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1st Trip to Liverpool day 1 10th May 2013


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10th May To Liverpool, Day 1

 

The first day of our trip into Liverpool.

 

Burscough to Haskayne 7 Miles 2 swing bridges

 

The Liverpool link that connects the end of the Leeds and Liverpool canal to the Albert and Salthouse docks opened in 2009. When it first opened it was only open in summer, and up to now we have always been away from the area in the summers.

So this year we decided to do what is on our door step.

We had to book our passage down through the Stanley dock and in to Salthouse dock with the Canal and River trust, as their lads help us in and out. So we are booked to go in on Wednesday 15th and out again on Monday 20th.

Everyone who we have talked to who has been in to the city already has said it is great.

 

But we still have to be doing some trading, so we are stopping in Maghull this weekend, and will be open Sat and Sunday, as we will be in Liverpool next weekend.

 

But for today we left the continuous moorers in Burscough around 10.00 in the wind and the rain. At least the wind was more head on to us than across us for most of the trip this morning.

Carole operated both the Crabtree and New Lane bridges which amazingly both worked ok, the only problem being pushing Emma Maye off the bridge landing at New Lane after we had passed through it.

 

All went well, me even starting to dry out in the wind until just before the Saracens Head pub at Halsall when we caught up with “The Pride of Sefton 2” It’s a local community boat that is a wide beam, so they where not effected by the wind as much, so where going slower than us. We stopped in the bridge hole for 10 minutes at The Saracens head to let them “get ahead” and then followed them through the cutting where they started digging the Leeds and Liverpool canal over 200 years ago.

 

They had moored outside the Ship Inn at Haskayne, and the two fella’s on board helped to moor us up.

 

Dinner was a light bite in the pub with a nice pint of stout in the pub before doing a bit of computing this afternoon. The wind has continued to blow all day, so we have stayed moored here until tomorrow morning when we’ll travel the next 3 and ½ miles to Maghull.

 

Capt Col, outside The Ship at Haskayne.

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I presume you have some evidence for saying they are continuous moorers. Most of Burscough is 14 days so I guess from your brief stop you went and asked them all how long they had been there.

But for today we left the continuous moorers in Burscough around 10.00

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Yes indeed it was a this was a days brief stop in Burscough. We have a mooring on the Cart Crabtree Lane site so regularly go into Burscough for the services. From personal obsevations since the stoppage was lifted in March, whats that 2 months ago? there are at least three boats that have always been there when we have been in to or though the village at least once every seven days. What is the chance of them being moored back in exactly the same spot again if they have moved off and returned durng the time between us passing through? Thats why we feel they are continuous moorers.

 

Capt Col

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2 of the boats I know have permission from CRT in the case of Tom his wife died just after Christmas the other the owner is unwell you just need to be careful you you accuse in a public forum of being continuous moorers I myself was moored there for 2 periods of 14 days during the winter.

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111h May To Liverpool, Day 2

The second day of our trip into Liverpool.

 

Haskayne to Bells Lane, Maghull 3 Miles 1 swing bridge.

 

Away from The Ship about 08.00, in the rain again, but at least it’s brought the green out in the flat countryside this part of the canal passes through.

 

After passing through Coxheads swing bridge, not holding any traffic up at that time of the day, we arrived in Maghull about 09.30. This was after we had turned at the winding hole in the middle of the Mersey Motor Boat Club moorings and then reversed to moor about 20 yards away from the bridge landing of the Bells Lane swing bridge.

Why had we reversed?

The last time we where here in a boat, umpteen years ago, we where advised not to moor on the towpath side, and was kindly offered a mooring on the Mersey Motor Boat Club mooring.

So the plan was to boat back out beyond Lydiate for Saturday night.

However we where pleasantly surprised by the fact that not one of the boats on the MMBC had any protection over their windows, and the local towpath walkers where very friendly.

Just a couple of boats passed through the swing bridge during the day, one of which was nb ”Grace” which is going into Liverpool on Sunday, a few days before us.

We had a couple of customers during the afternoon, one who was a lady in a wheelchair, pushed along the tow path by her husband, who appreciated us being able to bring our yarn samples out to her in our display baskets.

