We were told by the lock keeper at Netham when we arrived that the gates there would not open until about 11:30 today because of the spring tide. Our plan, therefore was to go shopping first and then take the tour of the harbour before setting off back up towards the lock in time for its opening.
However, we did get our calculations a bit adrift as we did not arrive there until 12:00! We left the moorings just after 10:30 and went down, past the SS Great Britain and down as far as possible to just above the lock down into the tidal Avon.
We took plenty of photos in each direction and so will leave most of them to a collection at the end of the blog, otherwise, dear reader, you may not get that far!
We did spot that the steam crane was being fired up - on the way down there was plenty of black smoke from the chimney and by the time we came back there seemed to be steam escaping from the pressure valve. Unfortunately we were unable to wait around long enough to see it in operation.
Along with the various ferries and Matthew, there was quite a busy waterway this morning and steerers had to keep a careful eye on what was around, especially when changing direction.
We eventually just managed to catch a glimpse of the Clifton Suspension Bridge (bit like places that advertise rooms with a 'sea view'!)
Back where we started Prince Street Bridge was being swung open to let a taller trip boat through. The bridge keeper did not wait for us before swinging it back as there was a queue of traffic already building up!
We passed through Netham Lock without having to stop this time but did have a cheery wave from today's keeper. They do seem to be a friendly lot at this lock!
The journey back was largely uneventful with little to report that we did not see on the way down. Against the flow our progress was not as fast but neither was it as slow as we feared it might be. At least it felt as if we were more in control of the boat.
We did manage a photo of the original 1881 Fry's factory (missed it on the way down) - seems today to be more a graveyard for extinct boats and other items such as a double decker bus!
Well, that comment was based on the description in Nicholsons which seems to have conflated the factory site below Keynsham lock with that above. The large, red brick factory below the lock is what became Cadburys and originally Fry's, built around 1923. This site closed in 2012 in favour of more efficient production in more modern production facilities in Poland.
The site above the lock, dated 1881, was at one time the Polysulphin Soap Factory, being sold off in 1965. It made products for launderies.
Or at least that is what we have so far discovered from Google!
We had lunch on the go as we knew that our arrival into bath would be quite well in to early evening and mooring is not always too easy.
In some places, the height of former flood levels can be judged by the amount of plastic detritus adorning the branches overhanging the river.
Just above Swineford Lock we made a brief stop on the service pontoon, long enough to refresh the elsan.
Saltford Lock was as difficult today as on Wednesday although Christine was able to recruit four lads who were relaxing after finishing their exams this morning. Both the top and the bottom gate operation was difficult. New gates might just fix it!
Several stretches were busy with plenty of rowing boats of all sorts with just a single sailing boat and a couple of canoes. Other hazards included lads jumping off bridges and a lady swimming in the river, oblivious to the danger of sharing water with powered boats.
Eventually we reached the outskirts of Bath and continued up to Bridge 198 where we moored before. Fortunately we also saw that the 24 hour moorings a couple of bridges earlier were empty. In the event there was just one space large enough for us to squeeze in. We also managed to locate a TV signal despite the large warehouse buildings around us - we were definitely ready for the chilli which had been stewing for the past couple of hours.
After dinner, Christine would have liked some chocolately dessert so Mike walked back to Sainsbury for some extra special supplies!
A gallery of Floating Harbour:
18.8 miles - 7 locks
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