downstream on the Wey, heading for the Thames. First up Woodham Junction, where the Wey and Basingstoke Canal meet. There’s a lot of floating weed about, perfect for snagging the rudder ! So you go into neutral then reverse to fling it off.

Then New Haw lock, one of the trickiest…..tiny lock arms at 45 degrees, which you have to clamber over to cross on the narrow bridge. There was also an errant swan, which had to be wrangled out of the lock before closing the gates.

Then onto Coxes Lock, one of the prettiest, with a mill converted into flats, and the mill pond is a haven for wildfowl.

After dropping off an engine manual in T42’s cratch it was a short run to Town lock. This is situated at the “bottom” end of Weybridge. We’ve made a note where to moor tomorrow, and will have a quick walk into town to see how it’s changed since I used to live there many years ago.

Then it was a short run to Thames Lock. The only manned lock on the Wey, we were the first boat thru at Midday! The season is definitely coming to an end now.

Down Desborough Cut and onto Walton Marina. It looked a bit crowded and windy to moor there, so we opted to try the towpath. After a few tense moments and a lot of rope / motor coordination we made it. Time to say hello to Sue, who befriended us 7 years ago when we first got T42 at Pyrford. It was so nice to catch up, and have lunch at the excellent little riverside Cafe located there.

All too soon it was time to retrace our steps and head back upstream to Desborough Island, and the excellent moorings there. One year we will be brave and get onto the tidal Thames to Brentford, and Grand Union Canal Junction, but I’ll need to do it in company with some other SO’s.

So our last ‘wild’ moorings this year. A quick polish to one side of the boat, I’ll do the other side in the Marina. A celebratory G and T tonight I think, on going thru Coxes Lock we had spied the daily Qantas Dreamliner heading for Perth, just a couple of days till we are on it !

We’re glad we got back to the Marina yesterday, we were rockin and rolling last night as a storm went thru…..Still too windy to reverse out off our jetty this morning, so a quick trip to West Byfleet, and onto Wisley again.

This time we went into the walled gardens, and walked down to the pinetum. The second walled garden had a stunning fountain, thanks for the heads up Mum 👍

As usual Wisley plant creatively, using large plants in small spaces to dramatic effect.

The weather was still threatening, but we decided to chance it and headed to the pinetum and heather landscape.

The miniature cyclamen were stunning under the stone pines, with carpets of pink and white flowers.

The heather garden was just coming into colour with foliage and flowers. They always remind H of Scotland, covering the hillsides.

It started to rain so we ducked into a large bird hide that overlooked the River Wey. The bird feeders were crammed with lots of small blue tits and a lesser spotted woodpecker, stunning in red plumage. Sadly he flew away before I could a shot, but it was great watching the birds whilst waiting for the rain to stop.

The foliage colours had intensified over the last couple of days, with a couple of trees in full autumn splendour. After an afternoon tea stop the shop beckoned, with an amazing array of gifts and plants. We succumbed! but the Christmas gifts are all organised now ! The orchids were spectacular, it’s a good thing there’s quarantine back to Oz. Tomorrow we will do a final cruise down the Wey, and overnight on the Thames.

A relatively long day of 6 hours with few boats but a couple of diversions. First up the Guildford Weir reconstruction had 2 barges, but breasted up ! Talk about a narrow lock being squeezy with an inch clearance each side, these guys had left a millimetre…….and the weir stream helped as well ! No room for any boats wider than 6’10”!

The colours of the Virginia creeper had intensified going thru Guildford.

Approaching Worsfold Gates we saw another obstruction, a National Trust crew were offloading wood from a barge and tug. No problems as they reversed out to let us pass.

As we were right by the New Inn at Send we decided a lunch break was in order, up to its usual standard, and a lovely local cider to go with it.

All too soon we were doing the last couple of locks, 9 today, and all but 2 were against us. With high winds and some rain due tomorrow we are in the safety of Pyrford. Weather permitting we might go downstream on the Wey on Thursday, see a friend and have one more night on the Thames. Then it will be time for a final Wisley visit and packing.

So today we motored back to Godalming, to catch up with Iris, or rather our friend Penny, who looks after Prime Thyme, and her Sea Otter Iris.

But first we had the 3 locks to Godalming, again, and then just the 1 on the way back to Farncombe Boat House. We are getting to know this stretch of water well ! Whilst in Farncombe I investigated the Pecan Crumble Cakes again, yum, and we got a small oval mirror for PT.

Then it was time to follow Penny for afternoon tea at Guns Mouth, but first Unstead Lock again…..that’s 6 times we’ve been thru it ! It was so good to catch up, talk Sea Otters, and what’s been happening here. The afternoon tea turned into celebratory G&T’s, and we’ve decided to spend the night here. Tomorrow we’ll start heading to Pyrford, but we might sneak 1 more trip on the Thames to see Sue at Walton Marina .

We enjoyed our walk around Godalming this morning, with its wide range of shops to peruse. Hazel needed some new waterproof shoes, and as mine are perpetually wet, resulting in wet socks and cold feet, our mission was to find a suitable shop. We did so, so a pair of short stylish wellies for Hazel, and some Blundstones for me ! Yep Tassie shoes for sale here ! Apparently they are very trendy and people travel from far away to get them at this stockist.

Of course we had to “stumble” over a craft shop as well…

Whilst we’ve been in the UK taking morning tea in a local shop has become a habit. A couple of times we’ve sampled these crumb cakes, delicious! Sally L, you need to find a recipe ….like a muffin with a firm crumble top….see what you can do ! Almost as good as house cakes.

With rain due all day tomorrow we decided to go back to Dapdune Wharf, at least we can walk somewhere if it lets up. Then we will head back upstream to Guns Mouth on Monday, and catch up with our SO friend Penny, who looks after Prime Thyme for us.