A special birthday, and a wet journey to Bath

 Thursday 26 August

Sandra:  On Thursday it was my eldest daughter's birthday.  My parents and I drove up to her home in Malpas, Cheshire, to spend it with her - such a special treat to be able to share her day.  The weather wasn't too flash, but Lisa loves to chill at home so it wasn't a problem, and that's where we remained until late afternoon when we took a walk into the village. 

I return to Northern Pride on Friday, refreshed from five days of land living.

 

Lisa, Sandra and Irene - three generations of Walshes

Barry:  The morning brought a very drizzly and grey day, though not too cold or windy. It was then a case of risking life and limb getting ashore to pull the pins and get going without going overboard.

The view from the boat, back towards Saltford Lock

One lone swan patrolling the river 

Most boaters would probably wait the weather out, but an umbrella and coat can make for very enjoyable boating 

 At least it's easier to get through locks without all the traffic

 My mooring was just behind the last boat

It's a long way to the sea from here!

The boats moored precariously above the weir at Kelston Lock

Not sure I'd sleep well during flood time knowing my boat was this close to a weir

 What magic cruising when you're all alone, not a soul in sight when in the distance another boat appears out of the mist

 not so magic when one appears unexpectedly around a blind corner

 A truly spectacular and elegant bridge

   The weir system at Bath 

 Once out of the last lock there's a run through some very bushy and overgrown banks before emerging into the suburbs of Bath 

 I stopped to pick some damsons from this tree only to find this moorhen already there 

 Back to Bath and the moorings on the left

After mooring up and a bacon sandwich, it was time for a walk into town and a quiet pint or two. Following a beer in one pub I wandered round a backstreet to find the 'Volunteer Rifleman's Arms'. A tiny pub barely room for a dozen or so patrons, but had a selection of it seems every conceivable spirit. Two or three beers and a shot of chilli Sambuca (that a bloke at the bar shouted) later, and it was back to the boat.

I'll have to say I did enjoy being a lone boater for a short time, though it would get quite lonely after a while. Looking forward to Sandra's return tomorrow.

An early start followed by a late finish

Tuesday & Wednesday 24/25 August

Sandra: I spent these days pottering around with my mum and dad visiting Worcester and Stourport.  After shopping in Lidl's, my dad suggested we take a walk along the canal in Stourport, and despite the drizzle it seemed like a good plan.  Whilst strolling along I noticed a boat passing by with a NZ silver fern flag flying so called out to the man on the stern.  We got chatting and his wife asked if I was off the 'photography boat' from Gisborne - it turned out that she was originally from Gisborne, Barry knows her sister Lynn and husband David well, who'd told them about us before they left NZ so they'd been looking out for us!  It's such a small world isn't it?  They'd borrowed a friend's boat for three months and were returning to Napier in NZ the following Monday having had a fabulous time.  Great to meet you Diana and John.

Barry: After the changeable weather we've been having I opened the curtains at 6:30 am to a brilliantly clear sunny morning. Now I definitely have to get on my bike and head to the Clifton Suspension Bridge. I had no idea how to get there just the general direction, so followed the contour of the harbour as much as possible. I can see why it was voted top city for cyclists. Everyone is so courteous to you, giving way all over the place whether on foot or in their cars. You can just about ride anywhere you like without people getting upset.

Bristol

What a spectacular sight slung high up on the cliff above The Avon. Worthy of an early start

  The final lock from the Cumberland Basin before The Avon, then six miles down to The Bristol Channel

 These locks are on a far grander scale than we're used to handling

I heard later from a boater that someone had committed suicide on Saturday by jumping from the bridge - apparently a reasonably common occurrence

The Clifton Suspension Bridge is another one of Isambard Kingdom Brunel's creations, started in 1831 and finally completed in 1864 after all sorts of financial and political issues

 SS Great Britain

 Threatening clouds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bristolian Samuel Plimsoll who devised the plimsoll line as a safety feature to prevent ships overloading and capsizing

 

A map of Bristol showing the floating harbour and The Avon River as it passes by

The Lloyds TSB building - looks like they must be doing OK!

