The worse part of Pill, an interesting mostly-Victorian small town not far from us on the south bank of the Avon, is a 1960s “precinct”, right in the centre. It’s on the cycle route into Bristol, but we’ve never stopped to admire a mural, painted on ceramic tiles on a wall behind the shops. Two helpful women stopped to describe the subject matter and origins of the picture to us.
The Thekla has been a fixture in Bristol’s Harbour for more than 30 years, during which time she has undergone a number of transformations from her original use as a cargo ship.
Artist, musician and one of England’s greatest eccentrics, the late Vivian Stanshall (former Leigh-on-Sea resident!) converted her into a theatre before she later became a nightclub and music venue.
The old girl’s been away in dry dock for a facelift, but now she’s back, looking very smart. We were concerned that the paint job has removed a nice Banksy painting of the grim reaper in a rowing boat on the waterline. However, the good news is that the painting (actually a section of the hull) has been removed and will be on display at a local museum.
The Thekla in Bristol Docks.
Brean Down is a peninsula south of Weston Super Mare in Somerset. It is the western termination of the Mendip Hills. It has a history of defence, from WWII back to the Napoleonic wars. At its far end is a fort, which you can wander around whilst contemplating the stupidity of mankind. It was sunny when we left home, but very cold and wet by the end of our walk; very pleased to get back in the car.
Fifty thousand trees, 150 acres, the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, commemorates all those who have served the nation, both military and civilian.
National Memorial Arboretum.
National Memorial Arboretum.
“Shot at Dawn” memorial. Moving tribute to boys, many as young as 17, shot for “cowardice”.
National Memorial Arboretum.
Symbolic of the soccer match thought to have been played on Christmas Day, 1914, between British and German troops.
Maritime memorial.
The nearly-completed life boat station site on the right of the picture.
Cycling down the Portway alongside the Avon. An untypical view of Brunel’s suspension bridge, and a decaying derelict wharf near the site of the Hotwells Clifton Rocks railway.
On the “Jurassic Coast” of the Dorset and East Devon World Heritage Coastline.
The river Axe at Seaton, Devon.
Beer, near Seaton.
Cycle path graffiti near Pill, N Somerset.
The famous Clifton Suspension bridge was opened 150 years ago, on December 8th. An equally-impressive (in a different way) bridge has carried the M5 motorway from Birmingham to Exeter for forty years, and also passes over the River Avon, further downstream, where it joins the Severn estuary. It’s rarely seen from the south bank, as you can only get there on foot (or by bike in my case). There are eight lanes of traffic up there!
Under the M5 looking NE across the River Avon.
Goods train line running from Portbury Docks, under M5 Avonmouth bridge, to join the rail network at Bristol.
Grafitti under M5 bridge.
Grafitti under M5 bridge.
Cycling from Brean to Highbridge, partly along the beach (that’s Sally’s tyre tracks in the sand).
Beach near Berrow, Somerset.
Martin's Mag. 
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