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.

Well we’ve reached the southern most point of the canal and river system, Godalming. We have had some wicked weather predicted tonight and Sunday, so did the last leg this morning.

I love this top part of the Wey, very rural with lots of twists and turns. It was calm though this morning, giving some lovely reflections in the water. We did have the heater on this morning though, quite chilly and leaves falling, it’s definitely autumn now.

So 3 locks this morning. St Catherine’s at 2’6” is one of the smallest, whilst Unstead is one of the deepest. The water in the pound above was high, and just about to spill over the lock gates. It gives a weird feeling as you are sitting below it, and then gently rise above, as the paddles let water in. As usual there were lots of boats at Farncombe Boat house, who hire out big narrowboats and day boats. Friday is changeover day, so you always want to keep an eye out for the “new” steerers and sometimes lack of experience, we usually let them do the lock themselves rather than sharing. A 62’ iron hull can bash us around if it’s in the wrong hands !

After a shop at Sainsburys we’ve moved back downstream a bit, and seem to have found a sheltered spot. Not too soon either as the rain has started. Weather permitting we’ll have a walk around town tomorrow.

A short post today, we just motored into Guildford for some shopping, and to look at 2 specialty shops.

First up was the Guildford branch of the London Camera Exchange. They have a good range of second hand products, so I added a couple of micro four thirds lenses for the Olympus Pen F, and a Billingham Camera Bag and vintage lens for the Leica 111f / M8.2

Then onto my favourite watch shop here….I’d been admiring this piece during Covid but resisted the temptation. In person it was harder….a 1943 Laco Luftwaffe Observer’s watch. At 55mm it’s huge, but it will go nicely over my flying jacket whilst driving the Morgan 3 Wheeler.

We are expecting heavy rain tomorrow, so shall probably remain here. It’s going to improve over the W/E, when we will get to Godalming, and the end of the navigable Wey.

As promised Gareth turned up with a new alternator and relay yesterday, despite the rain. Working under a blue tarp stretched over the rear deck it soon became apparent that the alternator was not going to fit without a lot of packing. After several phone calls he disappeared only to to come back 5 minutes later with another. A personal friend of theirs allowed them to “borrow” his boats alternator whilst sourcing another for us. Even with it being his wife’s birthday he still fitted the new charging system as well, and made sure everything worked.

MANY THANKS GARETH AND COLIN, they pulled out all the stops so we could continue our cruising holiday. It’s much appreciated, and they will be looking after Prime Thyme in the future.

With it still raining we decided to stay another night in the Marina before heading up the Wey to Godalming. This morning was bright and sunny, perfect for river reflections.

We’ve made it to the outskirts of Guildford, and are moored up at Dapdune Wharf. We’ll do some shopping and sightseeing tomorrow before continuing to Godalming and catching up with Penny who looks after PT for us. It certainly feels good to be mobile again !

Another blast from the past today with a visit to Brooklands, the first purpose built racetrack in the world. It also developed into a booming aviation hub, so it’s a museum well worth visiting. There are numerous buildings scattered over the site, enclosed by the banked concrete track.

The concrete track is in pretty poor condition, and a large area has been converted to a car park for shopping at a superstore, or racetrack for Mercedes World. There was lots of driver training going on.

For the most part the old garages still exist, containing a large number of vehicles. Motor racing was in its infancy, so they are set out like stables and the drivers wore coloured silks to be easily identified.

The vehicles ranged from early race cars, land speed record holders and from Brooklands Golden Interwar era, when it’s slogan was “The right crowd, and no crowding”.

On the aviation side there are numerous outdoor exhibits, including Concorde. You can board most of them. Inside various hangers there are record holders and “break thru” designs, such as the Harrier Jump jet. You are allowed to get in some of these, I tried a Hunter this time.

Of particular interest to us was an Avro 504 and the TSR2. These represented the range of aircraft that Hazels father worked on in the RAF, from doping canvas wings to Supersonic, that’s some development.

So lots to see and do, plus a bus museum and outdoor car displays as well. We have news that our alternator and spare parts will arrive today, they will be fitted immediately, so hopefully we will be cruising!

46 years ago I started summer vocational work at RHS Wisley on Battlestone Hill. One of the first things I did was help in planting trees to provide shade for the Rhododendrons and Azaleas. As I had an Australian father I was given 6 Gum saplings to plant. Every time I visit I see how “my” trees are doing.

Our first port of call is usually the glasshouse, not the original ones I worked in, but a more modern multi environment one. This has a corner for orchids, rather than a seperate growing house when I worked there. Some of the orchids still had my “labels” on them.

The range of climates provide a wide diversity of plants

Outside the glasshouse is landscaped into a lake with grasses and dancing hares !

We then walked up to the old glasshouse site, passing numerous small gardens, transplanted from previous Chelsea Flower Shows, and borders of shrubs, bulbs and annuals

The glasshouse site has been transformed into RHS Hilltop, an educational and research building dedicated to gardening. It provides a glimpse into the future horticulture will provide, and shows how backward we are in Australia ! Always trying to simplify and dumb things down rather than extending our learning and understanding.

At the back of Hilltop was a glorious bog/wetlands/wild garden area. It’s given us an idea for our back garden in Tassie. It’s about time I had another gardening challenge, and I’ve got a pre formed pond already.

We then walked thru to Battlestone Hill, passing a giant horses head. It hasn’t changed much from my days, and provided a calming retreat to sit and contemplate, far from the numerous Sunday visitors.

We finished our stroll wandering thru the Alpine House and Rock Garden, which had a colourful display of carnivorous plants.

We greatly enjoyed our time at Wisley, finished off with lunch including a honey crunch biscuit, which I loved when working there. A lot of special memories today, and thoughts about people who love these gardens and those who worked in them whilst I was there, at least one is still there !

We managed to secure the services of a mobile mechanic this morning, a really good tradie who tried to get us going again…however despite fixing 2 loose connections and getting the old alternator to work again too much damage had been done. There was something fishy about the field coil and stray currents. Basically we need a new alternator and update our charging circuit to remove some inherent problems. Fingers crossed mid week fixing after parts location. Many thanks Garath Jessop and Dad Colin, LEDGEND 👍