15th May '13

A good day! We started out with intermittent drizzle and so wore our boatcoats and hats firmly in place, it gradually improved and now it's sunny and a blue sky overhead. Not only that but we have fulfilled one of our dreams - but more of that later.

I'm sure I've mentioned that this canal, more than any other we've travelled, is full of live-aboards, most in places not intended for mooring and some without licences, well after a conversation with Jan yesterday I've decided to add some of the more unusual specimens to the blog. Here's one we saw east of Bradford - not sure what it is but it's big!

Approaching Avoncliff aqueduct - from a bit further back it was unclear which way the canal went - just a line of railings in front of us - now you can see it's a sharp right turn, followed by a sharper left turn to get back on the right direction.

There is actually an entrance to the station off the aqueduct! Took me by surprise, although this stretch of the canal is well known to us (so I thought) as we have walked  and cycled it a number of times in the past. Guess my memories worse than I thought it was.

A view across the valley towards Limpley Stoke - we have driven along the road on that hill countless times, looking over this way across the valley, I had to show what it was like in the other direction. There is everything here, the canal, a railway, a river and a road - at times all in very close proximity, all following the valley towards Bath.

These boats are all moored in an area where there are signs all over the place telling them not to moor because of danger of trees falling. We saw lots of trees, that probably fell over last year in all the rain, since they have no depth of earth to put their roots in, just rock in most places, so when the earth washes away in the downpour, the trees go with it. Not sure I'd want to leave a boat here, and I certainly wouldn't want to be in the boat!

 

one of the signs being happily ignored.

 

 

 

In the foreground, one of the nicest newly laid hedges I've ever seen but in the middle distance, the viaduct that carries the road. Again, this is a nostalgia shot for me since we've had to queue on that bridge so often waiting for the traffic lights to change!

 

 

 

Dundas Aqueduct - taking us to the other side of the rail and river again - it's a constant crossover along here.

 

 

In the centre of the photo you can just see a narrow entrance, this takes you into Brassknocker Basin, a lovely name! It is all that's left of the old Somerset Coal Canal. There's a cafe at the end that we have walked to but felt it wasn't necessary to negotiate it in the boat.

 

 

We've been constantly blasted by the smell of garlic along the whole length today - here is the reason why - wild garlic growing profusely up the sides of the canal. We've also seen cowslips, one of my favourite and bluebells, my very favourite flower. A lovely time of year (when it's not pouring with rain).

 

 

One of the most laid back herons we've ever seen, just stood there and waited for us to go past. Note that there are actually decent edges to the canal here - when you can see them between moored boats that is.

 

 

Another for Jan! Amazingly there was a chap inside asleep on a bed. At least he was probably asleep! Certainly no sign of life.

 

 

Another family name to add to the collection - saw a Grace today but didn't get the camera out in time(I had a great aunt Grace).

 

 

 

Finally, we are moored outside the George at Bathampton. Even before we had thought of canal boats we loved this pub, and once we were into boats, one of our fantasies was mooring here and having a meal and a drink and being able to go back onto the boat. Well now we've done it, and in good company. Alan and Sharon, who used to be our near neighbours came up and joined us for a lovely afternoon of catchup and eating and drinking. Lovely. Shall sleep happy tonight.

 

The moorings are only 24 hours but we don't want to get to Bath before Friday so we may just shuffle along tomorrow to the far end of the moorings and hope no-one minds! Now to get back to the knitting, I've sworn to myself to finish the current pair of socks before Bristol and I'm on target to do it.