Friday 22nd, breakfast duly arrived, was cooked, consumed and greatly enjoyed. As we were marking time we decided to go for a cruise. We turned round and went back to another mooring spot father back just passed the Avon Valley Country Park. It turned out to be a lovely spot just by an access point to the Bristol and Bath Railway path and cycleway. We also heard from the pilot that Sunday was definitely off but he was hoping for Tuesday as there was a commercial vessel going to be using the lock at Sharpness.
We therefore decided to travel into Bristol on Sunday so that Sam & Claire & Tom could come with us. Saturday we had a great day out and picnic with the others on Clifton downs with views of the gorge, which was lovely and we also walked across the Clifton suspension bridge. It was great to be looking down on the route that we were shortly going to take on the boat.
Here you can see the lock that takes us out to the river and the pale blue bridge that swings open
We had a good trip into Bristol on Sunday and a pub lunch in the harbour. We also manage to meet up with some other friends Andrea and David and their 3 children, and rounded off the day with live blues in The Old Duke pub in Bristol.
Monday 25th in the morning we prepared the boat for the sea trip, taping up doors and vents and securing loose or vulnerable items. We were booked in for the first lock out which was at midday. We ended up sharing the lock with a replica sailing ship, like the Golden Hind, which was called Matthew, this meant that two big busy road road bridges had to be swung. We left the lock at 12.15pm and went under the suspension bridge and on out to Avonmouth. Once there and being careful to avoid the sandbanks, which although it was only an hour off high tide by then, were still a worry, we took a left turn by the lighthouse and ventured out into the ocean ( Severn Estuary). Luckily it was not too windy so we didn't pitch very much or ship much water. Although not very far it took us 2 1/4 hrs as we were going against the tide and the wind. Tomorrow we collect the pilot in the lock at noon for the next step of the journey up to Sharpness and thence Gloucester Docks on the Sharpness & Gloucester Canal
In the lock
The swing bridge
Under the M5 with Avonmouth docks ahead
Portishead, somewhere over there
Made it
We're the only 2 narrowboats in the marina, you should see some these posh Tupperware boats
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