Liverpool Link

This morning we were up bright and early, in sunshine, to meet the C&RT guys at bridge 9. The arrangement was made on booking this part of the trip to meet there at 9am. We arrived at 8.30am, surprised that there were no other boats waiting there and no sign of our escort! 

After rechecking our booking form, and rechecking the time, yes, it's the right day, right time. We tried to ring various numbers, but being Sunday morning, not much joy, in desperation Ian rang the emergency line and explained the predicament and asked for someone to ring back.  Of course no-one did for a while, so another call was made and at 10am, someone turned up, they had taken the rest of the boats down, assuming everyone had got there the night before. So much for booking your slot!
Anyway they soon had the bridge opening up and we were away.

A few miles of mixed parkland and housing, through another swing bridge, through a few heavy showers and then we came to the 4 locks which take you down to the Liverpool Link, a new canal opened in 2009 to take inland boats down into the docks alongside the Mersey.

the massive tobacco warehouse and grain silo beside the locks

under the railway viaduct

tobacco warehouse - even more massive from this side

Through the locks and into the docks, this clock tower is straight in front of us and behind it the Mersey, and on the other side the Wirral. And the sun is coming out again.

a first glimpse of the iconic Liver Building between the tower blocks

getting closer

and closer

almost there

one of the tunnels and the Museum of Liverpool ahead

passing right in front of the Liver Building

the C&RT guys waiting with the last lock ready

passing the Merseyside Maritime Museum

through Albert Dock

our berth in Salthouse Dock



It is good to be here, we have been looking forward to getting to Liverpool for a long time. Should be a good week.

Saturday

6 miles, 4 bridges

Sunday

11.5 miles, 6 locks, 3 bridges