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Published: August 6th 2007
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Day 85: Week 13: Sunday 30th. July 2006: Sunny: Leaving Dublin early in the morning we caught a bus to Rosslare for the ferry to Fishguard which would arrive sometime in the afternoon in Wales with no connecting train until 2am the next morning; so we would literally be stuck at Fishguard as there are no buses or other trains or transport to Bristol . The agent who sold us the tickets said there were trains to meet every ferry - not so. Vera said we should ask someone for a lift - easier said than done until we were on the ferry and some poor woman near us was being hassled by this guy when I heard her mention Bristol. I asked her if she was going there - answer YES; next question from me was " could you please give us a lift?" YES was the answer. Relief for us and her. Luckily we were travelling light so managed to squeeze into her small car and very, very grateful to her for the transport and she was so kind as to drop us off almost at the door of the hostel in Bristol, at Narrow Quay at 9pm. Many
Day 86: England, Bristol
Bristol - Narrow Quay - Hostel thanks to her.
Day 86: 31st. July 2006: Sunny: After a lousy sleep in a small bed we were given a "full English cooked breakfast" (included in the room price) that was absolutely delightful. The hostel is situated on Narrow Quay, right on the water with easy access to buses, shops, other transport and walking for sightseeing. Fantastic. We had a twin room with share bathroom but it was only us on that floor - great.
My family lived here in Bristol 200 years ago, so Vera was walked around looking for all the places, streets and churches where my ancestors came from. Most places and burial grounds had disappeared, even the streets and some areas were being redeveloped. But it was fun being there.
Today we went on the Hop on- Hop off bus, past the Clifton Bridge and around Broadmead. The 2nd time around we got off at Clifton Downs, walked through the streets and Clifton, down to Broadmead and into the John Wesley Chapel. Fabulous day.
Day 87: Tuesday 1st. August 2006: Sunny with a bit of cloud: After another yummy breakfast we caught the train to Bath, again going on the Hop on, Hop
Day 86: England, Bristol
Bristol - Hop On Hop Off bus off bus. Went looking around town into museums and the Baths of course. Another really busy fabulous day with lots of photos.
Day 88: Wednesday 2nd. August: Sunny: After another yummy breakfast we took a walk down to Broadmead to the Baptist Church where my great, great, great grandfather Samuel Summers was minister before his death in 1836. His wife Ann was granddaughter of Joshua Thomas of Leominster and great granddaughter of Hugh Evans, minister at Broadmead in 1733. We went looking for the Redcross Street Baptist Burial Ground - all that remains is a bit of the stone wall and lawn area with a girls school built on the site. Apparently, according to a plaque at the church, there is a memorial marble at Greenbank Cemetery.
Walking down Pennywell Road where more ancestors had lived up to 1861 - the oldest building with a date was 1880. On the way back we walked into Portland Square where Samuel Summers had lived - all the homes are still there unless they have been rebuilt, but the church is there - beautiful - made with Bristol stone. We sat in the little park inside the square and ate our sandwiches.
Day 86: England, Bristol
Bristol - Hop On Hop Off bus Back in town we revisted the Baptist chuch, speaking with Ken who gave me a book title "Tradition and Challenge" The story of Broadmead Baptist Church, Bristol from 1685 to 1991 - my people are mentioned in the book.
We wandered around Broadmead and walked along some streets where my family would have walked a couple of hundred years ago - the cobblestones are still there and perhaps some of the old buildings, but a lot has changed.
I made a phone call to friends Keith and Jean who would meet us in Windsor the next day and rellies John and Beryl, Pete and Ruth would also join us for dinner. Good times to look forward to. John and Beryl had checked out our B&B and said it was very nice and the owner very pleasant.
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