Avonmouth to Pensford – keep on running (2nd blog today)

My mate Martin ‘Bear’ Bavs came down to Avonmouth on the train from Bristol and we met up at 8.45 at the station. I promised him breakfast and we had a good one in a local caff. We were going south on the M5 over the River Avon Bridge on the walkway, turning left and walking up the river to Bristol. The tide was out but coming in, the weather was great again. Perfick.

My mate Mart was on good form and ready for a walk.

The river cuts through a gorge on its way to the sea and it is stunning.

The tide was coming in and small boats were beginning to move upriver to take advantage of a high water level run to the lock for Bristol City docks.

The gorge winds 4 miles up to the lower end of Bristol and a 19th century suspension bridge crosses the top from east to west bank in a spectacular display of Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s genius. Looking back the bridge was magnificent with a small fleet of boats waiting for access to the City Docks.

Bristol was a great place to live. We had 7 happy years there but I had to move back to Yorkshire to follow work opportunities. The docks showed me what we’d missed.

Me and Mart called in unexpectedly on an old friend at work, Foxy, who I hadn’t seen for 30 years, and then called in on Claire, Martin’s step-daughter. A great day. I was able to leave my rucksack in Mart’s car and walk further south to put more miles on the clock. Climbing up this street to Totterdown and ultimately down the road out to Pensford, 6 miles outside Bristol.

Pensford was historic looking.

Mart picked me up and took me back to their place where his missus, Linda, was cooking dinner. Great food, great company, great day. 18 miles done. 

Night night.