Bristol and beyond we hope

Monday and Tuesday we stayed in Bath doing the tourist bit. We did open top bus tour, market, Bath at work museum, Roman Baths, theatre to see This Happy Breed by Noel Coward, Royal Crescent and Circus, skyline bus tour, Jane Austin museum ( M only) we even saw the Peregrine,s on the church steeple.

Wednesday we moved on to Keynsham ( Horace Batchelor country) spelt.......K . Clive and I then cycled to Netham lock to speak to the keeper and get some info on Bristol moorings and the route beyond. At this lock we have to purchase a licence/mooring fee as the water is then controlled by Bristol City Coumcil and not BWB. As our journey up the estuary is weather dependant we don't want to spend too much time in Bristol at £27.50 per night. The lock at Sharpness has restricted passage due to water levels and leisure craft can only go through on Sun, Wed, and Fridays. We have to collect the pilot at Portishead and have to get there the day before our trip up to Sharpness as it can't all be done on one tide. As it's £33 per night there we don't want to get there too soon.

Thursday we took a train into Bristol to check out the area and speak to the Harbour Master. we had a good look round the docks area and went on the 'Matthew' a replica sailing boat and the SS Great Britain. We also heard from the pilot that the weather for Sunday was not looking good ( wind in excess of force 3) so suddenly we were having to mark time.

This is where we leave Bristol Harbour and head to Avonmouth and Portishead under the Clifton suspension bridge

A real shame as on Friday Sam and Claire were coming to visit and come with us to Portishead. They arrived with breakfast and instead of a trip to Portishead we went back to a nice spot near a cycle path/steam railway and went for a walk. We had an update from the pilot with fingers crossed for Tuesday as we can hopefully go through the lock with a commercial vessel that's expected and the weather is looking ok as well. New plan now is a trip out to the country with Sam & Co on Saturday and travel into Bristol on the boat with them on Sunday so we are ready to go to Portishead on Monday.......watch this space!!