Liverpool

We stayed at Scarisbrick Marina until Tuesday, when we set off to travel toward the link and a mooring at Holmes Swing bridge. There were several of us in a sort of rag tag convoy as we all departed at different times. The weather turned really wet and thundery, so we sheltered under the motorway for a while. That night we went to the Bootle Inn at Melling for a meal with Frank and Barbara, our soon to be neighbours in Liverpool.

Moorings at the bridge for the convoy

The next morning we had an early start to meet up with C&RT at the next swing bridge. They operate the swing bridges and locks on the Liverpool Link. The bridges in particular are on busy roads and they minimise the disruption as far as they can. So narrowboats first we set off. The prop occasionally fouling with the rubbish in the canal, but not requiring a weed hatch adventure, until we arrived at the top of the four lock flight that drops us down to the docks.

Dropping down to the docks in Liverpool

 

I think the fishermen were pleased to see us all leaving their patch

 



 

 

I think I should have paid more attention to the skippers guide for the last section of the link to our moorings as we had no real idea where we were going, but we made it through the two remaining locks, the tunnels and the new cuts that make up the link. We had had a good run and to actually take our boat through these historic docks and be able to moor in the centre of Liverpool was fantastic. Heading in behind us were Frank and Barbara on the dutch barge Jolie, which moored alongside. Soon we were all there and the boats were decorated with bunting and lights. For us that's 303 miles and 217 locks, we have travelled further than any other barge to be here.

The weed you can see in the picture was all over the salthouse dock. CRT spent three days trying to clear it armed with pitch forks. It was a slow and laborious process and you could see their hearts weren't in it.

On Friday we had several talks one of them from Terry and Monica Darlington, of narrowdog to Carcassonne fame. After the talk we all went down to see their whippets Jim and Jess (the 3 legged one). They were looking for a place to get a bite to eat and we recommended the Tate art gallery café. Jim and Jess had not been allowed in the hotel, but someone told them they would be fine taking them through the hotel lobby to the dockside, in any case who would know. Felt quite guilty when we saw the two pensioners being escorted from the premises.

Terry and Monica and their dogs just before they were ejected from the Holiday Inn.

Having the barge rally at the same time as the waterfront festival was a great idea and meant there were lots of things going on. From tall ships, raft races, aerobatic displays, speed boat racing, wake boards, bands and a whole lot more. The weather was really kind and the event seemed to be a great success from our fantastic vantage point right in the middle of it all. Dave and Lesley visited on Saturday Night and we had a BBQ with them and Frank and Barbara. It was really nice to see them and we know we will be meeting up again before not too long.

On Monday morning Frank and Barbara on Jolie, who have been good neighbours, left for the link. We hope to meet up again as we head east during the summer. Nigel and Cathy also left on New Dawn along with Goblin. Ocean Wave has gone back to the marina. We are here until Thursday.

A few picks of Liverpool and the festival

 

 

 

 

 Our mooring at night

 

 In the day

 

 

 

 

I need to try this

 

 

Why they are tall ships

 

 

Look who's driving

 





 

 

Fun and games all round

 

 

 

 

Powerboat racing (need to have a go at that as well)

 

 

 

Great aerobatic display

 

 

 

Eric chilled