Harbour Festival

Saturday 31 July 2010

The last few weeks have been disappointing with very few walkers. Last Sunday at 11am the Guide was accompanied by a lovely American couple, currently living in Berlin, but originally from Virginia. The walk lasted 3 hours and the Guide was given a very generous tip in appreciation, which was humbly accepted.

This weekend is the Bristol Harbour Festival and given the good weather is proving a huge hit with everyone. Although a little overcast and a little breeze, the lower temperatures mean that no one should get overheated. There are crowds of people in Welsh Back, Queen Square and the harbourside itself.

There were 3 walkers at 10am this morning, Fabio from Milan and a lovely Irish couple from a town close to Dublin. With Queen Square so busy with the Harbour Fesitval, the last little bit of the tour had to be curtailed, but everyone still enjoyed the walk. Fabio had a little difficulty with the language and so asked to go round again, so that the Guide could explain things a little more simply. There was good conversation and he wouldn't believe that his English was technically good. Fabio had the usual difficulty with cough, bough, bow, though, through thought, etc as most non-English speakers do. We had a good time, but he's going back to Milan this evening.

Oliver's Lime

No one for the 10am walk, but had a chat with one of the collectors for Action for Children. She seemed quite keen to come on a walk. Coming from Exeter she's interested in history.

Very offhand in the Tourist office this morning, but the Guide did manage to explain about the 2 4 1 offer, see the information on this page.

The guide has been trying to identify a tree in St Pauls Park that is in full flower and smelling gorgeous (see right). After some time on the internet, the fact it is a type of lime tree had been established, but which one wasn't verified until a conversation with the Guide's mother suggests it is an Oliver's or Silver Lime you can read a bit about it here.

So another stint in the library, hoping the rain stays away and the sun shines. Oh, yes! Grillstock is on this weekend (find the information here) but it costs at least £4 to go in. How can anyone expect crowds of people in the current economic climate when you have to pay to go to these thing? The Guide will not be going despite looking forward to it!

The Central Library now has its own café so no one is allowed to consume their own food there. The Guide, therefore, went to the Radisson Blu to quickly eat a sandwich lunch. Wandering back to the meeting point, a light shower began which suddenly turned into a torrent, The Guide hastened to a nearby bus shelter knowing it would only last 5 minutes or so.

Unfortunately no wanted to walk at 1PM, so a trip to Temple Meads Station was on the cards. Why? You may ask. Well, the Guide is off to Barmouth in late September. For those who don't know, Barmouth is in North Wales on Cardigan Bay. In September they hold a Festival of Walking and the Guide has decided go for a few days, so the trip to the station was to get the train tickets. So know the tickets are purchased the B&B needs to be booked (there is one on standby!). Then the walks need to be booked, along with a social dinner one night and a well earned week away will be sorted.

The Guide just needs some walkers to help pay for it! Let's see what happens at 4pm. A half pint of cider beckoned on the way back to the meeting point, so a side trip to the Shakespeare on Prince Street wasted an hour or so. Always nice to visit the Shakespeare.

No walkers again, so the Guide went in search of a new back-pack. One of the straps is pulling away on the current one. Found a good one at a reasonable price in Mountain Warehouse website), so will be going back tomorrow to pick one up.

Olympics

Saturday 10 July 2010

OK, so the sun is out, just about, there is a bit of cloud to keep the temperature just about bearable. But there are not walkers for the 10AM walk. What am I doing wrong?

There were no walks last weekend, as the Guide needed a weekend off, but the St Pauls Carnival took place. The official website can be found here. An estimated 70,000 people attended and only a few arrests. A week later and there is still loads of broken glass in at least one public area. It was being swept up, but only part seems to have been done.

However ... the Guide is planning to apply to become a volunteeer for the 2012 London Olympics. Applications start in September so come back and see if the application was successful or not. The London 2012 home page is here.

The Cathedral bells are ringing this morning. Try this link to listen to the wonderful sound. There is a special service to commemorate 100 years of aviation history. To find out more about this here. Bristol has been declared the birthpalce of aviation in the UK.

So after another stint in the library. Let's see if anyone, other than the Guide wants to walk at 1.00pm.

Just seens photos of Paul Gascoigne (sometime 'genius' football [soccer] player). He's 43 now, but to my mind looks at least 10 years older.

No one for the 1.00pm walk so spent time in the library again, this time reading: Two Penn'orth of Poison by Penny Deverill. and the current edition of Archaelogy magazine (July issue). Reading about the foreshore of the River Thames, and how the river itself is uncovering atefacts, how best to preserve these and whether they should be left in situ or moved to the Museum of London, also in the same publication 'The Devant Dead' - Roman Britain's unusual burials.

England -v- Germany

Ok, so the England football (soccer) squad will be heading home from South Africa having lost 4:1 to Germany - living up to expectations, yet again.

However, despite the glorious weather and a hopeful Guide there have been no walkers today. A shame really, it would have been a good day for walks, not too busy in town and certainly nearly deserted this afternoon as kick-off approached.

The children have loved the opportunity to play in the fountains by the meeting point, Neptune, and there have been lots of people just wandering about, heading back and forth to the docks and the pubs and entertainment venues there.

Walking home there was a distinct lack of people about, but the pubs were very full with bouncers on the doors, the windows wide open and a certain amount of noise and cheering. The Guide only saw one policeman patrolling the Corn Street area. It will be interesting to find out how the crowds behaved in Queen Square.

There are no walks next weekend - the Guide is having a well-earned weekend off. So back to the blog on 10 July. See you then.

Graduation

What promised to be a really hot day, thankfully turned a littly cloudy around mid-day and this was a relief from the sun.

Again no walkers for the 10AM walk so spent some time chatting with the lovely ladies in the Tourist Information office and then to the Central Library for a customary flick through 'Heat' magazine, but as usual there was nothing much of interest.

There was a graduation ceremony at the Cathedral, but there was no indication of which university it was which a little disappointing, although there were banners outside for Clifton High School. Also Downend Christadelphia had an exhibition on College Green, the grass looking brown and thirsty.

Lunch on the Green under a tree and a book - All the Rivers Run by Nancy Cato. Hopefully it won't need renewing again! And only a small breeze - not enough to fly the flags.

A lovely lady from Germany on the 1PM walk; she loved the walk so much, the Guide gracefully received a tip. That doesn't happen very often!

The breeze picked up a bit towards 4PM and Helen (the woman with the National Trust van) was having trouble with the sun umbrella. She in on Central Promenade every 6 weeks or so drumming up membership and a very pleasant person.

Caught a glimps of the Bristol Pride Drag Race but only the back of 'Dolly Parton'-esque wigs towering over the head of other people.

So only one walker today and probably none tomorrow. Don't be so pessimistic, is the cry. But England are playing Germany with a kick-off at 3PM and Glasto is on. But I'll let you know ...