Friday 20 March 2009

Bridge That Gap.

PhotoStory Friday
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek



I met up with my good friend, Hetty and she took me to this wonderful place, Clifton Suspension Bridge, that is the pride of Bristol. Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel the work on the bridge was started in 1862 and completed in 1864, five years after his death. So he never got to see it!


The bridge spans a great chasm (known as the Avon Gorge) there is a span of 213 metres and is 61 metres above the River Avon.



A favourite place for rock climbers, the Avon Gorge can provide plenty of practice but it isn't for the faint hearted. It's a long way down!



Had to risk life and limb to get this picture! There is a toll to get across the bridge but nothing to pay if you go on foot as Hetty and I did!


Even walking on this footpath makes you feel a bit giddy when you look down and the bridge does shake and rock a bit when traffic goes over it.

Look at the lovely view though, and the tide was in on this occasion. We are looking out towards the Bristol Channel that meets the Avon just beyond the corner, on the horizon of the water.
Hetty and I sat for a while on the other side of the bridge and had a good gossip. Then we walked back again, had a walk on top of the cliffs and ended up in a little cafe in Clifton village. We gossiped some more before going home. Hetty is one of those friends that you could say anything to and she accepts you just as you are.
A real, true friend and good company! Hope you are reading this Hetty!


Photostory Friday is hosted by Cicely and MamaGeek. Why not pay them a visit?

34 comments:

Jeni said...

Love seeing the photos of your area of the world and these pictures were truly beautiful. That bridge is a work of art for sure, isn't it?

Suburbia said...

Just down the road from my house!!!
Lovely pics Maggie, especially with the tide in ;)

You forgot to mention the poor souls who try to jump off it, what a way to go, it doesn't bare thinking about does it?

It sounds as if you had a lovely day, good friends are worth SO much (they keep you up when you feel like jumping).

Anonymous said...

Hi Maggie ,know the bridge well, not too far from me.I remember as a youngster with my Bristolian cousin trying to get a bulb off the side, it used to be lit up at night. Didnt manage it, but leaning over was a bit risky

Eddie Bluelights said...

Great photos Maggie. Like the shot looking through both towers. You have a very good camera technique. Must visit the bridge again soon although I pass under in sometimes driving my patients.

cheshire wife said...

Lovely photos! I knew where it was before I started to read the post. Sounds like you had a good day.

RiverPoet said...

I love the photos of the bridges. Wonderful!

Peace - D

Mickle in NZ said...

Wonderful photos, what luck that the tide was in. And the Suspension Bridge looks magnificent.

I tend to forget about the effect of tides until I head up north here to where my parents live. You see Wellington harbour is very, very deep and has a tiny entrance so the tides don't really show at the beaches here.

What a glorious day you had with Hetty, a friend to treasure.

Care and huggles ,

Mickle and a silently sound asleep Zebbycat, xxx

Indrani said...

Such a wonderful place to be with a close friend. One can loose track of time.

larkswing said...

Sounds like a great day with Hetty! Thanks for sharing the pictures and story of the bridge. Feel good pictures!

Smiles!

Wayne said...

what a cool suspention bridge I love the pictures thankyou for sharing

great photo friday

tiarastantrums said...

very lovely view indeed!

MARY G said...

Wow! Vertigo city. Lovely, lovely photos; I am hanging onto my keyboard for dear life.

kayerj said...

beautiful bridge, beautiful pictures.

Salute said...

Been a while since I visited your site. I see that you are still doing great things here. Great pics. I especially like the last one, such a beautiful sight.

aims said...

Well now Maggie - I feel like I've been on a little walk with you! I would have probably done little shrieks when the bridge rocked. Hate that kind of thing.

Akelamalu said...

Fabulous piece of engineering and your photos really do it justice!

Leslie: said...

Hi Maggie! Love this bridge - I think I passed through Bristol but didn't see this bridge - must come again and do the walk across. Sounds like you had a lovely outing with Hetty! :D

Wendy said...

Yikes! It's so high! Looks like you had a really good time with your friend. I love the pics. Thanks for taking us with you.
Hugs

Unknown said...

That's a great bridge! I'm glad you walked across for us. :) I can't even imagine climbing it!

Irene said...

That was very enjoyable, Maggie. I'm glad you walked across that bridge, because I would not have been able to do it myself because of my fear of heights. Having a good old gossip with your friend at the other side made it all worth while, didn't it? That's the best thing about friends.

The views are lovely and so is the bridge itself. We don't have those sort of landscape features in the Netherlands so it all looks smashing to me. We just have big wide rivers to build bridges across.

I always enjoy photo story, because you always make it interesting.

Kitty said...

Hi Maggie - Firstly, thank you for dropping by my blog and taking the time to leave a comment. Secondly - wow - lovely pictures of the Clifton Suspension Bridge. It's been ages since I was last out that way, it is a very impressive bridge, that's for sure.

It's lovely to 'meet' you - I'll be back again.

Take care :-)

Working Mum said...

Love bridges. I once walked across the Humber Bridge, just for fun. Such beautiful feats of engineering.

Rose said...

Beautiful photos, Maggie May! You were a brave soul to walk across this to get some photos; this "faint-hearted" woman probably wouldn't have attempted it.:) Sounds like you had a wonderful afternoon; there's nothing better than sharing time with a good friend.

Anonymous said...

You have taken some fabulous pictures but I think I would be very giddy if I went on the bridge. I get nervous when crossing the Forth Road Bridge. It's the thought of the sea (or water) being below and the bridge possibly collapsing.

CJ xx

Irene said...

My sentiments exactly, Crystal.

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

Everybody needs a friend like Hetty

Anonymous said...

I love the view from the footpath. That's quite a structure!

MarmiteToasty said...

Wow how lovely is that...... I love old bridge and gorges and heights as long as me feet are on the ground....

x

said...

Fantastic photography!

Maddy said...

Ah that takes me back. I was a student in Bristol for a year many lifetimes ago.
Cheers

Jules~ said...

It is so good to have friends like that. Unconditional...all friends should be that way.

Thank you for sharing these bridge pictures. It is very beautiful. I am glad that you got to go out on such a day and enjoy it all.

MikeH said...

I just surfed in and wasn't meaning to stay very long, but that bridge is amazing! I'll have to make a point to go see it if I ever get out that way.

Anonymous said...

Maggie,

It looks well worth the life risk! What an incredible view! Lovely. I always appreciate travel via other people's blogs. Hoe sad the bridges originator did not see its completion...Hope it wasn't an accident with bridge!

VioletSky said...

Love seeing your photos of your world - makes me long for another visit.

VioletSky