We are now sitting taking it easy in Sharpness, where we are moored with a good view over the Severn Estuary.  This morning we walked the dogs to the picnic area which overlooks the entrance to the docks as there is a boat due out this evening at about 7:30 and we were checking out the route to go and watch.  It is very peaceful here, sort of like a holiday resort without all the people.  From the picnic area you can view the  two road bridges across the Severn.

View from the mooring across the Severn Estuary

Entrance to Sharpness Docks

Entrance to Sharpness Docks, narrow boats do use this to get across to Bristol!

We had an easy trip down to Sharpness leaving Gloucester Docks on Thursday morning and stopping off at the Sainsburys, canal side, on the other side of Llanthony Bridge.  Sadly though we had some rain so did not get as far on Thursday as we had planned.  Moored up and once the rain had stopped set off to walk the dogs to Saul Junction (which is where we had planned on mooring), on the way we spotted nb Acen and had a chat with John and Jo, who are heading to Gloucester.

This light ship is moored just outside Gloucester Docks and is now a Holistic Therapy centre.

Llanthony Lift Bridge guards the entrance/exit to the Docks from the Gloucester Sharpness Canal!

Friday morning dawned cloudy and wet so we stayed put until later when it appeared to clear a bit.  We set off, but the rain soon came down again so we moored up until late afternoon, when we tried again.  Made it to Sharpness with the sun shining and found a good mooring just along from the original Severn Bridge, a railway bridge that spanned the canal and the estuary.  Now long demolished but must have been impressive in it's day.  The link below is to a You Tube video of it being demolished.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJcddsFIDPA

The Gloucester and Sharpness Canal features a number of swing bridges all operated by bridge keeper's.  Some are automatic and some are still manually worked.  The poor bridge keeper had to come out in the pouring rain to open this one for us.  You can just see him hiding under his umbrella!

After mooring up on Friday evening we sorted out the dogs and went for a stroll around the old docks before heading to the Docker's Club for a drink and meal to celebrate Graham's birthday.  The Docker's Club is a proper working men's type club with banquette type seating round the edges and tables at intervals along this, also pool tables and a games area.  We were unsure of what to expect from the meal however my steak was excellent and very good value at £8:00 for a big plate of steak, chips, mushrooms, salad, peas and onion rings.  Graham had the faggots, which he enjoyed, but I think on reflection he would have preferred the steak.