Bristol to Portishead Part 2

Some early shots for the New Zealand contingent ...and others xx

Our Severn Estuary adventure - preview

Tomorrow we will move down from the Floating Dock in Bristol to Portishead to be ready for an 0700 departure on Saturday morning. The tides don't allow for you to make the cruise in one outing. Only two boats booked in to the lock at Portishead  on Saturday - I wonder where the other boat is going? The world is  quite possibly their's to enjoy. Our trip to Sharpness is enough of an adventure for me.

Jane, from NB ALNWICK has sent me a fantastic photo of their boat approaching one of the two bridges over the Severn.  These conditions would be ideal but ... Sadly ... Are NOT forecast.  They ARE for Friday but the Good Friday demand to  go sailing means the lock is too busy to take us. Also, Friday would be tough for our guest cruiser. Our friends and so often, saviours, John and Jane are coming down in their Motorhome. John is cruising. Jane is taking LJ for company!

So, thanks to Jane, I can provide a taste of things to come. This is the older of the two Severn Bridges.

In Horace Batchelor country

OK, the title is,for those of a certain age who grew up with Radio Luxembourg. Horace Bachelor, whose company supposedly had the a system to help you win the football pools, sponsored the Top 20 on a Sunday evening and was based in Keynsham Bristol. 

As were in river conditions, LJ is sporting his DB life jacket. 

We said goodbye to the K&A and, to be completely honest, hope not to trouble it again for many a long year, if ever! I would say never but ..........  We might be back on Sunday if conditions don't allow us up to Sharpness! 

The bluebells were tucked away at Netham Lock, where we stop to pay for our stay in Bristol. 

It's two years since we were in Bristol, we loved it then and so dar no reason to change our opinion. You really, really, get the feel,that it welcomes boaters - of all shapes and sizes.  

This bridge is a bit of a close call. Several bits of roof  'architecture'  have been removed - just in the nick of time! 

One of the highlights of this large floating harbour is the SS Great Britain

                                      

And there is always something to entertain 

Tomorrow we have a day off!! Though there will be a fair bit of organising. On Friday morning we move down to Portishead  ready, we hope, for our adventure on Saturday. 

Sorry Bath ... We're on a mission

We set off from Bradford on Avon EFU ... Early For Us in lovely sunshine. Somewhere on this pic is a small fawn, not the least bit worried about tow path traffic on the opposite bank.

The views on the way to Bath are pretty fantastic. Slow moving behind one hire boat but later in the day it would have been a convoy.

 And If there is a better city to arrive in by boat QISMA has yet to go there.

BUT, with the sun out and having spent a fair bit of time,here only two years ago, not to mention the Easter holiday tourists we decided to carry on. So it's the river for us and very happy to be on it.

And to end the day on one of our favourite moorings at Avon Country Park. A boatful of teenagers kindly moved off the mooring to let us come alongside.

Once the visitors had gone LJ started to play up. Over excited. hmm he didn't know whT was ahead.

 But he knew I was cross,so took himself off to the engine room.

 So missed these brave women!

And then, and then, LJ's worst nightmare came true and he realised we were on our way to Bristol. Balloon capital of UK. He tried to run away but fortunately a gate stopped him. He retired trembling and shaking to the bedroom. I hope he didn't think it was my revenge.

 QISMA, LJ and steam train ....