Floating Harbour, Bristol

Today's Navigations : Kennet and Avon, River Avon, Floating Harbour

A very different day! After almost a week of  fairly short (cruising) days this was The Big One - into Bristol's famous Floating Harbour. Partly because we knew that it would take several hours and also wanting to be sure of a good mooring once we get there, we opted to set off as early as we could manage. Our planned schedule for the started at 8:30 but we improved on that by half an hour. 

First we had to turn the boat to face downstream again. We measured the river width on Google Maps which indicated around 100 feet - should be enough for a 60 foot boat. But it always surprises us just how long the boat is when it comes to turning in a wide river. We planned to push out the bow whilst keeping the stern as close to the starting bank as possible, letting the flow of the river to turn us about face. We had to give a very gentle nudge from the prop to get it going but once past the half way point we could speed it up with the engine.

We now passed South Quay No 1, the first large scale compnenent to the Bristol Quays regeneration project. The first occupants are said to be moving in.

The next part of the city has numerous bridges, some old, some new, many dreary and characterless, no doubt fully functional.

Occasionally something different turns up. Victoria Bridge was originally built in 1836 to carry beer across from a brewer without having to pay ferry tolls. It marked a major innovative stage in the construction of  similar bridges. By the time we last came this way it been closed and was awaiting restoration. It eventually re-opened in 2015.

The first lock today was Weston Lock, in lengthy cut that avoids a substantial weir and control sluice.

A notice on the lock gates warns boaters to avoid a large sand bank below the  lock - it is certainly large. Must remember it on the way back as we did not see a warning from below the lock.

Most of the locks have only a limited fall at this time of the year but are designed to cope in times of flood and avoid undue local flooding.

A former railway line in to Bath crosses the river several times - it is now a cycleway and footpath.

Saltford Lock has another long and shallow weir. The gates proved rather easier to move than nine years ago.

Just below the lock are these structures. Old OS maps do not help except to yield the name Kelston Mills. They look more like lime kilns. Anyone out there know any more?

At Keynsham we could just see part of the Chocolate Quarter retirement village, where our friend Sue lived for a few years. We seem to recall that she had a better view of the river valley than this suggests.

Today we saw a surprising number of rowers, SUP paddlers and even some swimmers. Alas, none of the swimmers marked themselves with a proper buoy so at times it was a bit worrying whether we would spot them all in time. 

Eventually we locked down through Hanham Lock 1 onto the tidal Avon, a different navigation authority. Although we have booked in on line and paid our dues, we rang the Netham Lock Keeper as instructed on a lockside sign.

As we neared Bristol the dense green vegetation gave way to other developments. There is a lot of new housing although there are still a few signs of the former intense industrial development in former times. The site on the north corner where the Feeder Channel meets the river was once a very large chemical works, We have seen that much of its produce was transported on one time by water so perhaps these structures on the opposite side were related in some way.

Netham Lock guards the entrance to the Feeder Channel and the route into the Floating Harbour. Much of the time, as today, it is open at both ends but it protects the harbour when spring tides overtop the adjacent weir. Boaters also have to call at the lock keeper's office if they have not yet paid their berthing dues.

The first half of the route from here to the main part of the harbour is dead straight and is crossed by numerous bridges of all shapes, sizes and purposes.

A former industrial site on Silverthorne has been demolished and rebuilding commenced. It will eventually provide over 370 homes, accommodation for 690 students and office and commercial facilities. Proximity to Bristol Temple Meads rail station will no doubt be an attraction. The glossy brochures look great but will reality match them?

Gradually the city centre took on a different and more prosperous feel.

At this point our photos stopped - camera OK but we needed to concentrate even harder as we navigated amongst so many moored and moving vessels of all sorts and sizes. Perhaps we will do better on the way out in three days time!

There was ample space on the visitor pontoon berths and we were mighty relieved to be able now to relax with no particular targets for the rest of the day. We noted that the pontoons are fitted with electric hook up points but needed cards which have to be bought. Christine called the lock keeper who offered to contact one of the harbour staff. Two very friendly people arrived a little later by boat, armed with cards and credit card machine. Fortunately we persuaded them to do the top up for us as in the event the meter played up and had to be opened up to be persuaded to accept the card! It was also great to chat to them as they were very enthusiastic about their job even if it does involved quite a bit of very difficult stuff. It is varied work - just before the came to us they had been out asking some swimmers to get out of the water as they were in the line of one of the larger trip boats with a very large propeller!

Across at the amphitheatre there is a music event, headline act The Levellers, and we get free audio!

16.8 Miles - 6 Locks