A picturesque walk and a 3 city break

Last Sunday (3rd Sept) the Margravina and I took a walk and she suggested having a look at the Wey Navigation (links below). We took a picnic and decided to start at the Weybridge end where the waterway meets the Thames. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wey_and_Godalming_Navigations

https://ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_name=Wey+Navigations

We only made it as far as a mill near Addlestone (maybe 2 miles) as it was so photogenic along the route we kept stopping to take photos. By the time we'd finished our picnic we decided to call it a day and walk back to the car. The high temperatures didn't help either. But we decided to go back and walk further when it's cooler. Maybe build up to walk all the way to Guildford and catch the train back.

Doorway at the side of an old bank in Weybridge

Ditto

Weir near the confluence of the Thames, the River Way and the Way Navigation

Another shot of the are of the confluence

Lock near the mouth of the navigation

And a historical explanation

Map of the whole waterway.

Mill at Coxes Lock. Presumably now apartments.

Another view of the mill. The lock is to the left. Behind the mill building in the centre lies mill pond. The mill race can be seen just between the lock and the building. Initially the mill worked iron, but due to complaints from a local member of the aristocracy it switched to corn milling.

One of the 17 year olds picked these from the garden and arranged them before their 'gathering' in the evening (after the Hastenbeck game). The decking needs a good clean!

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So, on to the weekend just passed. The 17 year olds wanted to go to the University of Leeds open day on Saturday. Happily, this coincided with Grimsby's game at Bradford. Also, my sister and brother-in-law had recently moved up from Somerset to Lincoln so it was a chance to see them on the Friday and break the journey. Once we got to Lincoln the utter failure of the car air-conditioning was soon forgotten. You'll appreciate why from the pictures below.

View looking left from the balcony at my sister's.

And the view looking right. Right on cue, bell-ringing practice commenced!

The eagle-eyed might spot the spire in the distance (not the nearest one). This is the Memorial Spire of the International Bomber Command Centre https://internationalbcc.co.uk/

Up early Saturday morning and off to the second city in our 'break', Leeds. An hour and a half later and I was dropping the 17 year olds off at the university. I didn't stop for a look around and headed straight for the third city on the trip, Bradford. By the time I'd found a decent parking spot, it was time to head into town to meet Offspring #1 who had come over from Liverpool. After a good catch up we walked back up to the football ground to meet up with my cousin and his daughter and another cousin's son who'd come over from Grimsby. We got to our seats a few minutes before the 12:30 kick-off. The Mariners' faithful were in fine voice, and, for much of the match, were given plenty to cheer about. The downside was a lack of ruthlessness, and eventually that was punished by a late equalising goal for the Bantams.

? building in Bradford city centre

View down Market St towards City Hall.

Some of the Grimsby fans in the Dallas Stand

The rest of the 1900 Grimsby fans, plus the scary looking mascot, Might Mariner, 'conducting' the crowd before kick off. Total attendance of 18,879, which is remarkable for a 4th tier game, that was televised live. Home fans sat in the sun in the two stands opposite. I must say, it was hospitable of the Bradfordians to give us the shady side on the hottest day of the year 😀.

If I'd had a bit more time (and energy), I'd have gone back to Leeds via Drighlinton to have a look at the battlefield of Adwalton Moor. So it was back to Leeds to pick up the 17year olds, and a fairly uneventful (but still ACless) drive back down the M1. Home by 8pm to complete a very full 28 hour trip.