Sharpness to Bristol via Portishead

As we were instructed to meet the pilot at 05.00 at the lock, ("-and don't be late"!)  it was a very early start. Up at 04.00 and with the dawn just starting to break we set of for the lock.
'We' being myself and John in his boat Jan Van Der Hrrm, which is a Dutch narrow beam barge.

I had mentioned to John sometime a long time ago that I was planning to take 2 months out of work and take my boat on a jaunt around the canals. But rather than head off up the Severn to the Midlands and back I wanted to go down the Bristol Channel to Bristol and onto the Kennet and Avon. Much more exciting! As this was something that John had wanted to do for a long time I was extremely happy to have him along on the trip.

So after speaking to many people I organised a pilot to take us down, as this was by far the safer option. The timing of the trip out of Sharpness is critical due to the tides and the weather of course is critical as it can seriously affect the height of the waves. So by having a pilot on board his experience was invaluable.A fact we were soon to confirm