As we where packing up after a few hours trading the weather, which had brightened up turned black again, so we decided we would stay where we where tonight and see how we got on…and we had a very peaceful night.

111h May To Liverpool, Day 2

The second day of our trip into Liverpool.

 

Haskayne to Bells Lane, Maghull 3 Miles 1 swing bridge.

 

Away from The Ship about 08.00, in the rain again, but at least it’s brought the green out in the flat countryside this part of the canal passes through.

 

After passing through Coxheads swing bridge, not holding any traffic up at that time of the day, we arrived in Maghull about 09.30. This was after we had turned at the winding hole in the middle of the Mersey Motor Boat Club moorings and then reversed to moor about 20 yards away from the bridge landing of the Bells Lane swing bridge.

Why had we reversed?

The last time we where here in a boat, umpteen years ago, we where advised not to moor on the towpath side, and was kindly offered a mooring on the Mersey Motor Boat Club mooring.

So the plan was to boat back out beyond Lydiate for Saturday night.

However we where pleasantly surprised by the fact that not one of the boats on the MMBC had any protection over their windows, and the local towpath walkers where very friendly.

Just a couple of boats passed through the swing bridge during the day, one of which was nb ”Grace” which is going into Liverpool on Sunday, a few days before us.

We had a couple of customers during the afternoon, one who was a lady in a wheelchair, pushed along the tow path by her husband, who appreciated us being able to bring our yarn samples out to her in our display baskets.

As we where packing up after a few hours trading the weather, which had brightened up turned black again, so we decided we would stay where we where tonight and see how we got on…and we had a very peaceful night.

 

Regarding Burscough, I wasn't accusing, just observing, may be it is time for a temporary mooring permit to be displayed in these cases then people who have got good reason and permission to be there are left in peace?

 

Capt Col

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111h May To Liverpool, Day 2

The second day of our trip into Liverpool.

 

Haskayne to Bells Lane, Maghull 3 Miles 1 swing bridge.

 

Away from The Ship about 08.00, in the rain again, but at least it’s brought the green out in the flat countryside this part of the canal passes through.

 

After passing through Coxheads swing bridge, not holding any traffic up at that time of the day, we arrived in Maghull about 09.30. This was after we had turned at the winding hole in the middle of the Mersey Motor Boat Club moorings and then reversed to moor about 20 yards away from the bridge landing of the Bells Lane swing bridge.

Why had we reversed?

The last time we where here in a boat, umpteen years ago, we where advised not to moor on the towpath side, and was kindly offered a mooring on the Mersey Motor Boat Club mooring.

So the plan was to boat back out beyond Lydiate for Saturday night.

However we where pleasantly surprised by the fact that not one of the boats on the MMBC had any protection over their windows, and the local towpath walkers where very friendly.

Just a couple of boats passed through the swing bridge during the day, one of which was nb ”Grace” which is going into Liverpool on Sunday, a few days before us.

We had a couple of customers during the afternoon, one who was a lady in a wheelchair, pushed along the tow path by her husband, who appreciated us being able to bring our yarn samples out to her in our display baskets.

As we where packing up after a few hours trading the weather, which had brightened up turned black again, so we decided we would stay where we where tonight and see how we got on…and we had a very peaceful night.

111h May To Liverpool, Day 2

The second day of our trip into Liverpool.

 

Haskayne to Bells Lane, Maghull 3 Miles 1 swing bridge.

 

Away from The Ship about 08.00, in the rain again, but at least it’s brought the green out in the flat countryside this part of the canal passes through.

 

After passing through Coxheads swing bridge, not holding any traffic up at that time of the day, we arrived in Maghull about 09.30. This was after we had turned at the winding hole in the middle of the Mersey Motor Boat Club moorings and then reversed to moor about 20 yards away from the bridge landing of the Bells Lane swing bridge.

Why had we reversed?

The last time we where here in a boat, umpteen years ago, we where advised not to moor on the towpath side, and was kindly offered a mooring on the Mersey Motor Boat Club mooring.

So the plan was to boat back out beyond Lydiate for Saturday night.

However we where pleasantly surprised by the fact that not one of the boats on the MMBC had any protection over their windows, and the local towpath walkers where very friendly.

