The proposal in Bulletin No. 110, that some members retrace London's “lost route” to the sea from Weybridge to Littlehampton, via Guildford, is now definitely on. I am proposing that members moor near my house on Saturday evening, 12th July, and have a simple hot meal with me before proceeding with the next stage of the exercise. (We could make it Sunday if this would suit members' arrangements better.)

A veteran member, Talbot Kirk, is definitely coming. He appears to have the ideal boat for negotiating the shallow streams and remnants of the Wey and Arun Canal. This is a short but beamy canoe with a fold-down sail plan, and trolley wheels to get round the un-navigable sections. At 84, he may well retrace more of the route than any other member!

We are working in collaboration with Guildford area RNLI who are printing the sponsor forms. Sponsorship is invited for Weybridge to Stonebridge and Newbridge to Littlehampton, plus ¼ mile of the Stonebridge to Newbridge 'gap'.

Incidentally, I have read of another noteworthy dinghy cruise using this “Lost Route”. In 1868, the year the Wey and Arun Canal was finally abandoned, that famous canoeist John MacGregor sailed his ¾ decked yawl 'Rob Roy' through en route for Paris. Further details of this and many other historic open boat pleasure cruises are recorded in 'Pleasure Boating in the Victorian Era' by P A L Vine (Phillimore - 1983).