Cruising into Bristol

We had a good night here in Hanham moored up with Chance on the last space on the pontoon.  Doug and James joined us for a 'Bring and Share' dinner, it was good to share their company too, swapping boating tales and plans. 

This morning we were ready to go through the lock just after 10 after the high tide, which a bit earlier had been up over the weir.

We fairly whizzed along with the flow of the water, watching out for bits of trees on the way.

Doug and James were following us, although the sun was bright it was chilly travelling on the river.

Enjoying the scenery,

Spotting a heronry, (sorry not a good picture).

Once through Netham lock we were soon into Bristol proper, now we were following Chance.

A concrete barge loaded with rubbish pulled from the water by the look of it.

Under the low bridge (or is it over the high water?) and into the floating harbour.

Past the Matthew a replica of the English ship that discovered North America in 1497.

Touring the harbour, love the coloured houses on the hillsides.

Passing Isambard Kingdom Brunel's ship the SS Great Britain.

Chance moored at the harbour masters where Doug sorted out a mooring for us both.  It wasn't easy as there as so many boats here.  Winter moorings seem to still be in place until 1 May, so not much is available for visitors.

More coloured houses.

They saw me pointing the camera!  Off to find that mooring.  We're breasted up together again in a good position for exploring the city.

7 miles, 2 locks

Leaving Bath

Leaving Bath yesterday morning meant a flight of 6 locks down to the River Avon.  It's a pretty flight with the stone houses looking down us and with the trees getting greener by the day and blossom coming out. Yesterday it was beautiful.
Halfway down you come across this ornate chimney, once part of the pumping station, keeping the flight filled with water.

Next on this flight is the mighty Bath Deep lock, built to take the place of 2 locks when the canal was brought back to life and to enable us to get under the road bridges that had been built since its closure.

What a long way down it seemed.
We felt we couldn't leave Bath without one more photo opportunity............

I was sent ahead with the camera, not downriver to Bristol but upriver to Poulteney Weir, Ian brought Tacet along to turn at the bottom.

I think that will have to be one for next year's calendar.

Back on board and Jumble came up front for his own photo opportunity!

Just a few old river warehouse buildings left as we made our way out of Bath and once more into the countryside.  Being a river, the views are not always great, with high banks on both sides.  There were signs of the flooding last autumn with muddy banks and plastic rubbish caught in the tree branches looking like the riverbank washing hung out to dry.

But there was the delightful sight of mistletoe having really taken a hold of this tree,

and daisies and dandelions enjoying the sun at the lockside.

10.5 miles, 11 locks

Our Bath Home

Our moorings in Bath are lovely.  

We are at Bathwick at the top of the Widcombe flight of locks. It is just a short walk down into the city, down some steps from the towpath, under the railway and across the Pulteney Bridge over the river Avon.

The towpath is busy with dog walkers, cyclists, people walking to work and children to school, but it has not been noisy and we can hear birds singing all around us.

There is a little family of ducklings, 9 in this picture, sadly only 8 today, all with a little yellow bib, so they'll be like Mum with her white front. They are so bold and swim quite a long way from Mum, I fed them a few crumbs so I could get a photo of them all.

We heard the distinctive sound of a steam train's whistle and a quick hop out to the towpath where we can look over the railway line and I caught this Locomotive steaming past.  I think it's a Southern train, but I can tell you no more.

Across the canal is the old Baird's maltings.

Today we have new neighbours, nb Chance and Autumn Myst have joined us. We're just off for drinks with them now.

Enjoying a Bath

Gosh it's been a busy touristy day. Enjoying the city of Bath in the glorious April sunshine. There's so much to see and I've taken hundreds of photos, far too many to share with you, but here are a few to give a flavour of what we have been doing.
We started the day off with a City Sightseeing Tour on the open topped bus.  Our guide was so good that we didn't get off to visit any of the places on the way as we wanted to hear him all the way round. That gave us a good history lesson into the existence of Bath from the Roman occupation in AD43 to the present day. 
Then the first stop was at the Roman Baths, the centre piece of the city and the reason it is here.

Here water springs from the ground, over a million litres a day at 46'c. The only hot springs in this country. The Romans found this and built their small gated town called Aqua Sulis.

The Great Bath

The Hot Spring

Roof section from the original vaulted roof 

Fragment showing the open block, part of the roof spine

Next a look at Pulteney Weir on the River Avon built in the early 1970's as part of the flood defences for the city. 

Distinctive horseshoe shape

Next onto Pulteney Bridge, which has shops built along it.

On the bridge itself, but you wouldn't know it.

A visit to the Abbey which is a grand name for this parish church, but nevertheless grand to see.

grand facade with flying buttresses

grand carved door

grand fan vaulted ceiling

even a grand ancestor of ours!?

 We took a tower tour to take advantage of the grand views over the city and see the bells.

over the first roof top

behind the clock face

out across to the canal

over the city

the thermae spa swimming pool

grand pinnacle towers

Outside again and we walked past Sally Lunn's, home of the Bath Bun and the oldest house in Bath, but we didn't stop to taste their wares today.

However Ian was more taken with the building next door.  I wonder why?

Tilleys Bistro

And the Tilley is a proper one too. We could see one in the window, but resisted the temptation to go in, it was a bit pricey for us.

Ruth take note.

On to the Circus, where 3 curved stretches of wonderful Georgian terraces create a circle around a grassy centre.

Designed by John Wood as was much of this grand Georgian city.

The frontages are uniform,

With Corinthian pillars at the top level, Doric in the middle and Ionic at the street level.  There are also two floors below street level.

Next round to the Royal Crescent, all still housing accommodation, with just the middle section operating as an hotel.

The frontage is again uniform, neat and perfectly balanced in true Georgian style, while the backs are vastly different meeting the varying needs, whims or desires of their many owners over the years.

Number 1 is currently being refurbished as a showcase 18th century home and servant's quarters.

Still plenty to see and do here; Royal Victoria Park, the Market, more of the river, many museums. Tomorrow's another day.