Horses for courses.

We set off at about 0800 to get to the site of the first bridge that C&RT operates for you. There were two other boats waiting too.

AMCO are currently working at the bridge to adapt it for boaters use, rather than operated by C&RT. They were working on it that morning and there was a bit of a delay as they were still fettling it. We set off about 0950. I'm not sure that they will have it sorted by Monday when the bridge is to be self operated.

Very soon after the bridge you come up to Aintree Race course, and of course this weekend it is the Grand National there. This is the camera that covers the canal turn where the race turn sharply to the left after a fence. There seemed to be a lot of security around the course.

This is the fence at canal turn. They don't seem that high but they do seem quite wide so the horse and rider has to have a mighty leap to cross it.

Bridge 6 is the other bridge that will be self service after Monday. They seem to have built short new moorings to get on and off.

This group of cyclists were quite elderly and as well as a colourful group were not speeding along. In fact one was quite proud of the fact that they were actually going faster than us! Just at the services at Litherland is a newish for bridge that is push operated. There was a bit of a delay as a wide beam leaving Liverpool had just gone through but had got their key jammed in the lock. The locals said it happens very frequently. They managed to extract it in the end. I would recommend using an old key in the lock, and have some WD40 handy?

I love this wall that is round the Linacre Gas Works. It looks like there are still gasometers there, but obviously the production. I love this wall as the bricked up bits hint at other uses and processes that I would love about.

I love the confidence that Victorian builders had in fixing for all time the details of their achievements. Not just a simple 'opened' but a full history. I suppose there is a certain amount of aggrandizing by the politicians but is great to have the information.  

This is the Bootle transhipment basin that also had a warehouse alongside. The pillar is what is left of a swinging arm crane for working the boats.

Bank Hall Warehouse has this canopied wooden warehouse next to it.

The arch leads into the building so that the boats could be worked upon inside.

These are the remains of the manure loading berths. That is a nice way of saying 'night soil'which is a nice way of saying ****! The product was taken out to around Burscough are and spread on the fields. The cast iron platforms look in very good condition. They may have been wooden decked. There also seems to have been a large wooden beam across the outside to prevent the cart wheels going over the edge.

The Boundary Bridge was built in 1835 and as can be seen it was widened in 1861. It probably replaced a former swing bridge.

Prominent Liver Bird, symbol of Liverpool. A charter was granted in the 1200's and is normally depicted as a comorant. It also carries a bit of seaweed in its beak, called laver (as in laver bread) as a pun on the name of the town. It seems originally it was supposed to be an eagle and the item in its beak was a sprig of broom or gorse that was a symbol of the Plantagenets.

This is the route to the original terminus of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. It now terminates a little further on where there is secure moorings, but no winding hole for longer boats. Eldonian Village is an example of a local community not wanting to loose their community and instead of moving out to new areas were enabled to stay in their area and improve the housing etc.

There were two boats in top lock as we just arrived a little after 1300 when the lock is open for operation. This is going to be self service too next week.