Cotswold Canal Trust Centennial Cruise - Sharpness to Bristol

[@johng2619]

Thank you for this wonderful film, it brought back memories of a journey I made in 1988. Unfortunately this was before modern camera technology. I had a 50ft narrow boat built in Coventry and needed to bring it to our home near Bath. They were building the big bridge and I had an uneventful journey with a pilot to a barge anchored below the construction. The pilot left me here with instructions to wait for the tide to turn and then head for that white structure. Few hours later the tide turned, I cast off and accelerated. I could not see the Avon for mud flats but my speed soon brought me to the entrance. Here the river was a mass of small muddy whirlpools which tended to pull the boat off course. I was quite relieved to see the lock but then the most exciting part of the journey occurred. The boat was up against the lock and after a few minutes of calling hello a face appeared above and bluntly stated "you can't stay there, there's a tanker coming up behind you". I had to get close to the weir on the right which meant tying onto a foot rung in the wall and keep the boat in reverse as the tanker went in. My turn now and I had to really gun in reverse then the relief of being in next the huge tanker.

[@austinhallmark7060]

Lovely spot

[@Myworldrightnow]

Magnificent

[@AllanCazaly]

Hi Wendy and Andrew! - I felt I had to comment. The photography was excellent and the video recording and subject material was absolutely "STUNNING"! Well done both of you (It must have been teamwork all along). It has given me great pleasure to see the whole journey (voyage) all the way into Bristol docks that are so familiar to me and an extraordinary experience to view all this from the water. Thanks a million for sharing all this with us. ~Allan~ nb.Pengalanty (GU - Leicester section)

[@Geoffmay33]

Thanks so much for this upload. I have done this trip many times, long before there wars a Marina at Portishead. Of course this was also before video cameras. So it was so nice to see it recorded.

[@neilbarnett1687]

A great video Andrew. We were supposed to be doing this next month but in the opposite direction. It's been cancelled now due to the Coronavirus but we hope to do it at a later date. We did the Ribble Link last year but this looks much more challenging. These days every boat has to have a pilot on board even if in a convoy.

[@MsVanorak]

I was worried about Minnie Mo, there didn't seem many of you in the final lock.

[@alexekers3870]

Fair play I wouldn't want to do that in rough weather how did you find the crossing ??

[@andrewdyke7667]

Alex Ekers It was one of the most memorable and enjoyable trips we ever made.

[@longrider42]

Looks a bit choppy. Has any one ever tried using inflatable outriggers, when taking a narrow boat onto big water?. Just an idea.

[@dugsey8490]

portishead first then up the river to bristol probalby because of tide times, a narrow boat can only go with run of the tide. cause the tide runs very fast. excellent video, rather you than me, must have been bit traumatic, got to have confidence in your engine !

[@andrewleodyke]

Sorry about the delay in my reply. Lord Toulouse has a BETA TUG JD3 and she just loves the deep water. Since this transit we have been along the tidal River Thames, across the River Mersey and across the Rivers Douglas and Ribble to the Link and the lancaster Canal. You can see videos of these trips on You Tube as well. Thanks for the interest. Regards Andrew

[@oldelephantstew]

interesting - it's very rare to see canal narrowboats putting out to sea - presumably you would have to be very careful to choose a day with a certainty of calm weather.

[@andrewleodyke]

Yes indeed. We have also transited Sharpness to Bristol, River Trent and Thames to the barrier. We have always been with other boats and in this case a well organised trip. We have often, as in this case, had to wait a day or two for good weather and calm waters.

[@FA7273]

This is what makes KZbin...Thankyou

[@Strutty1956]

Great video, definitely a trip for my bucket list! Can I please ask, why did you go into Portishead first and not straight into the Avon?

[@andrewleodyke]

Ampen Spekersohn Thank you for the compliment. Portishead was used as a safe haven for 4 hours, IIRC, while the tide changed. We had to wait for an incoming tide to give us enough water to travel. As it was, you can see the dangerous mud banks. We didn’t want to get caught on one over those! Great trip I would recommend to anyone.

[@Strutty1956]

Thanks. Just reading your blog on Google. Interesting. Will you be making any more videos of your boat journeys? Good commentaries and none of that silly time lapse stuff!

[@andrewleodyke]

Ampen Spekersohn Regrettably, we sold Lord Toulouse last year, she was simply too heavy to handle any more. Some canal locks were also becoming very challenging and some impossible to move. We have traveled most of Britain’s inland waterways anc have wonderful memories, just like this one. Thanks for you interest.

[@Strutty1956]

Aww, that's such a shame. Will miss your boating contributions to YT!

[@fsakework]

what engine ?

[@andrewleodyke]

Just seen this, sorry. Beta JD3.

[@richardgray115]

13.4 mph, are you sure it was that fast?

[@andrewdyke7667]

Yup, had one of those GPS tracking Garmin gadgets. The tricky bit was navigation and direction, as you have seen.