Moore

Yesterdays visit went very well despite inclement weather, but we did manage a short walk into the park to see the deer and the old mill before we had a meal at the Swan.  It had been a number of years since we last saw James and we were not sure what to expect.  However he looked and sounded very well and seemed very positive about his progress.   We hope that he will soon be strong enough to enjoy a trip on the boat with us and look forward to a steady recovery.

Is an improvement in the weather on the way?  The day started very wet again woke to rain beating down on the roof and decided not to rush off anywhere too soon.  However by the time we were ready to depart about 10:30 the rain had stopped and the sky was gradually turning bluer.  However it was early afternoon before I felt warm enough to dispense with my coat.  Now at 7pm it is a lovely evening and the birds are singing their appeciation!

We have managed about ten miles cruising today having had three stops along the way.  First we stopped to fill the water tank at the tap at Little Bollington (not far from where we were moored).  We had no sooner got the hose on the tap than two boats arrived and were waiting to use same tap.   There has been a steady procession of boats heading north last night and this morning, most having just left a rally at Runcorn.   We were soon (but not soon enough - filling our water tank is always a slow business) topped up and on our way down the long line of moored boats on the approaches to Lymm.  At Lymm we managed to squeeze into the moorings close to the shops for a trip to the local Spar.  Here we christened Molly (the trolley)! Being almost old aged pensioners we (who?) decided to buy a shopping trolley to have on board.  Today was the first time Bridie remembered to use it.   It was useful and given the number of wine and beer bottles we brought back my arms might have been stretched were it not for the trolley.  Having reprovisioned the boat and lunched we moved on and made brisk progress through Thelwall and Grappenhall to Stockton Heath were we stopped again to top up with fuel at http://www.thornmarine.co.uk/

Onwards in improving cruising weather we went under the A56 at Walton New Bridge and then passed the tree which still bears the scar where our rope brought Prairie Oyster to a stand under full throttle a few years back, when we had a fire in the engine bay and the throttle stuck in the open position.  Thankfully I managed to put out the fire and RCR came to the rescue in the form of an engineer from Claymore Navigation at Preston Brook who rigged up a temporary cable to get us to Preston Brook where a permanent repair to electrics and throttle were carried out http://www.claymoore.co.uk/ We are meeting friends week after next who are hiring 'Ruby Tuesday' from Claymore and intend to go down the Anderton lift onto the weaver with them.

We are now moored just before the village shop at Moore. We are close enough to the Manchester Ship canal here to take the dogs for a walk over the swing bridge and into the nature reserve.  That is plan A for tomorrow.

Wet Bank Holiday Monday by Dunham Massey

We have stayed put for weekend catching up with domestic chores and going out dog walking weather permitting. I was 'busy' reading at stern, with pint on hand, when I got into conversation with some towpath walkers, Jill and Jon, about boats and cost of boating.   We ended up showing them round ours (lucky we had been tidying up in the morning)!  They live in Spain but were keen on the idea of having a boat to visit England in the summers (summer?).   My advice was to hire first to be sure they really enjoyed it before investing.

They gave me this link to their web site for their son http://tlc-charity.com/

Waiting now, with rain pouring down, for my cousin to visit us today with his son who has recently had surgery for a brain tumour.  I understand he is now on the mend but struggling to keep occupied in his convalesence.  Just hoping rain will ease so we go into the park this afternoon and may be visit the local 'Swan with Two Nicks' where we have met up with family before.

Dunham Massey

Arrived at Dunham about 3pm after a 15 mile, cold and breezy cruise from Astley Green via Worsley, over the Manchester Ship canal on the Barton Swing aqueduct and through Trafford Park and Sale.  

Here we could see a fairly large ship moored at Irwell Park wharf,

First things first after we moored up I got a fire going to thaw out!  We only had a brief stop at Bridgewater Marina Services to buy a new gas bottle and fill up with water etc.    It stayed dry which was a positive but I can not remember being so cold in May.

Being a bank holiday weekend we decided not to go into Manchester but have a weekend here at Dunham where there are good walks in the deer park.   There are already plenty of boats on the move out of Worsley and Sale heading towards Lymm for the weekend.

