Getting us into place for our Bristol trip

Our passage plan being to move Cribbit as near as possible to the top of the Bath flight so that we can get down to Bristol and back onto the canal in the week we have available. There are [at least] two difficulties with this, the approaches to Bath are well occupied by live-aboards on the non-48 hour moorings and there are only limited spaces where a car can be left on the road for a week. For these purposes the footbridge at Bathampton would be perfect, but would there be a space to moor? Arranged to meet Jim there and had a quick look at the moorings and discovered that the towpath was closed while contractors re-surfaced it. To our surprise also found a handy spare slot to moor very near to the bridge.

By car back to Limpley Stoke and then an evening in the Hop pole. This was much improved over my last visit there which had been dire indeed. Not much of a link for the Hop pole as it has recently got a new manager, the sales brochure for the tenancy likely to have a short e-life. Back to Cribbit for spaghetti and meatballs .

Up betimes

Up betimes and soon moving towards Dundas Aqueduct. We decided that we would like a mosey around what remains of the Somerset Coal Canal as it enters the Kennet and Avon canal at the end of the aqueduct.

Dundas Aqueduct

A happy boater

Entrance to the Somerset Coal Canal

Permanent moorings

Leading to the Angelfish restaurant and Bath narrowboats.

The canal enters a tunnel below the road, now a wet dock.

Now just where does it emerge on the other side of the road?

Well! Here! Not quite so ripe for restoration.

Its line skirts the playing fields of Monkton Combe School I think one of their students did the website. A new thatched roof for their cricket pavilion.

Embankment and canal quite clear here...but probably un-welcome.

Back to Dundas Wharf and its wonderful old crane.

and its wonderful modern warning, one should be so lucky to get it moving. Might find it useful in a year or two to crane out the portapotti.

Will try to get better pics on the way back.

Now on the way back.