Two Flew Over: Bath Time and The 'Rose Emily'

We arrived Sunday afternoon in the 'historic city' of Bath. With the benefit of hindsight we foolishly decided to walk to our B&B which didn't look far on the map but turned out to be quite a way all uphill toting our packs. Still our little attic room under the eaves was welcoming with wide views out over the town. We ummmed and arrhed about going to the thermal spa for a swim but after finding the water was only a lukish 33 degrees went instead to the underground caverns of the Sotto Sotto restaurant and had a delicious Italian meal. After the usual too big English breakfast in an ornate dining room we sallied forth again to check out the Roman spa. This proved to be fascinating...painstakingly excavated and preserved so you could really get the flavour of what they must have been like in the day. Even had an (optional extra) audio commentary by Bill Bryson. It took over 2 hours to take a good look through. Also popped into the majestic Abbey.

After lunch taxied to pick up our narrow boat at Sally's Marina in nearby Trowbridge. The 'Emily Rose' looked resplendent in the sunshine and after a briefing about working locks and swing bridges etc. we were off and away the gently throbbing diesel pushing us along at 3-4mph which seemed quite fast enough to a couple of canal newbies. Our plan was to head back to Bath which was about 18 miles away by winding canal then return past our starting point and head further East or up canal for one more night before returning to the marina. This would give plenty of varied scenery, tunnels, bridges,aqueducts and a few locks but not too many. Also some nice old pubs.

Master and Commander

Real English sun required use of a tea towel

The Avon-cliff Aqueduct was quite exciting to navigate after only 15 mins of practice. Amazing engineering to suspend a whole canal full of water. Apparently it slumped like this as soon as it was filled with water but hasn't slumped any further since.

The historic 1500's Avon-cliff Cross Guns Hotel below

Inside...

Approaching the aqueduct

We walked up to the Tithe Barn in Bradford, from about 1200, everyone left a tithe of their produce for the Abbey

Lots of cute as duckling families. These ones have little yellow breasts

We moored just below the locks in Bath and walked in have dinner and see a Noel Coward play, Relative Values, at the Theatre Royal. Comically convoluted poke at the British class system.