Am I sane again? Enough to give you the true story of our journey?

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Am I sane again? Enough to give you the true story of our journey?

Thursday, 02 July 2009 17:11

Here is the true account of our journey to the start of the "Liverpool Link"

We are off on another "adventure" - or so a fellow boater called her experience down to Liverpool as we passed her returning at one of the swing bridges today.

First we needed to get to the point where British Waterways (BW) "operatives" check the boat and "clock us in". The corrected version of the Skipper's Guide describes BW "personnel", as was, as "operatives - it is good to use the correct terminology.

I still cannot believe the time I got up this morning. Not that it really mattered as I was awake most of the night. I was almost ready to go from 3am when the flock of birds in the reeds woke up and gave us the benefit of their song. I couldn't make up my mind whether to relax and enjoy their music or shoot them!

So it was 7am when we pulled the pins after two lovely days on our mooring. Beyond Ship Bridge there is a lovely pub.

- the Ship is reputed to be the first pub on the canal

It was so early that even the ducks were still asleep

But it was COOL with a lovely breeze - for about two hours and then the heat came again.

The Pride of Sefton Trip Boat, the first boat down the new Liverpool Link

The first of the 7 swing bridges was Downholland Hall (21)

It is disused and open and a strict notice on it tells all NOT to move it. However the next bridge is a working one - Coxhead's.

We passed the moorings of The Mersey Motor Boat Club

The next major place is Lydiate and near here we waved to Debbie on Nb Tickety Boo. How does that game go - I waved to Debbie who had waved to Dave and Heather on Takey Tezey, who waved to John and Fi on Epiphany (that us!), who waved to .......

Debbie on Tickety Boo

I love these scales - for babies or dogs?

Oh no - another swing bridge - Bells (16). Thank goodness it was all electric!

Methodist Swing Bridge 10 minutes later was a puzzle. It took me some time to work out the machinations! BW key opens the hatch for the controls, barriers then can be shut by hand; pull up the handle by the bridge to release it and then press the button to open bridge.

No wonder the IRA blew it up in 1939 - honestly!

The final swing bridge before Maghull is Shaw's, a foot bridge and easy to open. We stopped at Maghull as we were expecting the "Post Lady" with an important document for us to sign. The plan came together and wonderful Gale took it off to post it back too.

I need a rest after all this swinging around - to be continued!