It a surprisingly busy port being so far up the Bristol Channel. It handles 450,000 tons of cargo a year including animal feedstuffs, grain, fertilisers, coal, gypsum, steel and scrap metal. The C&RT remain the port authority handling ships up to 5,000 tons dead weight.
Last night we visited the Dockers' Work Club that looks a bit run down from the outside but we were pleasantly surprised with the standard of the inside and were warmly welcomed by landlord Jim who, for 16 years, was the Sharpness lock keeper. We then got stuck into some local Wickwar brewery Bob real ale. We will return tonight for a meal that is all locally prepared and looks to be good value.
We have had a lot of advice from our liveaboard neighbor who has a working life on oil tankers in the Bristol Channel. Also we met a fellow boater in the Club who had been a pilot out of Bridgwater,
Sharpness is certainly a very peaceful place to stop over whilst waiting to take on the might of the Bristol Channel.
Sharpness Docks
Our Lock in the morning
Again
The old way out....Phew
!
The estuary
In case we need it......
Our mooring
Quirky or what??
Who's scared of who???
Loving the blog! Hope you've had a fantastic day today - gorgeous weather and perfect sounding conditions...!
ReplyDeleteSarah x