Just a couple of boats passed through the swing bridge during the day, one of which was nb ”Grace” which is going into Liverpool on Sunday, a few days before us.

We had a couple of customers during the afternoon, one who was a lady in a wheelchair, pushed along the tow path by her husband, who appreciated us being able to bring our yarn samples out to her in our display baskets.

As we where packing up after a few hours trading the weather, which had brightened up turned black again, so we decided we would stay where we where tonight and see how we got on…and we had a very peaceful night.

 

Regarding Burscough, I wasn't accusing, just observing, may be it is time for a temporary mooring permit to be displayed in these cases then people who have got good reason and permission to be there are left in peace?

 

Capt Col

You were very much accusing. Also being judge and jury. Enjoy your boating, one hopes it does not rain throughout your trip!

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I cant believe big col is really on here complaining about others who are mooring in this area , New Lane outside the farmers pub , how much time is it advised for permitted mooring and the same at the slipway pub , boats that overstay on them moorings can be a pain in the arse to people like me who go out single handed and find access to the bridge landing is blocked , the slipway is not to bad now as the bridge there is now operated from the towpath but new lane bridge landing can often be blocked , big col is throwing some bricks around in a glass house and he needs to look at his own behaviour before casting aspersions about other users , maybe he has been unable to moor up for trading close enough to the wharf , before the boats for hire arrived he could often be found on the services area trading and coming the old soldier when i complained about his sandwich board sign , play the game big col.

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I cant believe big col is really on here complaining about others who are mooring in this area , New Lane outside the farmers pub , how much time is it advised for permitted mooring and the same at the slipway pub , boats that overstay on them moorings can be a pain in the arse to people like me who go out single handed and find access to the bridge landing is blocked , the slipway is not to bad now as the bridge there is now operated from the towpath but new lane bridge landing can often be blocked , big col is throwing some bricks around in a glass house and he needs to look at his own behaviour before casting aspersions about other users , maybe he has been unable to moor up for trading close enough to the wharf , before the boats for hire arrived he could often be found on the services area trading and coming the old soldier when i complained about his sandwich board sign , play the game big col.

I am surprised he can get on there at weekends always seems occupied by The Wool Boat.

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121h May To Liverpool, Day 3

The third day of our trip into Liverpool.

 

Bells Lane, Maghull

 

Didn’t move today, it rained all day as well, until the evening.

 

Did go into The New Running Horses for our tea tonight with family who live around here.

 

It was a good value meal, but because it was late in the weekend, they had sold out of some items on the menu, but the mixed grill was great.

 

We usually listen to Radio Lancashire when we are around are home mooring, but one of the delights of being out and about is other local radio stations, so now we are listening to Radio Merseyside. They have just carried a interview with a girl who is helping to organise a yarn bombing of The Bluecoat in Liverpool as part of Liverpool light night this coming Friday, something else to look forwards too.

 

Capt Col, in Maghull

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141h May To Liverpool, Day 5

The fifth day of our trip into Liverpool.

 

Bells Lane, Maghull to Holmes Swing bridge near Melling 3 miles 4 swing Bridges

 

Didn’t move yesterday, from near the New Running Horses in Maghull.

Day off after the weekend.

 

Windy but sunny, so after dinner walked into Maghull for some shopping.

Handy square of shops with a few banks, a couple of butchers, a home bargains and a couple of the chain bakers, Greggs and pound bakery. Also a post office and a Morrison’s super market.

 

Gave a young lady a bit of a shock as we where sat on the boat with the back doors shut in the middle of the afternoon, and we presume she thought no one was on board. Just wanted to sit on the boat to remind her of being on her granddad’s wide beam boat he used to moor here abouts. She nearly jumped out of her skin when I opened the doors to find out what was going on.

 

Cruised through Maghull this morning, doing the 4 Swing bridges in the company of “Compass Rose” a narrowboat that is also going into Liverpool tomorrow. They stopped to use the laundrette in Maghull, while we carried on to moor near bridge 10, Holmes swing bridge. We had talked to other boaters that had been into Liverpool before and they recommended here and not bridge 9, as they had had stones thrown at the boats there.

As at 16.15 there are us and 3 other boats moored here.

