Bristol Sayings and Saying Goodbye

The saying 'All ship-shape and Bristol fashion' has its origin from the days before the floating harbour where we have been staying.  

The floating harbour was constructed with locks gates and a holding basin to the river Avon to keep a water level that didn't change with the tides.  This meant that boats could be loaded and unloaded without fear of ending up on the mud and leaning over as the tide went out. Prior to the harbour's construction boats coming into Bristol would have to secure their loads, so as not to lose them overboard when the tide went out. Hence 'all ship-shape and Bristol fashion'.

Another saying for you.  'Paying on the nail'.  
In the market place in Bristol and Bath we have seen a metal pillar where market traders and customers would agree their price for goods and then cash would be paid on the nail.

Here's some more pictures from our stay in Bristol, a random selection from our wanderings around.

Looking up Park Street to the Universisty buildings

Our moorings below the amphitheatre and the Lloyds building.

The steam train running along the harbour edge has been busy over the weekend.

Today when we returned from church the amphitheatre was full of buses of all types and decades past.

Opposite our mooring was the M shed, an interesting museum of Bristol life, Bristol people and Bristol work. And it's free! The centre cranes have been lowered in honour of a crane driver who has recently died.

But this afternoon it was time to leave our Bristol home as our time was up.  So Chance let go their ropes first and were off, and we soon followed suit.
Making our way back out of the harbour,

First comes St Mary's, Redcliffe, whose spire is the tallest point in Bristol.

The frontage of this waterside warehouse is being saved and protected.

More old wharf buildings.

At Netham lock the gates were open for us to go straight through, the tide was level with the harbour level.

At Keynsham lock there was plenty of time for a chat, it's so slow to fill.

And our lovely mooring at Bitton railway bridge, with a good grassy bit for Jumble, he's barely seen any grass over the past few days in the city.  Our good neighbours on Chance are tucked safely behind.

10 miles, 3 locks