Bristol City 0 – Ipswich Town 3
It was a good start to the season by Ipswich and well worth the trip.
My only problem with going to Bristol City and Ashton Gate us the rather dangerous seats without any backs.
Bristol City's Dangerous Seats
The danger is not when you sit on them. But as you walk in and out in a football ground, you always steady yourself on the seat row in front. Two fellow supporters nearly overbalanced on top of me, as the seat in front tipped forward.
How they pass Health and Safety, I do not know. But then the seating at QPR must have done last year.
From the SS Great Britain to Ashton Gate
As I said before it takes about twenty minutes. You start at the side of the museum and walk away from the dock until you come to the New Cut of the River Avon. You go past Spike Island and then over a bridge to cross the River Avon.
The pictures show the industrial doors of the Arts Centre on Spike Island painted by someone with a sense of humour.
Once across the footbridge it is a brisk downhill walk to the ground.
Visiting The SS Great Britain
Before kick-off I also had time to visit the SS Great Britain.
The attached museum is pretty good too. It took me about ninety minutes to tour both. I was also surprised to see a lady in a wheelchair on the ship with an assistance dog. So the disabled access must be pretty easy as well.
I would recommend if you’re going to the football at Ashton Gate, that if you get into Bristol before about 11:00, as I did, you have time for lunch, a walk and a visit to the Great Britain. From there it’s a fairly simple twenty minutes or so walk to the ground.
How To Show Off Technology
On the dockside they were showing off an old electric crane.
Electric Crane on Bristol Docks
Note the scissor lift at the right to give access to visitors.
And here’s a steam one too!
Steam Crane on Bristol Docks
I suppose some might think the smoke was a bit excessive.
Where are London’s working cranes?
Signs and Maps in Bristol
Bristol has signs with maps in many places.
Signs With Maps in Bristol
I walked around the city for an hour or so and it was so much more pleasant than Plymouth.
A Lot of Chocolate and Cream
On arrival at Bristol Temple Meads, I took this picture of a large rake of old Western Region coaches in traditional Great Western Railway colours.
A Lot of Chocolate and Cream
They were for a special train on Sunday.
I always found it strange how the Western Region were able to go their own way and not follow the corporate British Rail policy.
A Must Do Train Journey
This picture is the best of a bad bunch as the train from Plymouth to Bristol travelled along the Exeter to Plymouth line from Newton Abbott to Exeter.
Along the Devon Coast by Train
As I said in an earlier post, you should sit on the seaward or south side of the train.
Summing Up Plymouth
As I walked out of Plymouth to the station, I saw this pair of signs.
Confusing Signs in Plymouth
In most places to get to the station, you walk towards the sign shown all over the country. But in Plymouth to do that would take you on a more roundabout route, than following the fingerpost.
They just don’t do details very well.
But they did have a sign saying “Plenty to see and do. Positively Plymouth” at the station. And of course no maps!
Vehicle Unfriendly Plymouth
You may think I’m anti-car. But then I’ve never been anywhere with so many speed cameras.
These two were in one of the main shopping streets.
Speed Cameras in Plymouth
I don’t think I’ve ever seen them in such a position before.
An Imaginatively Named Restaurant
This picture sums up the centre of Plymouth
The Roundabout, Plymouth
And guess where it is!
The Anonymous Widower 