Water Gypsy Tour June 2015: Day 50 - Melling to Salthouse Dock Liverpool

Wednesday 22nd July

12 miles, 6 locks (assisted)

The convoy sets off

Up early to set off to CRT meeting point at bridge 9. On the way we pushed along the roof of a Wendy house!

Chatting with other boaters over a coffee when Sid and Frank turned up to give us our instructions. There were none!

We were boat 8 in a convoy of 10. Sure enough as we approached all three swing bridges Sid and Frank were there with them open.

The Canal Turn at Aintree

We got to Litherland where five of the boats in front of us stopped to get rid of rubbish, empty elsans etc. so we were suddenly third in the convoy. The scenery was rather dull not helped by the drizzle and cloud cover. The canal had a lot of rubbish in it and a lot of weed as the traffic is limited. We were fouled a lot but managed to get to our pontoon without having to clear the weed hatch.

Stanley Locks

Through the docks

We were the second pair in the Stanley locks with nb Rick O'Shea - skipper was a character, wife stayed in the boat! There were CRT staff at each lock but boasters were encouraged to help. Once out of the bottom lock we were in the docks taking a left turn into Sid's ditch before emerging into central dock with the Liver building ahead of us. The camera took a battering as every dock/turn was stunning. We were met again by Sid and Frank at Princes Dock lock and as soon as we were down we were straight into St Nicholas Tunnel emerging to a fine view of the Liver building. Then into the Cunard tunnel and the museum basin where we saw the Port of Liverpool building along with the museum of Liverpool. One more tunnel under the museum and we were into Mann Island basin where all 10 boats gathered breasted up waiting for CRT crew to assist us through Mann Island lock. Being one of the first boats down we had quite a long wait so time for a sandwich and a cuppa, got the deckchairs out! Our first real gongoozlers of the trip.

We couldn't believe we were in our boat cruising through Albert dock and into our berth (S17) in Salthouse dock.

I can see John Lewis from the mooring and everything you want is within easy walking distance of the boat.

After a chat with fellow moorers I ventured to the shopping centre - got a few bargains!

Later we strolled round Albert dock trying a couple of bars and enjoying a curry in the Spice Lounge.