Bristol has operated as a harbor for 1000 years and that in the old days it could get pretty risky. The Avon River where it flows into the ocean has a tide that raises and lowers by as much as 14 feet. At Bristol about 12 feet. This meant a ship could make port during high tide and when the tide went out leave her high and dry sitting on the bottom of the river. The term ship-shape came from Bristol; meaning if a ship was sip-shape, it could handle the roughest conditions and still sail. Many of the old working boats are still moored here in Bristol including the SS Great Britain, built of iron and powered by steam. She was a marvel of her time. No one had ever built a ship so vast. It was launched by Prince Albert. She carried gold miners and emigrants to Australia and wealthy passengers all over the world. She was eventually sold and refitted as a cargo ship carrying cargo to the west coast of America. During one sailing she ran into rough weather going around Cape Horn and was badly damaged. She pulled into the Falkland Islands. The owners felt it was too expensive to repair her and sold the ship to the FalklandIsland Company She fell into dis-repair and the military wanted to use her for target practice, but some felt that would be a sad ending for the old girl and towed her back to Bristol where she now rest fully refurbished in her original launching berth.
The painted white stripe with black squares was done to look like gun ports. She was never attacked by pirates.
This galleon was Captained by John Cabot
New luxury condos on the river
Walked back home and Terry and I went to a movie. The Tom Cruise "Edge of Tomorrow". Not a great movie, but It felt normal. A good restful day.
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