The old lighthouse outside Lloyds                                      The ketch 'Irene'      

Pete and Ashley from  Bristol Marina turned up about 11.00am with the repaired pump motor for the toilet, fitted in no time and job's done. Unfortunately I couldn't get underway at that point as when I'd phoned the lock keeper at Netham Lock yesterday he informed me they were doing a flush out of one harbours within the floating harbour, and the current coming through the lock would be too strong for us. This meant I couldn't start till after 2:30pm giving me time for another bike ride around Bristol.

The day was either brilliant sunshine or raining - no in between!

The cobbled streets just after the rain

  The old wharf cranes standing as a vivid reminder of what the harbour was all about - only seven of the original cranes still survive - these four alongside the soon to be opened Museum of Bristol

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two of the bridges that cross The Avon as it by passes the floating harbour

St Mary's Church, Redcliffe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some more facades from around Queen's Square

I set off about 3:00pm making good progress, though as I neared Totterdown old lock where it narrowed the current got a little stronger. Pulling in at Netham Lock, the lock keeper suggested waiting another hour as the flow was still quite fast though he did say I could go if I wanted. So there seemed no harm in trying, so at a snails pace I edged through the lock out onto the river and away.

Time to leave so under the very low Prince Street swing bridge

Past the old warehouses ...

magnificently restored ...

mixed with the modern ...

which will last the longest??

Pigeon homes a plenty amongst the many nooks and crannies

At last reaching the lock keepers cottage at Netham Lock

  A very slow haul through the lock with the current against me

A tranquil scene with two boys enjoying a spot of fishing by the river

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm certainly happier to be going under this busy bridge than driving over it

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 'Maid of Fibre' boat completely covered in sign writing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A cottage near Hanham Lock and finally to Keynsham Lock for the night

It was dinner on board, then off to the 'Lock Keeper' pub for a drink. For a Tuesday night it was amazingly busy and I got into conversation with Rob who's moored at the nearby marina on a narrowboat (Dolphin) he'd recently bought from Warrington by Liverpool and had it trucked down to Bristol. I'd hope to catch up with him the next day but it poured with rain continuously and I didn't venture out of the boat until deciding to set off about 5:00pm to get closer to Bath. Sorry not to catch up Rob.

Managed to get to Saltford Lock before mooring after it against the bank. About three miles and two locks. It poured all the way so no pictures for Wednesday. Had to balance on a couple of rocks to get off the boat for a pint at the 'Jolly Sailor' pub. Because of the weather it wasn't terribly busy in there, so it was a reasonably early night.

Barry & Jamie in Bristol, and the continuing toilet tale ...

Monday 23 August

Barry's mother's family emigrated to NZ from Bristol in the late 18th century, so it was great for him and Jamie to have some time there to look around.

As I wasn't with them, it's a little challenging to write much, so today's post is in mostly photo form - but then I suspect many people only look at Barry's amazing photos anyway, giving the words a cursory glance, lol!

Here's the day's story ...

We woke to a startlingly clear and still morning, with magical views across the harbour

 Barry walked to the boatyard to see if they could fix the toilet - but it was no go!

The harbour master did his rounds checking on boats to make sure they'd paid their fees, etc

This is the first exit lock (Junction Lock), heading towards the tidal section of the river Avon from the harbour, with the pumphouse on the left

One of the old paddles from the lock and an old anchor beside it

Sadly the sun disappeared and it started raining - not another boat on the moorings!

Jamie took control for a short while, though I think she preferred being a passenger

We called at this marina and got the name of an engineer to ring who may be able to help

The kids were out in their 'yachts' learning some sailing skills 

Moored back at St Augustine's Reach, but on the other side of the pontoon

Jamie left to return to London mid-afternoon, leaving Barry alone on the boat.  He'd contacted the recommended engineer, who came in the afternoon to check out the loo - he took it apart (gross!) and suggested the motor had probably seized up under all the pressure and times of low battery power, so took it away to see if he could fix it.  Barry was left with the loo sitting in the shower overnight (don't even imagine where he relieved himself overnight, must've had a large pee-bottle!) - fingers crossed that our dilemma could be solved simply as if not, we'd need a new toilet for at least £500 plus fitting - aargh!

Sorry, Barry seems to have run out of steam on the closing flower shots ...