Some of you will know parts of this story. For others it is a journey from Bath to Stratford-on-Avon via the Severn estuary!!
After spending 3 years on the Kennet and Avon canal we decided it was about time we took off and saw more of the Inland waterways. We always thought we would venture to London before anywhere else but fate took us to Gloucester! Mike had uttered the words “We ought to do the Gloucester and Sharpness canal seeing as we are this side of the country”. That meant heading under the Severn bridge and up to Sharpness. I wasn’t convinced. About a week later Mike received a phone call form a boater who had bought a wide beam shell and was based on the Gloucester and Sharpness!!!! The owner wanted Mike to fit out his boat and it seemed silly to drive up every day…..yup you guessed it. It was time to start getting organised, we were going to take our boat up the Severn estuary! I had never believed in fate until the day we found Blackjack. She has this knack of making things happen in our lives.
Bath deep lock
The furthest west we had been until this point was to Bath just above the deep lock as this is the last place to wind (turn the boat around) before you hit the River Avon. We had never ventured onto the Avon as it was always in flood when we moored in Bath! So on April 18th we headed into Bath from Bradford on Avon. A cruise that can take 3-4 hours. Today it took 7! It was the start of the Easter holidays and there were hire boats everywhere and a distinct lack of water. April 19th we ventured into unknown waters and into Bath deep lock. It was a balmy 22 degrees. We had our first taste of the River Avon and it didn’t disappoint. So wide and relaxing compared to the Kennet and Avon canal. We moored up to some trees at the edge of a meadow and opened a bottle of white. Bliss. Our dog Bella was enjoying it as much as we were.
First River Avon mooring.
Bella
We spent a lovely couple of days on the river and then headed into Bristol. Mike was on his way to work after all!!! We saw lots of Kingfishers, cormorants and Blackjack had her first experience with tidal waters. We were travelling into Bristol on a spring tide and it had come up as far as Hanham. We arrived in Bristol after having to wait for the tide and we were told to moor anywhere as the floating harbour was at capacity as it was Easter. We found a perfect spot right next to the Cider boat. What a fantastic place!
The Cider boat.
We spent a week in the floating harbour. It was absolutely wonderful. The sun blazed down but the wind was fairly strong still. We were waiting for the go ahead from our pilot to make the journey from Bristol to Portishead. While we waited we met a lovely couple who were also making the journey up the estuary. We thought how nice to be with another boat. Turned out none of us had done this before!! We made the most of our week and had friends to stay, sun bathed on the roof, BBQ’s on the back deck and watched the world go by. Work would have to wait!!
The Floating harbour.
Part 2 coming soon. Bristol – Portishead – Sharpness.
S.S Great Britain
BLACKJACK 