Nearly there just Bristol to go

It was food festival week in Devizes and on the evening of the 11th we went to the Lamb Inn for a food based quiz. Good fun but no prizes. Tuesday we did the Caen Hill flight, 29 locks taking the canal down hill by 237ft in 2 1/4 miles. An easy ride for us all as we had our team with us. When we got to the bottom 5 hours later we all chilled out and fed the crew a pre prepared ( by the ladies) lasagne.

On Wed we set off towards Bradford on Avon. I had spoken to the pilot about our trip up the Severn Estuary, which we have provisionally booked for the 21st. Accordingly we stopped off at 'The Boatyard' at Hilperton to get various bits and engine spares as requested by the pilot. We actually have to collect the pilot from Portishead which is downstream from Bristol and we have to make our own way there. high tide at Bristol on the 21st is 12.30pm which will mean a reasonable 7.30am ish start. we probably won,t be ready to go before the Sunday as we have to explore Bath and Bristol first, so the timings will be different and more friendly by then.

A Buzzard

Thursday was Sue,s birthday when she turned 45 again. we spent the day in Bradford on Avon, a lovely place and ate out in a lovely pub specialising in proper pies and then we at last managed some live jazz in the Swan which was excellent. Friday we moved on to Dundas Wharf where the now defunct ( except a for a restored 400 yard stretch) Somerset Coal Canal branched off the K & A.

A cream tea at 11.30am....take note Lyndsay

Saturday it was raining a lot so we stayed put till lunch time then eventually moved on to the George at Bathampton as we were meeting our friends Sue & Pete again for a meal, but we managed to fit in Claverton pumping station powered by the widest working water wheel (25ft) but unfortunately it was not a working day. Sunday we had a visit from Sarah & Mark and Owen & Eve. they joined us at the George and we motored into Bath which involved 6 locks and a mini tunnel. One of the locks was the second deepest in England at 19 ft something. We all had a great time and a quick look round Bath they even went in to the pump room and tasted the mineral water which was generally found to be yuck. Within 1/2hr of them leaving we were receiving Richard & Liz from Dragonfly who were in Bristol visiting her Mum. Tomorrow and Tuesday we will probably stay in Bath and explore.