A farewell to Liverpool

Thursday 25^th April 2013 – Anzac Day

For Australians and New Zealanders alike this is a day of great respect and remembrance for the thousands of service personnel who lost their lives in wars all over the world.

For both countries, we have not known the terrors of war on our doorstep in the way that the rest of the world has experienced and at this time of the year we remember all of those who left their country never to return.

Lest we forget.

On a different note we needed to be up and have all of the usual things done a bit earlier today as we were off out of the docks and leaving the environs of Liverpool – i.e out through Hancock’s Bridge.

Salthouse Dock - for the last time?

There seemed to be a few sleepy eyes greeting us as we were ready to go – it was a bit unusual to see Paul and Elaine quite this early in the morning and Leonie and Ray had been wandering around taking in the city sights quite late last night (even after we had returned to the boats), but their presence and send off were very much appreciated.

Diane had been talking to the guy on nb Sally who said he was also leaving with us, so it was a bit of a surprise that when we arrived at Canning Lock we were on our own and the lockies said that they only had knowledge of us leaving – so it appeared to be us on our own.

Princes Lock

a good example of some of the regeneration of the old dock areas

farewell Liverpool

some crazy woman on board

readying to enter Stanley Dock and locks beyond

Through the locks and tunnels of the city centre; through the dock areas and onto the Stanley Locks – they had all been set for us; the two lockies needed to be in two places at the same time so they said we could either wait for them to come and get us through the locks or we could start – we chose the latter – these guys do such a great job anyway.

We had made it through the first two – the gates are unbelievably heavy – and it was within about 45 minutes with a little help we were exiting from the top lock and waving a short adieu to Tom (the lockie) – we would see him further along at the swing bridges.

He did let us know that nb Sally was also down to leave, but the office hadn’t told them about it, so the other guy was back helping them through the two city locks and they were about 45 minutes behind us – we carried on.

the scenes at the top of the locks really do Liverpool proud

On the way in we seemed to collect rubbish at the bow end – the large amount of cut reeds in the water collected at the front and attracted other rubbish – and so it was on the way out – on a couple of occasions we needed to stop and I cleared the muck away and we carried on.

most of this rubbish has come from the normal cut back of reeds

but other rubbish has not found it's way here by natural means

We were just past Litherland and the surface of the water showed the tell-tale signs that there was some precipitation around – it gradually grew in strength, but enough to be of any concern.

Spring is here - the usual signs are there - one female duck being
hotly pursued by three males

a nice end to someone's back garden

We made it to the first of the assisted swing bridges (Bridge 6) and we needed to moor up anyway as the two CaRT guys we not there just yet (no problems) as we had lunch ready – delicious home made sausage rolls (vegetarian) – by the time we had finished they had arrived and the rain had abated – we were off for the final stage – onwards to Bridge 9.

This last section takes us past Aintree race course and the rain had returned and was a little bit more intense; the CaRT guys were ready for us at Bridge 9, so we were straight through – apparently nb Sally was about 30 minutes behind us.

By this point, with the rain getting stronger again we had decided that we would moor up after Bridge 10 – a favourite spot – and stay the night there – it was also a good deal colder now with a breeze coming up.

And so we settled in for the night; the strange things being the appearance of the sun in some intensity later in the afternoon (early evening) and the non-appearance of nb Sally – not sure where he has got to.


12 miles, 6 locks, 3 tunnels, 2 swing bridges for today

Totals: 1565 Miles, 1261 Locks, 56 Tunnels, 26 Lift Bridges, 112 Swing Bridge