Month: July 2016

One area we haven’t frequented at all was the Cavern quarter; home of the famous Cavern Club and lots of other pubs. It was full of grockles taking pictures of anything Beatle related … so we joined in! Mon – Weds it’s free to wander into the Club – they have musicians doing the odd set and the bar’s open too.

Well, the cavern is a cellar, several flights of stairs down and it’s well, cavernous:

Lots of Beatle stuff plus memorabilia from other bands too

Just down the road was another pub – the White Star. It’s been around since the 1880′s and is more famous now for the place were the bands got paid – in the back room, including the Beatles.

Good beer too – 2 pints of Norada (APA) for £2.50 each

Today (and every Weds, 12 til 4) a band play – the Button Street Badger Band! Just lucky we were there today! Behind them on the right wall are the brass plaques for where each of the Beatles sat … this is before they moved on to the Grapes pub.

A bimble round to the nearest ‘Spoons (for yes we have no dog in tow today) for more beer and some food. An interesting area and quite different from a lot of the more developed sectors. Home to walk Toby, shower off in the very good CRT facilities in Albert Dock and then Cocktail Hour commences. Meanwhile we have just 3 new arrivals today, apart from the cruise ship, Azamara Quest.

New arrivals Silk Purse & Sweet William . .

One very dry martini for the lady and a double standard sour for the gentleman

Only one more day here!

Well, it looked dry, so we set out with dog in tow for the Anglican cathedral, the Catholic Cathedral and then the Radio Tower …

It really is an awesome church – huge! And I think the longest in the world and fifth largest overall. Also the tallest without a spire!

Not the prettiest of places but definitely huge!

With a lot of modern influences

And then it started to rain but only a bit  . . we walked on, past the Philharmonic Hall (and pub) towards the Catholic cathedral. We walked around this new bit of Liverpool, trying to find a pub that accepted dogs – no luck. So sandwiches from Sainbury’s and a rest in the park (St George’s?) and very well kept it was too.  We then ventured up St John’s Beacon or the Radio City tower for a panoramic view:

They actually have radio studios up here from which they broadcast to the city – nice office window view.  I felt slightly giddy as it seemed so exposed!

That far peninsula is New Brighton – our Sunday outing.

A couple of videos . . 

Then back on the boat – another 15,000 step day! And time for “Gin O’Clock”

The con trails in the sky were speaking to us – go to Scotland or since they share the same flag … Tenerife!!

Yes, a wet day, again. This time Viv goes off to the Museum of Liverpool. Then we both entered the labyrinth that is Liverpool One, the mega mall of shops. Oh joy. I eventually buy some of the Crocs (I thought we were crocs dear?), bright lime green, nice. Oh, a two level Sports Direct, how nice. Let me outta here! A brief visit to the maritime museum to book a trip to see the old docks – all fully booked with school parties, oh well, it is that time of the year, I suppose. We also found the CRT office, adjacent to the info office and bought a spare BW key. A most pleasant chap who was very chatty, telling us all about the history of CRT taking on the running of the docks, well, all the land as buildings are privately owned. They just manage the water. They do need help – come on local business and Liverpool City Council! It’s a long walk to the toilets & showers plus there’s no (decent) pump out/elsan facilities. Still what they have done is marvellous.

We had a meal out tonight, all of 100 yards away, at the Pump House. We had a £5 voucher (just for going online and signing up). Their fish n chips were great and quite a good range of beers too.

More boats today. Norman & Leah on Brindley plus Maggie May, old travelling companions from Wigan. It is good to meet up with folk again.

An early night tonight. Our feet are killing us with 20,000 steps a day!

Off to visit both cathedrals and the radio tower tomorrow plus the Brazilian restaurant … . . maybe! 😎

The forecast was fair and the dog was keen for a walk/swim, so off we went, on the train (under the Mersey) to t’other side and New Brighton.

Jame’s Street station – the oldest deep level station! I just hope there’s no leak.

It was only  30 minutes to the end of the line, New Brighton, invented as a resort which really took off with 10,000′s of visitors per day in its heyday. Which is no more but it does have marvelous sands and lots of water

Liverpool skyline from the other side.

