Friday 21^st June 2019

We crossed the harbour on the little passenger ferry that runs from the end of the pontoon we are moored on, across to the Great Britain. At £1 per person each way, it must earn the City Council a small fortune. We walked to the Harbour Master’s Office to extend our stay and Harvey got yet more biscuits from the receptionist who has clearly fallen in love with him.

Back at the Great Britain, we got on the hop-on, hop-off bus for a tour of the city. We always take these tour buses wherever we go. You get to see the city and its layout, along with a running commentary, and can then plan where to revisit.

Back at the boat, we left the dog and walked up to the Broadmead shopping area to collect our post and some shopping and a bit of civilisation. This whole area of Bristol was flattened during the Second World War and was rebuilt as the shopping area in the 1960’s although, thankfully, the architecture is not typical of the 60’s. It made a change for us to be wondering in and out of shops with nothing in particular in mind and, while we enjoyed the crowds and everybody going about their business, we were glad when we remerged.

     

We spent the remainder of the afternoon and evening with a drink in the bar next to the boat, literally across the pontoon, and in the front cratch. There were lots of hot air balloons in the evening, taking of from south-west of the city and passing directly over us. The harbour is a busy bustling place with trip boats and ferries passing up and down, and the smaller ferries crossing the harbour. All the bars and restaurants are busy and there are lots of groups of young people and couples sitting about, enjoying the evening sun with a picnic and a bottle of wine. Wonderful to see. And yet we have neither seen nor heard any trouble and, come 10pm, all is quiet.

Weather: a lovely, hot, sunny day.