Day Three : Bradford-on-Avon to Bath
Wednesday 1st May
Now as it happens this was Roger's 69th birthday so with breakfast he broke out the Champagne (although I'm not sure why Paddy ended up holding the bottle)
before we set off there was an opportunity for the customary group photo - once we'd stirred Brian from his early morning snooze
and tried several poses
and remembering to put the tiller back.....
we cruise passed the local "Godiva", through the delightful peaceful countryside to Dundas aqueduct and a chance to top up the water tank. Now as we had as we thought been very frugal in our water consumption it was thought this would only take a few minutes
We had time to have a wander and take photos of the area, including the entrance of the Somerset Coal Canal
Some 45 minutes later, and with another boat queueing we decided enough was enough and abandoned trying to fill the tank - goodness knows where the water was going?
It was during this time we experienced our brief battle with the elements with an hour of drizzly mizzle but it was onwards through more swing bridges
to lunch at the George, Bathampton
A delightful establishment for a "Greene King" hostelry with excellent food although again from the sign they clearly have problems with single sex parties...
And as for dogs, they also have instructions
from there it was the last couple of hours gently cruising into the suburbs of Bath and our evening mooring adjacent to Sydney Gardens.
and a walk from our mooring down along the canal into the centre. One look at the infamous deep lock was enough to convince most of the crew it was a good decision to turn and moor above the bath flight. At almost 20' it's a monster and the joint deepest on the canal system.
For this evening there was no planned eating location but the previous evening I'd suggested to Garry a Greek meal could be an option. He was extremely enthusiastic, so much so he volunteered to contact one of the two locations Google produced to book a table - "Jars Meze". Attempting to book a table (in my name), he appeared to have come unstuck as a request was made for a 5 pound deposit. At this point he threw a tantrum and hung up. On the Wednesday evening seeking a pre meal drink (still convinced he had a booking for this meal) we visited the Coeur de Lion, a very small Victorian pub in Northumberland Place. Now low and behold said Greek eatery just happened to be opposite at which Garry's eyes lit up and he dashed in to confirm our booking for 7:30. Now I'm not 100% certain of the conversation as we left him to it being more anxious to have a beer but he turned up a few minutes later beaming to confirm our booking was confirmed. And really delightful it was even winning over a couple of the crew who'd turned their noses up at the original suggestion.
then a final beer in "The Star" on the London Road - a pub it's rude not to visit.
Now as it happens this was Roger's 69th birthday so with breakfast he broke out the Champagne (although I'm not sure why Paddy ended up holding the bottle)
before we set off there was an opportunity for the customary group photo - once we'd stirred Brian from his early morning snooze
and tried several poses
a lovely early morning in Bradford-on-avon
and remembering to put the tiller back.....
we cruise passed the local "Godiva", through the delightful peaceful countryside to Dundas aqueduct and a chance to top up the water tank. Now as we had as we thought been very frugal in our water consumption it was thought this would only take a few minutes
We had time to have a wander and take photos of the area, including the entrance of the Somerset Coal Canal
Some 45 minutes later, and with another boat queueing we decided enough was enough and abandoned trying to fill the tank - goodness knows where the water was going?
It was during this time we experienced our brief battle with the elements with an hour of drizzly mizzle but it was onwards through more swing bridges
to lunch at the George, Bathampton
A delightful establishment for a "Greene King" hostelry with excellent food although again from the sign they clearly have problems with single sex parties...
And as for dogs, they also have instructions
from there it was the last couple of hours gently cruising into the suburbs of Bath and our evening mooring adjacent to Sydney Gardens.
and a walk from our mooring down along the canal into the centre. One look at the infamous deep lock was enough to convince most of the crew it was a good decision to turn and moor above the bath flight. At almost 20' it's a monster and the joint deepest on the canal system.
For this evening there was no planned eating location but the previous evening I'd suggested to Garry a Greek meal could be an option. He was extremely enthusiastic, so much so he volunteered to contact one of the two locations Google produced to book a table - "Jars Meze". Attempting to book a table (in my name), he appeared to have come unstuck as a request was made for a 5 pound deposit. At this point he threw a tantrum and hung up. On the Wednesday evening seeking a pre meal drink (still convinced he had a booking for this meal) we visited the Coeur de Lion, a very small Victorian pub in Northumberland Place. Now low and behold said Greek eatery just happened to be opposite at which Garry's eyes lit up and he dashed in to confirm our booking for 7:30. Now I'm not 100% certain of the conversation as we left him to it being more anxious to have a beer but he turned up a few minutes later beaming to confirm our booking was confirmed. And really delightful it was even winning over a couple of the crew who'd turned their noses up at the original suggestion.
then a final beer in "The Star" on the London Road - a pub it's rude not to visit.
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