Bristol....Big!

We took off to Bristol with a few things in mind.

Seeing this building boarded up was not a good start.

Ever heard the expression "Pay on the Nail?"

This is one of 4 nails outside the Corn Exchange.

So this is where it came from.

Magnificent detail on the building opposite.

The Three handed clock of the Exchange...

People couldn't agree on the time areas,

and each county basically set there own time.

Covering several bases !

Half of a pair of superb doors.

This is getting a bit better...

The area around the water is a fabulous development.

So after a dreadful lunch, off to see 

Brunel's

SS Great Britain....

WOW...

She's in Dry Dock...with a twist.

She appears to be floating...

But in fact the hull is rusted through in many places.

And you enter under the water..

The Stainless Steel Pipes are a huge de humidifier.

There is more inside the hull.

The story of where she was recovered from 

The Falklands...

double click.

I suppose that's a Pommy Perspective ?

Worth blowing up..

Discussions in the Captains Suite..

The mighty 2 cylinder steam engine's 

flywheel...

Bearings & lubrication points I guess..

Officer's quarters.

The Butcher

One of the kitchens.

Cat fight between  Cockney & Irish Staff...

walking the boards

Sinbad the ships cat having a rest ...

First Class Dining.

The Band Stand...

very salubrious indeed !

What she looked like in sail...

The Bow  

Spectacular decoration

A Lion on the other side of course !

The Fares to Melbourne if you're interested

blow it up.

You could spend an entire day here....

But we were catching up with Cecelia Evans

A lovely Lady we met at Mornington

 in the Kimberley & again in Broome in 2008...

Fantastic to catch up 

but not enough time...

Then on to Clifton Suspension Bridge

 another of Brunel's masterpieces..

One end was wrapped in plastic...

It's at the end of The Avon Gorge

spectacular.

An old wharf on the side of the river,

the tide here is apparently enormous.

The mud in the river bed..

An E 28 pulled up to get change for the Toll.

Not many left in Britain I'd imagine.

This is the Posh end of town with lovely

Geogian Terraces...