Gary displayed his culinary skills in stunning fashion producing a breakfast with eggs, bacon and fried bread so we were able to set off fully recharged. It would be a leisurely cruise to our lunch stop near Limpley Stoke with the vast number of moored boats on the stretch from Bradford keeping our speed down to a mere 2 mph. There is a side effect of reduced speed in that boat does become less responsive to steer but as John proved there can be a benefit of these moored craft in that you can bounce off them to get back online.
John testing out the boat's swingability
Avoncliff Aqueduct
Mooring for lunch a five minute walk from Limpley Stoke we proceeded to our lunch time refuelling stop of The Hop Pole, a lovely 17th century monks retreat which was reputedly used in the filming of the “Titfield Thunderbolt” and the “Remains of the Day” – lovely pints of Bath Gem and great sandwiches. Again we were made most welcome although without us spending £40 on beer and £30 on food lunchtime trade would have comprised two lady walkers drinking tea and a grumpy old local straight out of Fawlty Towers!
We then motored on to go over the Dundas aqueduct where we turned the boat in the opening to the derelict Somerset Coal canal before going back to our overnight stop at Avoncliff.
But not everyone was on boats
Dundas Aqueduct
To get to our mooring we had to go back over the aqueduct a trick of navigation mastered with a round of applause for the helmsman steering superbly for the first 90 degree turn onto the structure – only for his reputation being destroyed by the opposite turn at the other end – I say what a stupid place to put a bank!
Evening food and drink enjoyed at the Cross Guns Inn although the best beer was not one of their own from the local Box Steam Brewery but an interloper from Brighton.
Another splendid day where the kitty took a hammering!
Some videos -
Cruising after lunch - http://youtu.be/dzHW0k0kEEg
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