We're Going On A Shaun Hunt

Least sensible thing to do two days after twinging your back? Go on a two hour-ish walk? Nah it'll be fine! [Well, I am kind of regretting it now!]


Today I managed to complete the Harbourside Trail. Unfortunately it wasn't entirely new scenery, as it was a significant amount of a walk S and I had done when he came down. I set off from the station and started with Shaun Bean... while the actual Sean is delightful, I thought the sheep of almost the same name was a little boring, he's essentially a giant mirror... maybe I'm just missing something design-wise!? Down to M-Shed for two more, The pirate was a little scary, maybe he was just angry he had somehow found himself next to a fenced off area for building works.

I'd gone down to SS Great Britain before, but at that point we crossed the river and walked back down to town. The walk takes you round past Aardman Studios to see Lotus and then eventually you cross the river further down towards Clifton [I think, my geography is a bit rubbish!] and you can walk back down the other side.

I would call into question the routes that they pick for you to walk though. At one point it looks like you've come to a dead end, but you actually walk through a bit of "shipyard", which I guess is appropriate for a harbour side walk... but not exactly the prettiest or safest place to take kids. Hmm... maybe look a bit closer next time when planning?

Luckily it was a beautiful day, it had been looking decidedly dodgy in the morning, but the sun came out and it was a beautiful temperature for walking. I left for the walk at 4 and ended up back at my car at 5.50ish. According to Google the route I took was roughly five miles... and my feet are really feeling it... maybe tomorrow I'm wear my other walking boots... or maybe I'll just come home after work! Instead of doing the next trail!

I've been doing a bit of a splatter gun approach to Shauns so far, but with my back hurting I had to plan a strategy. The idea is that tomorrow I see all the ones in the Southbank Trail and the Brunel Trail... but I've been reliably informed there's a rather large hill about half way through my proposed route... so, yeah... no. I'm going to pootle over to the Balloon Fiesta at some point and then do the Brunel Trail and get the bus back. That sounds much more relaxing. I reckon I can do that.

Then on Saturday do the Farmyard Flock, the Downs Trail and what's left of the Heritage Trail and the Old City Trail. That would then leave me with the Southbank Trail and four that are out in the middle of nowhere... one is easier than the others as it's at Bristol Parkway Station, I think the return cost £4.40 but sod it, I'm going to try and get them all and that's the least stressful way to get that one! I was even asking relative locals where the three outer ones were and they weren't sure, so that doesn't exactly bode well. I might have to make a journey out after work one day to see them all.

There are eight Shauns in the Sheep Drive [as they've dubbed the stupidly placed ones], and so far I've done four of them. Three we're up at The Mall in Cribbs Causeway... if you're thinking of going there to shop I really wouldn't bother, central Bristol has better shops, the only useful thing up there was Makro, but to be honest I think I'd just wait and go to the one back home when I visit. The three up there were Shrek The Sheep [traumatising, but not as bad as the Bagpuss one in Cabot], Bee-dazzled [painted a honey colour with bees and bedazzled with gems] and Fab-ewe-lous [ice cream cone Shaun, with wafers for ears and a chocolate flake out of his head].

My fourth Sheep Drive was actually a sheep walk, as he's located just round the corner from me in the Broadwalk Shopping Centre in Knowle... poor Frank is behind a little red velvet rope to stop plebs like me getting too close. Discussing him today we decided he does look like he's having a bit of a trip, or possibly about to induce one... he's sponsored by Royal Mail and is covered in stamps. That in itself doesn't sound very psychedelic, but they're laid in waves and have a very '60s colour palate, he looks like any second the stamps are going to start swirling and hypnotise any child who gets a bit too close... huh... I guess that's what the velvet rope is there to prevent!

Up at the Wallace and Gromit shop in Cribbs where they have Shrek, they've also got smaller dog sized Shauns that have been painted by schools and colleges in the area. I have to say, they were really good... and I actually thought some of the designs would have been better on the big Shauns... sorry Shaun Bean but I'm looking at you [and possibly Flock 'n Roll when I get to him].


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