A Birthday Celebration Day Out in Bristol with Scones thrown in

The journey, like many epic stories, started at Weston-super-Mare railway station.

(13.1.07-absentees:2)

Carol is the latest member to become eligible to join the Saga holidays mailing list. In Celebration, WADAS made its first expedition to Bristol, searching out the relics of the slave trade, 200 years after its abolition.


St Mary Redcliffe: A wonderful interior, previously unglimpsed. Unfortunately, the grave of Tibbles the 14th century cat is unmarked (I expect Felix could mark it). The exact link with the slave trade is a little tenuous, but we believe it featured when the bells were pealed in celebration at the failure of the first anti-slavery act.

Quakers Cemetery: Near by, not to be confused with the Shakers. This latter sect were entirely celebate and unfortunately (they didn't see it coming) died out. I always thought that the Quakers were fairly well implicated in dealing in porridge oates but it is now evident that they were also heavily into the slave trade.

The Ostrich: A pub where sailors tried but failed to resist being recruited to serve on slave ships. A welcome stop and a chance for WADAS to sip the ales and fruit juices once imbibed by these hapless mariners.

The Industrial Museum: We're not sure what it had to do with the triangular trade but there are a couple of odd cranes on the quay side that flash and talk to each other suggestively.

The Hole in the Wall: Where the smarter sailors went because they could see the press gangs coming through the hole in the wall. Unfortunately, by the time they saw them they had already drunk too much to run fast enough to escape. We did not drop in - the pub is being given a make-over by 'Beafeater Inns'. They are filling in the hole and installing CCTV instead. From here the party crossed Queen Square where the rich financiers and sea captains lived until the elevated land around Clifton became more fashionable, pausing to admire the Custom House. Next we walked along the cobbled streets of Welsh Back up to Bristol Bridge and

Corn Market and St Nicholas Market: Still hubs of trade, but more in the T shirt line these days.

Commercial Rooms: A welcome haven for flagging WADAS in need of reviving beverages, past caring whether press gangs still operate in this area. Looking up we noticed impressive domed ceilings.

Cabot Tower: It was dusk as the nine walkers climbed Charlotte Street onto Brandon Hill where Carol's birthday was celebrated with Cava and a delicious cream tea. Our numbers disturbed the ambient muggers and rapists and we were left unmolested. The view as we descended Brandon Hill was staggering with full on lights blazing across the river and beyond. We headed for Bedminster, crossing the swing bridge and struggling with a near Somme experience in the mud of the Cumberland Basin. By now the rain was lashing the strung out party as it poured into Teo's Restaurant in North Street, Bedminster. There was wonderful eastern food washed down with Elephant beer. Our numbers were boosted by Chloe who could follow directions but not by Ned who couldn't.

Next a brief walk along North Street to Bedminster Station where we caught a late train. The guard was naturally suspicious of anybody getting on at Bedminster and was reluctant to accept a scone for himself and his driver. However, we reminded him when we reached Weston and he felt it safer to accept. The final destiny of those delicious scones is not known.

A brilliant and informative day out for all concerned.