We walked up through New house farm and had a wander round Melling, buying ½ a dozen free range eggs from the old school house, leaving a £1 in the honesty box, before having a pint in “The Bootle Arms”, a Marston’s pub.

 

Don’t suppose we’ll do a lot more today, relaxing ready for the final push into Liverpool tomorrow.

 

Capt Col, in near Melling

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Are you aware the pontoons are restricted access ? I am sure the public are advised to not access the pontoons , not sure if you intend to trade at Salthouse but i imagine other boaters could get a bit upset if public go along pontoons , movement around the pontoons can be quite restricted especially if the sun comes out as boaters put chairs ect out so as to enjoy a drop of screech or maybe a couple of fingers of redeye.

Enjoy the city.

  • Greenie 1
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Im from mersey boat club and we rarely see any hassle from tow path. You do have to pull the fishing mens lures from your canvas or fenders periodicaly. A few of us are sailing in in a couple of weeks for long weekend. We did it last year and it was brilliant except you do get crap on your prop alot,

 

Enjoy

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151h May To Liverpool, Day 6

The sixth day of our trip into Liverpool.

 

Holmes Swing bridge near Melling to Salthouse Dock, Liverpool 16 miles 3 swing bridges, 6 locks

 

After another peaceful night woke to wind and rain. Why couldn’t it have been like yesterday?

 

But go we had to, along with the other 3 boats that had moored here overnight. By the time we had got to Hancock’s swing bridge, and worked through it, as it was operated by the CaRT man there was 7 boats in the convoy.

The wind and rain continued as we passed through Litherland and Bootle.

There was quite a bit of rubbish in parts of the canal, especially around bridge holes, plenty of firewood, plastic bottles, the odd sofa. A couple of the deeper draughted boats had to stop to clear their props. We used the technique of gliding through the rubbish in the bridge holes, and so we made it all the way without problems. A quick stop at the services at Litherland to empty the loo and get rid of the rubbish. It’s a pity the visitor moorings here are not used, but being in the urban area you can maybe understand why. There is a newish large Tesco here, maybe they could have been encouraged to provide secure visitor moorings?

 

We would have been better to have our dinner on this last section of open canal as we travelled as from leaving Melling at 08.00 it was 14.30 before we finished in the docks.

 

By the time we got to the top of the Stanley lock flight the sun had come out, but still windy.

We where told that if it had been just a bit more windy we would have over nighted in Eldonian village as it would have been to wild to do the Liverpool Link Canal. We where last to arrive at the top of the locks, so went down by ourselves, everybody else going down as pair’s. The locks are worked by a CaRT chap and 3 volunteers who did a great job.

Ask them for Camra map to the Liverpool pubs…..it’s worth having.

 

Got wet again under the railway viaduct over lock 3, lockies said it never stops dripping water under here….it was more than drips!

 

Then out through Stanley dock and the first of the waves, we don’t normally do rivers never mind big open spaces like this! Once under the road bridge, out into the interconnected old docks. I could have sworn they said turn sharp left just after the road bridge, but the entrance to the new canal channel was another 100 yards further out towards the Mersey.

The wind was blowing across us and then behind us in the new channel, and 1 started to enjoy it now, but it all passed so quickly. Followed the buoy markers to the new lock 5, which was set for me, so straight in.

Carole walked with the lockie from here across the Pier head to the mann island lock, while I went under the 3 tunnels.

As I came out of the last one the wind was blowing hard, and the lock landing was full of boats.

One of the other boats had got a tyre around his prop in Mann Island Lock so had held up the locking through process. So the reason for the que. I was directed around the moored boats to join Jemma Abagail in the lock entrance. The tyre was removed and so on out into and through, Canning dock, the Albert dock and into Salthouse dock. Howard from “Compass Rose” grabbed a rope and helped us reverse into the S4 pontoon, after a spin around.

 

While we where coming over the pier head section the daughter was out taking pictures, which are now on Facebook under the Wool Boat

 

Nearly everyone who we have talked to that has been into Liverpool says it is great, may be because of the journey, I loved it, Carole found it a bit daunting because of the wind….

Impressions of being in the dock and the trip back out next week, once we have done it

 

Now off to explore Liverpool.

