This past weekend Bristol celebrated its annual Harborside Festival, which draws hundreds of boats and tens of thousands of people. We spent four glorious days walking along the floating harbor while engaging in our annual fantasy of selling the house and buying a boat. Tall ships, minesweepers, canal boats, tugs, and svelte sloops from all over the UK sailed up the River Avon Thursday night on the high tide, which varies a startling 30 feet a day. Back before they built the floating harbor, Bristol ships had to be “shipshape” to negotiate the spectacular tidal changes. Hence the origin of the phrase.
One of our favorite members of the Tucson posse was in town this weekend, fresh from a visit to Rome, and together we shuffled along the streets of Bristol with the sprightly masses. We walked the gang planks of the tall ships, sampled cheese and wild boar at the French Market, and finished the weekend off at an unforgettable curry shop in leafy Clifton. It was a weekend of fine food and shapely ships and dreamy talk of 100 things to do before you die. Go East, Erich, so we can visit.
Dreaming of a 7-day sail trip off Maine
Clifton Bridge
New potatoes at the French Market
Low tide in Bristol
Freaky boat on the quay
Olives at French Market in Queen Square
1 comment:
HI! Just an interesting tidbit I read about the Clifton Bridge (in a 1989 travel guide) It seems that Sarah Ann Henley jumped off it in 1885 after a lover's quarrel; fortunately her petticoats billowed open and she parachuted safely down to the mud below. She married and lived to 85! Thought you could include it in your tales of Merrie England.
Love, Doreen
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