Yesterday was a pretty wet day and we didn't go far from the boat although we did spend a couple of hours visiting the old colliery museum at Astley Green.   The winding engine is restored and can be run but they have been vandalised and had some batteries stolen which has put paid to it working this weekend.

 

Astley Green

Arrived before three and found another of our favoured mooring sites free just by the Old Boat House pub and near to the colliery museum with the old pit skeletal headstock still in situ (see beyond the roof of the pub in picture - that is us moored in front of a widebeam barge).

Took dogs off for a walk this afternoon and we are preparing to visit the Old Boat House for a meal this evening.  Cook has a night off and no washing up (provided I remember my wallet) so it is win-win and the food here is usually very good.  Anyway the gas has run out!  At least, I have just had to switch over to our second bottle so will have to replace the empty one at Boothstown tomorrow.

This evening was quite pleasant but the forecast for tomorrow isn't so good. 

Leigh

Set off about 11am weather has improved but still cold, breezy and cloudy, hardly what we expected for May.
Sounded horn at Plank Lane and bridge keeper appeared to stop traffic and raise the bridge. Bridie grabbed her camera and took pictures of the changed lanscaped area with large pool of water for moorings.  The bridge has already lowered and traffic is restarting as she took this one looking back.

Work is still very much going on but how dramatically the old mining are has changed and the pub on the corner has been eradicated as if it was never there.  Moored at Leigh briefly for Bridie to go and do a bit of re provisioning.

Ince Moss on the Leigh Branch

We have made it under the M6 and through Wigan onto the Leigh Branch which becomes the Bridgewater canal at Leigh.  Yesterday Simon had us up early and left for a meeting in Lytham, We will not see him until mid July when we go home for a break from canaling!  Bridie and I carried on struggling through wind and rain to Crooke where we moored overnight, in fact I think we got about as wet as we ever have in about ten minutes of absolute downpour although it actually rained most of the way from Parbold.   We didn't see another boat going in the same direction all day except for the local widebeam 'Rose of Parbold' which we followed slowly in the wind through Appley Bridge Lock.  Luckily they stopped for lunch so we were able to water up and proceed through Deans Lock on our own. (This is the lock you can see from the M6 heading north  just before J27 - though drivers keep your eyes on the road)!

Today has been better, still very windy but the sun has shone and we didn't get wet, feeling somewhat weather beaten and stiff after negotiating the six locks through Wigan today though.   A boat was coming down Henhurst lock as we approached and I had to wait trying to keep Prairie Oyster from grounding in the wind on a low pound.  I could see Bridie was talking to the crew as they operated the lock and then saw the boat as it came towards me was 'Endeavour'.  This was the boat we had a share in with Ownerships for about seven years in the 90's.   Having rejoined Bridie in the lock, she informed me that they were refitting her in Scarisbrick marina (so the Endeavour I saw the other day was our Endeavour)! Nice to see she is still going and how much of a co-incidence is that?  It being moored at Scarisbrick I mean (the sister marina to our Fettlers).  Will have to catch up with new owners, also ex Ownerships.

Having descended the two Poolstocks Locks and joined the Leigh branch we have moored in one of our favoured spots by Ince Moss which is a triangle of land, mostly flashes bounded by the West Coast Main line, Wigan - St Helens line and the Leigh branch canal. Plenty of sea birds, geese, ducks and swans here to watch as this view from our 'lounge' window shows.

This morning we hung around hoping another boat would come along to share the locks with.  Two did!   So we ended up with the locks against us, BW your advice to save water doesn't work, not for us!

Parbold Lancashire

Enjoyed our meal at the Ship Inn by Lathom locks last night and staggered 'home' in the dark but not too innebriated to notice that water was pouring through the gates at the top lock.  Last boat through managed to lock the paddle in the up position, so we guessed the branch pounds were getting plenty of water! This could explain why we get such high water levels in Fettlers Wharf on occasion.  I went back to the boat to get a key for the handcuff lock and went back to lower the paddle.  I know the main line has a 26 mile pound but I am sure the water supplies will not stand much of that sort of waste!

