Saturday 12th June Lydiate - Br10, Aintree oustkirts
We helped with the setting up of the stalls for the sale and barbeque and chatted for a while, we would move off to meet up with the Stoke Boat club members at Bridge 10, ready for the BW assisted passage next morning. There were four swing bridges to negotiate, Ivor and Diane moved off slightly before us so we did a leapfrog (WITH THE BOATS!)on all of the bridges which made it easier.
Arriving at Bridge 10, we found the other eight boat from Stoke boat club, together with Douglas on Summerlee. Having moored up, Douglas invited us to tea and cake which would have been churlish of us to refuse; so we accepted and jolly nice cake it was.
Ken, who had arranged the trip, informed me that he had been requested by BW to make it 8.30 at Br.9 next morning if we could rather than the 9.30 previously arranged. A good idea, we prefer to move off early when we can.
Douglas came on board for the evening and we chatted until very late; time is soon
lost in good company!
Sunday 13th June - The Liverpool Link.
At last, the moment had arrived for the passage along the link. The BW men swung Bridge 9, and the convoy was away. Aintree racecourse was hidden from view to our disappointment, but soon we were compensated by the sight of the many young ducks, coots and moorhen. It is a long way winding around the suburbs, and it became evident that a good business to be in was that of making the flag of the cross of St.George.
Through Litherland and on to Eldonian village with a view over the rooftops to Seaforth container terminal and massive container hoists. Then the right angled turn into the Stanley dock branch locks. The link passage though the locks starts at the foot of this flight.
The views along the link are very varied; the character of the huge derelict warehouses contrasting sharply with the new housing developments all of the way along passing the three Liverpool waterfront landmarks of the Liver Building, The Cunard Building and the Port of Liverpool Building (built as the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board Building) Each one is beautiful and a testament to the confidence and prosperity of the Port in recent history.
A series of sharp alterations in course brought us through Albert Dock into Salthouse Dock where the pontoon moorings provide our journey's end.