Viv took this zoom picture of the beach at Crisby and the Gormley sculptures

Back on the train after buying some rock, some fudge, eating sarnies and playing penny falls in the arcade! The Vintage Weekend was still going strong, so Steve got in the spirit . . 

There were prizes for the best dressed 1920 – 50′s guys & dolls – the top rpize went to a young couple dressed as mods!

Hopefully, Albert dock will quieten down now.

There’s a session of Sea Shanties at the Baltic Fleet pub tonight . .  here’s a more professional video with Michael Portillo.

http://www.liverpoolseashanty.co.uk/

Chance to saunter around the city – shopping (Viv) and then Museum’ing (Steve). This weekend sees an event – the Vintage on the Dock. Lots of eateries, 50′s music with dancers jitterbugging and a collection of motors

The fairly new, Museum of Liverpool was quite superb; lively, informative and exciting to walk around. Full of history, music, old tram cars . .  something for everyone! You could easily spend a whole day in here. It also gave a good vantage point to take more aerial photos …

This should be a shot of the Liver building, Cunard building etc but I only see the Cunard channel we chugged thru . . it felt a bit other-worldly.

I enjoyed all the models – this one spoke to you if you touched different bits! I just happened to be walking out of the building when the latest batch of narrowboaters were making their passage through the Link.

Here’s another aerial view – looking back over towards Albert dock

These chaps seem to have a lot of history here

This is the Mann Island lock – operated by the CRT staff – I noted that it had double exit gates to cope with higher levels of tide from either side.

Here comes Hazelberry Gem. The gates on the left are the entry/exit gates onto the Mersey.

A Peter Blake inspired paint job for one of the Mersey ferries, nice! Could do this to Adagio? 

Yes, Liverpool has one of these (£9 each for 10 mins)

An on/off damp day but lots of people about, some even getting into costume for the vintage weekend. Time for afternoon tea – here’s Salthouse dock, with our wee ship in the middle distance. I think the yellow pennant is pointing to it.

We were looking at ship movements online and noticed that the Balmoral was due in at 2030, so we popped over to see the old girl come in.  She was doing a run out to Anglesey.

Our first full day here in the city of Liverpool and yes, to quote Kenny Everett, it is a big throbbing Metrolopis! It is huge and awesome. We took the dog to Sefton Park, on the bus! And also visited lots of museums around the docks plus a meal in the Cuban restaurant … pix to follow. Meanwhile here’s a very amateur video from our side hatch …

View of the docks from the maritime museum

Albert dock

View across the Mersey and yes, there is a ferry there !

Our trip to Sefton Park (just to walk the dog!), he also gets the end of Viv’s ice cream.

In the park was a replica of Eros … nice park.

It was then back on the bus and back to town – past China town . .

Even at night the whole area of the docks looks magical

At last – we made it! Quite a stressful day – with deadlines to meet and the rain to contend with.  We set off at 0820 to meet up with the other boaters at bridge No 9, where the CRT staff turned up and let us thru. Ditto No 6. It was then onwards through the suburbs to the Stanley Locks for 1300. Picking up two friends of David’s (Keith & Carol) on the way. We also picked up a lot of items in the weed hatch … well, weeds obviously plus a whole curtain – complete with curtain rings, plastic bags and the usual fishing line … and yes, all in the rain

At Bridge No 9, the CRT let the convoy thru

The miles count down as we get nearer

Finally around 1240 we arrive at the end of the Leeds & Liverpool canal and travel down the 4 Stanley locks into the Liverpool link to the docks … exciting!

These locks are quite vital – any vandalism here would drain the canal as far back as Wigan – so only CRT operate them (with help) – they have special long windlasses to fit the lock gates.

We go in two by two – we were accompanied by the lively & vocal Welsh couple on Rosie 2 – great to have a laugh as you travel together.

Out of the last lock and into docklands . . 

The Victoria clocktower on the edge of the docks – the Mersey is on the other side, turn left and into Sid’s Ditch:

The Liverpool skyline looms into view . . 

