Saturday, 27 August 2011

Into Bristol Harbour

I read the other day that Bristol was a city of Boats, Bridges and Balloons; we've seen lots of balloons since arriving in Bath and on the journey into Bristol, we've obviously seen boats galore too and ...
 ... and now come the bridges ...
... a 90 degree bend here takes us to Temple Meads ...
 A millenium monument of some description - could it be old father time perhaps??
 ... through what once would have been a stop-lock ...
 ... with the gutted old Parcel Force building on the left ...
 The helpful lock keeper at Netham had given us a street map and showed George the best places to moor and shop etc., the map was good, all the bridges had names on them - it's just a pity the actual bridges didn't have names on them.  There were so many I just lost count and so didn't have a clue where we were!
 ... some of the bridges were old ...
 ... and some quite new ...
 ... with water busses in evidence.
 Looks like an ruined church - I later found out that this is Temple Church which was bombed in WW2 and is now owned by English Heritage although when we visited there there was absolutely no information about it whatsoever!
 Restoration is ongoing - it looks as if the builder will keep this facade intact and perhaps build apartments behind it.
 George and I in chorus - 'now that's what you call a house boat!'
 ... a beautiful brick bridge 'ole ...
 ... and the first floating pontoon we've seen so far ...
 ... yet another bridge and more moorings over there ...
 ... what pretty houses - reminds me of Jackanory! (not sure of that spelling though)
[Edit 28/8] the tv programme I'm thinking about is the next generation - Balamory - as pointed out to me by my daughter this morning - and yes, she's right!
 'Great' the first recognisable thing from the map - the ship Thekla ...
 ... with this bizarre stencil above the waterline moored ...
 ... just before we see the site of the original Mud Dock.
 Now that looks a bit low ...
 ... quickly removing Molly from the roof, the bridge just bent the top inch or so of the lavender ...
 ... and safely out the other side we can see Bordeaux Quay with Bristol Cathedral behind ...
 ... and Lloyds TSB Offices around the Amphitheatre ...
... and Pero's Bridge with it's trumpet balances ...
 ... and here comes a boat with attitude - it certainly wasn't slowing down any ...
 ... and neither was the Bristol Packet Boat as it passed in front of us.
 I think that's the SS Gt. Britain I can see so we're not far now from our mooring point ...
 ... the six masts of SS Gt Britain and more of those lovely houses again ...
 ... and cooo - a galleon no less!
 ... and a ferry.
 This must be it Harbour Inlet ...
... recommended by Netham lock keeper as the quietest moorings - this will do for us!  Off for a walk once we've tied up to see what's what in Bristol Harbour.

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