Into the docks

Hello, how are you?

Once the CRT guys had let us through the main road swing bridges on Saturday morning we had a good trip to Litherland. It's a really good secure mooring beside Tesco so I went shopping while Roger and David went to the pub.

I always knew Scousers had a sense of humour, especially when it comes to pub names. It used to be called The Doric but has recently re-opened and been re-named and even the regulars in the pub thought it was a bit dodgy.

This is the map of our route into the docks, courtesy of Pennine Waterways website

I was very happy to see the good weather holding up for our trip down the 4 locks and into the docks. The last time we were here, four years ago, it was blowing a hooly and we needed life jackets as it was very choppy.

The Stanley Locks are manned by CRT staff as they're padlocked and need a special windlass, to deter vandals.

We haven't seen any other moving boats for days but were joined by n.b.Mimi who had also booked passage and arrived just as we were about to start. They shared the locks with David and we followed behind.

Once down the 4 locks we emerged into Stanley Dock with the imposing site of the Tobacco Warehouse.

It's the largest brick built warehouse in the world and is Grade II listed but is in dire need of restoration.

The warehouse opposite it has been renovated/rebuilt since we were last here and is now The Titanic Hotel and Rum Warehouse. There are new pontoons outside for small boats but we were on a timed passage so couldn't stop. We may walk round to have a look later in the week as the hotel and bar have been highly recommended by a boater we met recently.

At the end of Salisbury Dock is the Grade II listed Victoria Tower, also known as the Docker's Clock. It too is in dire need of restoration.

There aren't many small boats in the docks, maybe this is the reason why?  Graffiti taken to extreme

A small reminder of how old the docks are

The 'new' Liverpool Link, also known as Sids Ditch

Our first glimpse of the Liver Birds

We also passed through three tunnels, the first of which brought us out right in front of the Liver Building

The tunnel underneath the Museum of Liverpool is surprisingly low

Once we'd caught up with David and Mimi we had to wait a few minutes while the CRT guys arrived to let us through the final 2 locks.

The water was still like a mill-pond and it was great to be back, with the same boats in the same places as last time.

So here we are in our moorings for the next week. After being out in the countryside for so long we're having a City Break. The Hilton Hotel overlooks the dock and a city break there would cost us over £100 a night.......we get it for free and this time the electricity is included as well.  Can't be bad eh?

Bye for now, I hope you'll join me when we go walkabout over the next week.