A change of plan
Inner cities can be interesting and Bristol is no exception.
A visit to the Cumberland Basin, the old dock area, shows many changes of use. The old warehouses, V shed and M shed, are now a restaurant and a Bristol history museum. Two large cranes that once worked for a living now 'talk' and regale everyone with tales of what they once hauled in and out of ships. (bananas and other fruit, coal etc) and you can still see the sign marking 'Bordeaux quay' where the wines came in.
There are still ships and boats, but they have a different occupation now. The barges that once carried goods in and out of port are now homes. The replica of the 'Matthew' teaches passengers about the pilgrim fathers Atlantic crossing in a sailing ship which left from this dock,and takes them on a tour of the harbour, further too, sometimes. And of course there is Brunel's SS Great Britain which dominates the harbour.
Other activities are carried out by Bristol's sailing club. Both canoes and small sailing craft can often be seen in the harbour. The dry dock is still in use, though now repairs pleasure boats, and the underfall boat yard is always busy. You can see all sorts of small craft in various stages of construction. Two old steam tug boats are moored outside the museum. The one called the Mayflower is the oldest one still afloat.
There are several pubs around the harbour now doing meals as well as beer, and other old warehouses have been replaced by modern flats or offices.
Boats coming in through the harbour gates at high tide can still find a safe mooring for the night, their occupants will find plenty to do.
And finally, look out for the Bristol steam packet boats which ferry folk across the harbour, particularly the one which has 'Gromit' sitting on the prow - acquired by the company after the fund raiser for the children's hospital in which there were Gromits in various guises scattered on trails around the city. Aardman Enterprises, home of Wallace & Gromit and Morph have a base just opposite the SS Great Britain
The dock/floating harbour lies alongside the 'cut' which is the deep channel now followed by the Bristol Avon, worth looking at just to see the 49 foot tidal range. The river changes from a narrow stream with huge mud banks at low tide to a wide, fast flowing torrent at high tide.
Comments
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Steve
Have you thought of adding some photos to the story?
David
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