Weaving Our Way Through the Liverpool Docks

Saturday was just a nice short run down to Bridge 9 on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal on a cloudy day. We arrived at the bridge in bright sunshine, a change from the last few days. Planning to stay here overnight, I started to do a bit of work on the boat when the CART staff turned up to let the boats through that were leaving Liverpool. They popped over for a chat and offered to let us through the two swing bridges (6 & 9) to moor overnight at the CART facilities at Litherland, we were happy to oblige. It was a nice little 1.5 hour run to Litherland.

Mum and the kids at the pedestrian swing bridge, Litherland

We went for a walk around the local area but I'm afraid there was nothing of real note to show you. After the walk we headed next door to Tesco to fill the cupboards and later on I filled the water tank. On Sunday we now had a much shorter cruise for the final leg into Liverpool. We departed for the top of the Stanley Dock Lock Flight at 11:45 arriving around 12:45pm. There were plenty of old abandoned warehouses along the way.

Waiting in the top lock

The CART boys were a little late, caught up helping a wide beam boat remove old clothing caught around the propeller. Serafina was the only boat going into Salthouse dock on Sunday so we worked our way pretty quickly down the four lock flight. Being the only boat, Sid offered to jump on and give us a guided tour along the way, we couldn't ask for anything more! Rachael was snapping pictures as we moved along weaving our way around the various docks.

Making our way through the first of the docks towards Stanley Tower

Around to port and heading for Sid's Ditch

Passing one of the Mersey Tunnel vents

Moving between the dockside building and heading towards the Liver Building

Entering one of the shorter tunnels

Across Albert Dock

On our mooring in Salthouse Dock

There has been significant re-development of the dockside since Rachael and I were here over 30 years ago. On Sunday as we passed through the docks they were very crowded, there seems to be plenty for people to do as we passed several museums, pubs and entertainment venues making away to our mooring. We look forward to exploring the dockside and Liverpool itself.

The boys at the Litherland and Liverpool CART Office were fantastic first working us through the bridges on Saturday, providing information after we arrived at Litherland and then working us through the locks and docks on Sunday.