Navigating through water lilies we reach the beginning of the Liverpool Link

Saturday, 04 July 2009 10:00

At Maghull Swing Bridge (12) we met a boat coming the other way. She and the boat behind us had come up from Liverpool over the last two days. It was she who called the trip an adventure and she absolutely loved it! She warned us that the canal began to get progressively "weedy". 

Leaving Maghull behind we moved into the stretch before Aintree and the outskirts of Liverpool. The weed was mainly water lilies but by the time we approached Melling through Melling Stone Bridge they were well established.

Melling Stone Bridge

We could see Aintree Racecourse grandstand in the distance over the scrub and fields of the Aintree Triangle - a wildlife haven.

Aintree grandstand

Our final swing bridge of the day was Holmes (10) - it felt really rural

A new development beside the canal was attractive and looked expensive! By now there was a definite narrow channel through the lilies and a bit of rubbish, but no more than on other canals.

Water lily channel

The M57 bridge heralded the last stretch before Hancock's Swing Bridge (9)

I have just read the story of the bridge - Lord Sefton, the landowner was always complaining to the canal owners about the bridge being left open by the working boats. So the company built a cottage for £55 and installed a Mr Handcock to allow the gentry a 24/7 crossing!

Somewhere along the line Mr Handcock's "d" has been lost!

We moored at Hancock's Swing Bridge in time for lunch! We deserved our relaxing afternoon! We have to wait here until tomorrow when the BW operatives open the swing bridge to let us through the first bit of the Liverpool Link.

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