Its not the Leaving of Liverpool...

Saturday was leaving day. We had to be up earlier than normal as we were supposed to be off at 0800. Since last Monday there has been a new system in place for the trips in and out of Liverpool. It seems that now everything is self service, the locks and swing bridges, that previously were operated by C&RT. We were a little late setting off and had obviously missed another boat that had gone ahead.

It was a lovely morning as we left the pontoon and headed for the gut way between Salthouse Dock and Albert Dock. There is so much to do and see in Liverpool that we hadn't really stepped in to the Albert Dock area at all.

In Albert Dock we couldn't really see whether the sluice that kept the water levels in Albert dock, and the rest of the northern docks, was open or not. But then we saw the green light and continued. It was interesting to see that the maximum height of the water in the dock was 30'.

Once in Canning Dock we were looking for the Mann Island Lock entrance. The morning light really emphasises the contrast in styles, materials etc on Man Island and the Pier Head. It is not easy to see the cut to the lock but just ignore the two dry dock entrances. Is we turned the corner we could see another boat just leaving the lock. The levels were almost the same so it didn't take long and we were on our way again to catch them up by the next lock.

After passing through Princes Dock Lock you come to Waterloo Dock and the old warehouse have been well adapted to a new use of offices and hotel space and it looks lovely in the sunshine

After Waterloo Dock you approach Sid's Ditch which has cut through a filled in Central Docks. There are two areas of buoys that are supposed to define the way. However they do not really make it that clear if you haven't been before in this section keep close to the port side wall (on the way inward). At Princes Dock keep to the st'bd wall (on the way in).

Having shared Princes Lock with the other boat we found that it was a hire boat from Heritage Boats, Kidsgrove. The couple aboard were extremely experienced as they told me that they had hired the same boat for about 25 years, for a fortnight at a time. They were thinking of hiring a more modern on next time. We heard from them that the Lock Keeper had been delayed by the police first thing so they had to wait for the sluice gate at Albert Dock to be opened. She then dashed about unlocking gates and paddles and finally got to us again half way up the Stanley lock flight. It is much easier with two boats, especially when they are so easy to work with.

Once at the top we went ahead as we wanted to stop at the Litherland services to dump rubbish and to buy some milk from the Co-Op right next door. This is Bank Hall Warehouse again, but from the other direction and in the sun. The date above the hoists is 1874.

The stone copings on the top of the brick wall surrounding Linacre Gas Works was a great place for these young mallard drakes to keep out of site and soak up the lovely warm sunshine.

The canal circles round the pitch and so we were able to watch the match as we passed. Only one wicket taken whilst we passed. It is Maghull. There were several bridges between the top of the Stanley Locks and it was great to piggy back with the 'Sutton' and this all went well. We were stopping at Lydiate but the others were heading onwards to get the miles in in the good weather. They did in one day we we did in two days.