Sainsbury's is easily accesible from the visitor mooring on the River Avon below the locks - they (Sainsbury's) also manage the 'old station' and retail shops inside ...
... this would have been the view the steam train drivers would have seen on approach to the station
(albeit without the parked cars!) ...
... and this would have been the view of the waiting passengers; the whole place would have been filled with steam from the train engine and the noise would have been tremendous - it made me remember my childhood days when we (parents, brother and sister) would catch a train from Stoke-on-Trent station to go to the seaside for the day ...
... those huge trains would have stopped at the buffers which would have been just here ... Mike (below) told us that on at least 2 occasions that he could remember engines went through the buffers due to brake failure but miraculously managed to stop before hitting the buildings! The station was part of the Beeching cuts in the 1960's
We enjoyed chatting to Mike who as you will see from the notice board is having his retirement sale at his antique shop in the old railway buildings - we wish him well!
Being here at this station reminded me also that whilst moored in Bathampton George grabbed the camera when he heard a steam engine - not sure if it was a steam boat or a train he rushed out and ran down the towpath to the railway foot bridge and managed to capture these ...
... that's me - the white dot on the wall - the noise was like thunder ...
... it is a Tyseley locomotive - Weymouth Seaside Express - for more information regarding this vintage loco check this out ... Vintage Trains Locomotives - 5029 Nunney Castle
Supplies put away and hasty slice of toasted cheese eaten we pulled the pins just after midday - these narrowboats appear to part of a convoy; they all have a notice/map in the window showing a route from Lechlade to Saul (or maybe it was the other way round!)
Mike at the old station was telling us that the whole area on both sides of the river are being renovated/rejuvenated and about 10 minuets into our journey we arrive at these works - it looks as if the river wall has been lowered - future moorings perhaps?
... with it's solid piers ...
... church steeples galore as we pass by Lower Weston ...
Approaching East Twerton Bridge - we branch off onto the cutting to the right here ...
... the canal is so much narrower than the river ...
... looking through Dolphin Bridge where we had hoped to moor ...
... but it was far too shallow for us, so we shared Weston Lock with narrowboat Serendipity ...
... original lock walls and those steps - I bet they could tell a few tales!
All the locks are accompanied by weirs
Newbridge Railway Bridge now disused is a cycle/walker's path ...
... Bridge 208 - I do hope there's a mooring space through here at the Boathouse ...
... great - nicely tied up to a rather rickety scaffolding pontoon looking back at that rather pretty bridge.
Just as we'd secured Rock n Roll the the mooring I received a phone call from Mr Tony and Mr Tesco's Head Office - he apologised profusely at the mix-up this morning with my order, stating that it was Tesco's mistake entirely that it ended up in North Wales; he also apologised for the order on Saturday ending up in Scotland! and as way of apology has e-mailed me with 2 e-coupons to use with my next order.
Although the whole experience was one of frustration/disbelief and some anger there was no harm done, we've not been charged for either of the orders and we didn't starve for lack of food either!
But, I do hope that when I place my order whilst in Bristol that I receive it at the boat!
We decided that a walk was in order and then dinner at that pub - perfect end to a day with rather a frustrating start (Tesco Saga)
A slow worm was crossing the path in the field behind the pub - a beautiful bronze colour ...
... and then placed carefully back into the grass
We walked as far as we could until we met the roads, this looks up Old Newbridge Hill
A sailing ship's mast - no amateur radio/CB aerial and the lead wires were fastened to a nearby tree!
Back at Brains | Boat House we had a lovely meal with a nice bottle of red and relaxed!
Seems like everything has panned out well for you. Love the slow worm - don't often see those around these days. I wonder how many youngsters have ever seen one, or are likely to, let alone being capable of identifying one these days.
ReplyDeleteWhen we've been with the grand children and others they've always thought that it was a 'snake'
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