Day 29: Rest day
Welcome
Yesterday we had a day of rest and leisure in Bristol.
I started my day with a small breakfast of granola, yoghurt, and tinned berries. Then with a coffee in hand and a spring in my step I set out on what turned out to be a rather long walk in order that I might gain a better view of the historic bridge we had ridden the previous afternoon. My walk took me along the banks of the River Avon New Cut and I passed many other historic bridges along the way including the Gaol Ferry Bridge, a steel suspension footbridge built in the 1930s that replaced the ferry near the old Bristol Gaol.
The Gaol Ferry Area Replacement 1930s Suspension Bridge.
Paddle boarders prepping to launch in the harbour.
After a while I reached the point where the river hooks around to the north and heads towards the Avon Gorge – from there I was afforded a spectacular view of the suspension bridge and the Clifton Cliffs towering above the muddy banks of the Avon.
At the base of the cliffs is an interesting looking ruin which turns out to be the entrance to an underground funicular railway leading up to the suburb of Clifton. The railway operated in an 8.5 metre wide semi-eliptical tunnel which contained four parallel tracks for the two connected pairs of carriages. The 40 second journey was powered by gravity – the carriage at the top was connected by a pair of steel wire cables to the carriage at the bottom via a set of large pulley wheels. Water ballast would then be added to the top car until it began its decent, pulling its companion car up. At the bottom the ballast tank would be emptied and the water pumped back up to the top of the tunnel.
The Clifton Rocks Railway, operational from 1893 to 1934.
After one final look at the bridge and the harsh rock walls of the mighty Avon Gorge I headed back to the hotel via the waterfront of the Bristol Floating Harbour, the body of water that is the former Port of Bristol and runs through the heart of the city. The Harbour used to be a tidal river but was dammed in the early 19th century to increase access to Bristol’s docks amid increased competition with neighbouring ports. A tidal bypass was dug (the River Avon New Cut) which flows nearly parallel to the harbour, and a series of locks were built enabling ships to re-join the tidal River Avon east of Bristol.
The harbourfront is a beautiful walk that passes many a marina, wharf, and dock, as well as a thriving hospitality scene. Just when I thought my day couldn’t get exciting enough I walked past Brunel’s Lock and got to see the gates being operated by several harbour authority staff.
Brunel’s Lock.
Paddle boarders underway.
My morning walk.
The afternoon saw Tristan and I headed to a canal-side pub where the business of the day was to try and get a large seagull to stand in the middle of the circle. It took a long time and cost us a few chicken bones but this was achieved and we could leave with a sense of accomplishment.
Limbering up before heading out to the pub.
In the evening we got together with Cherym and escaped an escape room before heading out for dinner and some heavy reminiscing.