Well it must start to sound like the needle got stuck because I keep harping on about the wind.  Today it was blowing a real gale and the towpath and canal are so covered in leaves and branches it is like autumn (apart from the colour that is).  Simon took his car down to Parbold and walked back, by which time we were ready for a spot of lunch.  Afterwards we made ready and set off with Simon walking ahead for first few hundred yards to get first swing bridge after the junction ready.  This is fully automated so just a matter of putting the BW key in and pressing the buttons.  After passing the closed up pub at Ring O Bells it was my turn to jump off and race ahead to open the next swing bridge so that Simon could pass through without stopping or mooring.  Good job too as a boat was moored on the landing stage.  They are very useful the three bollards that BW provide before and after a swing bridge.  So useful that there is always a muppet with a boat that thinks they have been provided to moor his boat up on!  This one looked as if it had been there some time too.   They would be the first to complain if I banged into them in the wind and did some damage of course.

This bridge is also automated except that you have to dice with death and manually operate the barriers to stop the traffic.  Given the windy conditions I closed the barrier straight behind a car and raced behind him to close the other side before a car coming the other way could argue!  Only held up the one car and not for long I was soon chasing after Simon and jumping aboard the moving boat. Anyway given it was only three miles to Parbold, and despite the wind, it didn't take long before we were moored up near Simon's car at Parbold and able to take the dogs for another walk.

Burscough Jctn

Another blustery grey day with light showers.  Late start moving on to Scarisbrick Marina for Simon to pick up his car and we fueled up and used services.  Difficult turning Prairie Oyster against the wind in the marina again but thanks to Danny we made it - he has the benefit of having done it before.  Sorry Les we touched your button on the way in!   I bet I'm not the only poor navigator that has managed that.

Simon drove to the Ship Inn at Top Lock and left his car there, walking back to meet us at the swing bridges just before Burscough, we have booked a table for a meal there tonight.   We stopped at the Wharf again this time to visit the Chandlery and to shop at Tesco.   Then moved back to more or less same mooring we were on on Tuesday before last.   Just after mooring up 'Lillian May' passed.  They have been busy, they were booked out of Liverpool docks at 9:30 this morning!

Return to Haskayne

Today started with a bit of promise (I'm sure I saw some blue sky!) however by the time we got going about 11am it was windy and cloudy and we had not travelled far before the showers started again.  We left Melling behind and proceeded through the swing bridges.  Simon had help at the first one from a chap who was heading this way tomorrow and wanted to know how to work it.  We met him moored up by the third swing bridge and he set it all up for us so that we sailed straight through (thanks to the skipper of  nb 'Cym').
Simon had cleared the prop of debris from yesterday before we set off but we had to stop again today to clear sundry plastic and strimmer cable.  Stopping or manouvering in the swing bridge area is a rather fraught business!
Eventually passed the Ship Inn about 2 pm and moored in pouring rain.

Simon and Steve repaired to the Ship Inn after dinner for beers and another evening of live music. Bridie stayed on board to look after dogs and took photo of sunset - just to prove the day ended better than it began.

The Leaving of Liverpool

Up at 7:30 and made ready to depart. We had a late night last night having been to the i-Max to see 'Pirates of the Caribean'.

It was a fairly bright start to the day, dry,  with a cool on shore breeze.  'Pride of Sefton' disappeared down the south docks for a short cruise then was back and through to Albert Dock about ten past nine. There were two other boats ready to depart and they seemed eager and left about twenty past nine.  We held on for word from BW and set off from the mooring at 9:35 - just about a minute before we received a phone call to say we could proceed!  We zig zagged out of Salthouse through Albert Dock into Canning half tide dock.

Then proceeded round past the two dry docks and left hand down into Mann Island lock (6) where the BW guys were just despatching the preceeding two boats.  We were worked through what amounts to little more than a rather large stop lock and then proceeded hrough the two tunnels (Museum and Cunard) passed the Liver Building and had to wait at Princes Dock Lock for the other two boats to be cleared.

Once through the lock we had a much pleasanter cruise through the docks in the sunshine compared to Sunday in the wind and rain. It was also much easier to see the path we were supposed to take as the route through the marker buoys in Princes and Princes half tide docks was more obvious in this direction.  On we passed through West Waterloo Dock and through the Central Docks Channel into Trafalgar, Salisbury, Collingwood and Stanley Docks.  We tied up and waited under Great Howard Street bridge for the two boats ahead to clear the bottom lock and Simon went ahead to assist the BW gang with the locks.

