We're Going Down to Liverpool to Do Nothing....

Well, to be honest, we're going to do quite a lot as we're in Liverpool for 12 days - it's our summer holiday :)
We were hugely excited about coming to Liverpool as every boater we met who'd been there said we'd love it and no matter how long we were there it wouldn't be long enough.  With such a build up, you'd think there was only one way to go......
To get there, you have to go through quite a few swing bridges

Mike lets the traffic go after closing the bridge after us

 

This heron was on his way back from Liverpool and said he couldn't recommend it highly enough

You have to book to go into Liverpool as passage is assisted with fantastic CRT staff and volunteers on the locks and swing bridges and we arrived at the meeting point, Hancock's Bridge 9, the afternoon before.  There was only one other boat with us, Dawn Owl from Macclesfield, with Jane and Mike on board.
By 8.45am the next morning, a few more had arrived to join our convoy.

Our convoy waiting for CRT to arrive and get us going

It's rather a pretty route, though you need to watch out for the shopping trolleys scraping the bottom of the boat as you go under some of the bridges.....  The water was so clear you could see every bit of rubbish below.  People are trying to clean it up though, we saw two lots of dog walkers, armed with black bags and litter grabbers tidying up as they walked their dogs.  They waved enthusiastically at us and I shouted a thank you for picking up the litter.

One of the convoy coming through one of the pretty bridges

 The excitement was building as we neared the Stanley Locks which would take us down into the Liverpool docks and within sniffing distance of the Mersey.

Exiting the last of the Stanley locks we are dwarfed by the biggest warehouses I have ever seen!!!

The journey through the docks was almost as exciting as doing the tidal Thames through London.  Suddenly in front, above and beyond you are landmarks you have seen for years on the telly - and there we are, cruising past.  I lalalalala-ed the theme tune to the Liverbirds all the way through :)

The Liver buidling with its famous birds comes into view - oh, we had a lockie hitch a lift - that's him in the blue hat at the front :)

Coming out of the tunnel straight to the museum

The tunnels were low, but not low enough to remove the chimneys

Exiting the Mann Island lock

Looking left as we enter Albert Dock

Our moorings at Salthouse Dock - just a few along from this boat

It was just amazing!!! Fantastic!!! Exceeded our highly built-up expectations.  The joy was only added to when we were told the electricity was free as the batteries for the meters have run out and are too expensive to replace, so they just let it run on - and there's water on each pontoon too!!!  I feel a bedding wash coming on......
We've only been here one night, but are loving it.  Liverpool has done a wonderful job regenerating it's dock area, whilst keeping much of the history in place.  There are museums, bars and restaurants on our doorstep yet the moorings are peaceful and very safe.
Tune in next week for the invasion of the Bensons!!