A really early start today to avoid the midday sun.  We cast off from Bath at 6:20 and started to go up the three locks out of Bath.  As we entered the second lock we were, much to our surprise, approached by another boat asking if they could go up with us.  They joined us after a short wait and it was interesting to discover that John had been the pilot of the boat used in the slow canal sequence and had “trained” the celebrity four Nigel Havers, Loraine Chase, Debbie McGee and Simon Callow.  John and Vivian were based at Bradford Marina where all this action took place.

We moored in Bradford on Avon at 11:15 in a spot with some welcome shade from nearby trees in the later afternoon.

We walked along the canal and visited the The Tythe Barn before going into town via a route that followed the river.  Toby and Sarah mentioned the wonderful beams in the barn so we thought we would add pictures of the barn and its interior structure.

We bought this wonderful umbrella 30 years ago in Kuala Lumpur and brought it with us in case we had wet weather.  We were really pleased to be able to use it to keep us in the shade today!  Note the silver lining.

We also stopped to admire the Saxon Church and Romy pointed out the blind arcading, all those windows without glass round the top, if you didn’t know that.

The Bridge Tea Rooms is in another rather wonderful old building and the atmosphere is designed to match the exterior.  Light refreshments were obviously called for.  Russian Caravan for Peter – excellent.

While we were at the bridge we also took the opportunity of taking a photo of the C17chapel – C18 lock up.