 

Capt Col Salthouse Dock, Liverpool, 16th May 2013

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Baltic feet was on Thursday afternoon after the Roscoe Head, both good. Not overally impressed by either the Globe near Central station, or the Pump house on the Albert dock. Dinner in the Thomas Rigby was good yesterday. Night off last night :-), only another 120 on the map to do!

 

What we have noticed is waves and rocking the effect that the yellow DUWK's have in Salthouse dock when they arrive down the slipway!

 

Capt Col in Salthouse dock Liverpool

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Only one duck in operation waterside ? They did get stopped from entering the water due to safety concerns but the echo reported one duck has been passed to take to the water again.

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Not many hearings of Ferry across the Mersey, or much of the Beatles either!

 

There where two DUWKs in and out of the dock yesterday, no 2 and no 8....don't know how many they have?

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20th May out of Liverpool.

Day 12 of our trip into Liverpool.

 

After another peaceful night in Salthouse dock in Liverpool it was time to be leaving.

 

We where due to be at the Mann Island Lock in Canning half tide lock at 09.00. There where six boats going out today, Howard and his mate where first to move, off at about 08.20. I watched them from the road come around into the Mann Island lock landing, realising there was only room for two boats to wait there until the canal and river trust staff arrived at 09.00 to work the lock. “Buttons 3” and “Dolly peg” then left Salthouse dock at about 08.40, and spent 20 odd minutes floating around in the Canning dock. Pete from the nb “Grace” who was going out with us and I waited until we saw the CaRT lads arrive and start locking Howard through. We then slowly made our way through the Albert dock, around to the Mann island lock, arriving just as Buttons No3 and Dolly Peg where leaving the lock, perfect timing.

The weather was dull and cool, but nowhere near as windy as when we came in, so a different journey back along the Liverpool Link canal, taking our time and savouring the views of the three graces and the old docks.

All the lockie’s today where CaRT staff, as they don’t really get many volunteers on a Monday, but it all went as smoothly as the trip in. It was slightly quicker on the way out, maybe because there was a boat less?

We stopped and did the loo’s at Litherland again, and so again ended up last in the convoy that had a quick break at Nertherton Swing bridge, while waiting for the CaRT lads to arrive to work it for us.

 

Again the part of the canal that had the most rubbish in it was the section from Litherland to Old Roan, but thankfully we didn’t get anything caught that stopped us. We did pull the remains of a few plastic bags off the prop later. We moored back at bridge 10 Holmes swing bridge, the rest of the convoy kept going but we had done enough for the day.

 

So was it worth it? Would we go into Liverpool again?

 

Well it was worth it for the experience of being in the iconic city, going through the old north docks before they get redeveloped, and as we do when we are in a city we tend to eat out and drink too much with all the choice’s.

The mooring was a lot quieter than we expected, and the electric and water to all the pontoons was great. You would have to be really unlucky to actually have to buy a card for the electric, there was about 3 kw hours on our’s when we arrived and we used about 1 of them. One thing to be aware of is that the water is only on about every fourth pontoon, so you may need a long hose to get to your tank.

 

The only real downside’s? The trip from Holmes swing bridge into and out of the docks, for us was a long day especially with the wind on the way in, we did as many miles on these days as we would do in a week.

The lack of a free elsan point in the docks was frustrating and the feeling because you have to book your passage that the freedom to come and go wasn’t there, so we don’t think it will be on our cruising plan every year, maybe again in about 5 years.

 

But the best thing of all was the boaters we went in and out with whom where a great group of people, and that’s what makes boating so special, thanks to you all.

 

 

Capt Col moored near Lydiate ,17.00 21st May 2013

 

Well thats it for a while, we're off back to Burscough and area for a few weeks, helping to organise the Burscough Heritage week, and then it's off to play silly beggars with the holiday makers on the Llangollen, with perhaps a trip up the Shroppie. Would it be worth doing another cruise diary?

In the mean time thanks to everyone who read and commetted, and I'll keep our blog updated on our web site, for talk of knitting, photography and the continuing search for north west gansey patterns.

 

Capt Col, nb Emma Maye aka The Wool Boat

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