Round to Prince’s Lock

In case you’re wondering why all the twists n turns – here’s the route map to the moorings …

This route was made especially for us! Then thru Cunard tunnel – in the rain!

Thru Mann Island lock and out into the main dock

Still following Rosie ! The entrance to Albert Dock appears by the main lock gate entrance from the Mersey – wrong turn here and we’d be off to the Isle of Man!

Into the stylish Albert Dock – lots of smart yachts and grockles all cheering and waving!!

And into Salthouse dock for our mooring in S1 – looks like the best spot too. Water and free electricity, rubbish collected every day – luxury!

Zooming out shows you were we are

After saying Cheerio to Dave’s friends we sauntered off to, well, you’ve probably guessed by now, the local pub – this time the Baltic Fleet – a highly recommended place that brews its own beers and has a range of about 12 cask & kegs beers – a great end to a long and sometimes stressful but quite exhilarating day.

An easy 4 hour chug today with more electric and some manual swing bridges to negotiate – one where we trapped a blue car! We travelled along with Riponian – also due in Liverpool tomorrow. Yea! We is almost there shipmates!

David’s turn to operate this bridge . .

A small blue car thought he’d be clever and nip in before the gate came down but was then trapped as the far gate had already descended – hmm, we could have left him there but David reversed the procedure and let him out! Thereafter the canal became more rural and full of lilies and weeds . . 

We moored close to the last bridge (No 10 Holmes Bridge) and this will be our starting place to get to bridge No 9 – a large electrical swing bridge – only operable by the CRT staff. We have to be there by 9 ish tomorrow and then chug along, past Aintree to the Stanley locks for 1300. Meanwhile the boats that had been in Liverpool were starting to return, including our very own friends from Yelvertoft marina, Colin & Jude on Black Bart:

Hello Colin!

Meanwhile, it’s orf to the Bootle Inn, Melling for some beer n nosh!

Despite CRT’s failing in their statutory duty to keep a waterway navigable, the water had flowed down during the night and the previous dry pounds had refilled and boats started to move at 0800, so we were off! A few angry voices as some boats tried to leapfrog those waiting … so goodbye Wigan!

Look water! All OK now …

Round to lock No 86 (going downhill now – note the widning mechansim for the gates as the original beams were in the way of the new bridge!). We paired up with John & Maggie on “Maggie May?”, the question mark was there because, Maggie may or may not!

And past Wigan pier, yes, that’s it!

And here’s the crew – all glad to be off . .

Quite a long day today, to make up for the missing hours from yesterday. Through lots of electric swing bridges and the junction of the Rufford branch, where we took on water

After over seven hours, we past Heaton’s Bridge and decided to moor up beside some very vocal Coots!

A nice mooring! Time for garbanzos y rioja

What a gorgeous day, sun was out and off we went to Wigan! Leaving the flashes and thru an electrical swing bridge, Viv stopping the traffic!

A lovely turnover bridge

Nearing Wigan … what can all these moored boats be doing, everyone out in their deckchairs . .   ?  Waiting for the lock??

Yes, well, some Muppet had left some paddles up, the truth is uncertain, but the result means no one’s going anywhere:

Never seen a lock pound like this 🙁

What a welcome to Wigan this is. And try to get hold of any CRT staff? Tricky.

They’re busy spending our money on these and footpaths . . 

Rather than maintenance. Meanwhile we walked into the town to find another of David’s superb research findings – the Wigan Central! Here’s the famous Wigan Pier … and a chap waiting for his lock to fill up. Nil points CRT.

We later discovered that the problem (ie vandalised) gates were not padlocked, they hadn’t got round to drilling the holes! 

An amazing, rail orientated pub with lots of BEER, which was nice. After that he walked up the whole Wigan flight  … and saw that they were indeed letting water down to solve our desiccated lock situation! 

So with two dead rats lying on the towpath in town … our impressions of Wigan was – hmm, let me out! Meanwhile, we’re stuck here for the night.

It puts a squeeze on our schedule – meaning two 7 hour days ahead but the scurvy crew will cope. They’ll have to. Meanwhile, o look, it’s Gin O’Clock again. Tanqueray No 10 calls.