We could see 'Pride of Sefton' (this was the old boat - we had seen 'Pride of Sefton 2' at Haskayne on the way out) two locks ahead. Once at the top of the flight we found that the two boats ahead had already left for Litherland but that Pride of Sefton was moored up, we turn left onto the L&L mainline and followed.  We caught up after 4 miles at the BW services at Litherland but let them depart before we moored up briefly to make use of services and to remove some rubbish from the prop.  I had cleared a plastic bag full from the prop while moored in Liverpool but had not actually stopped to do so during the journey.

The next five miles passed uneventfully enough apart from a minor hiccup at Netherton Swing bridge.  We had caught up with the other two boats just before as they waited for the BW gang to open it.   Then as we proceeded line astern, and just before we actually got to the road,  the first boat grounded on something mid channel and swung across the canal,  there was then a somewhat protracted passing through the bridge hole with traffic building up in both directions.  Just as well the BW guys were on hand to deal with the chaos and see the problem for them selves.  We also caught up on whatever it was in the water but managed to keep going.


We were soon at Handcock's Swing Bridge where we all waved our goodbyes to the BW guy's who had done such an excellent job of escorting us out of Liverpool and making the leaving all that much more pleasant an experience!  I suppose given the current moves with BW to turn it into a trust and the lack of funds available from our government it was only to be expected that we would have something to crticise about our experience traveling by canal into Liverpool.   It was not the route itself, which was a far greener and pleasanter experience than many a route into a city but the lack of evidence of any serious attempts to remove litter and rubbish from the canal.  Many bridge holes were unpleasant experiences not just visually but grating over and through debris that could so easily be removed but had not been.  From tree trunks to road work barriers, cones and signs, floating islands of weeds, industrial waste, thousands of plastic bottles and carrier bags.   This is something the Liverpool Council should be responsible for and not BW.   The local population, and most probably not just the youths, need to be much more responsible for the state of their canal corridor it is well used as a right of way and much is lined by a country park.  Will the new trust be able to do this?

Ferry across the Mersey

Well two days of sightseeing over and one more to go. We have 'done' the Tate and the Maritime museum, walked the City visiting Lime Street station and the two cathedrals along the way. We plan to go back to visit the Anglican Cathedral today and go up the tower.

We took a trip on the Mersey ferry 'Royal Daffodil' yesterday.

We disembarked at Woodside and visited Birkenhead to see the transport museum (it wasn't open)!  Just saw the empty tram tracks and so after a walk round the old dock area we visited the U-boat story instead.

Now off for a bit of shopping as well as a visit to the cathedral and possibly St Georges Hall.  The weather is still useless, blustery with plenty of showers as well as wall to wall grey skies - not what we expected in May!

Arrived Liverpool Salthouse Dock

Another miserable day but we managed to cruise ten miles in the dry.  It only started raining as we descended the 4 locks down to the docks.

It was still windy but nowhere near as bad as it has been and we negotiated the various docks, channels and tunnels without mishap and were safely moored on pier 17 in Salthouse by 2pm.

In total it we covered about 12 miles and went through 2 swing bridges operated by BW staff and 6 locks with a lot of assistance from Simon.
Now off to do some sightseeing and get wet again!

One mile from Handcock's Bridge

Tomorrow morning at 9:30 we have to be at the swing bridge no 9 (Handcocks's) to meet the BW gang who will escort us into Liverpool.  Currently we are moored by Holmes' swing bridge about half way between the M58 about a mile back and the M57 which is near to bridge 9 (so not a good spot to moor overnight)!

We got here about two, after six miles and six swing bridges since leaving Haskayne this morning.  Once Simon had joined us at Scarisbrick Marina yesterday afternoon I decided to get out of the marina during a lull in the heavy showers as the wind was relatively light.  Very grateful we did as it has been very windy again today.  We left the marina and went from milepost 20 (miles to Liverpool that is) to just past mile post 18 near the Ship Inn (another one) at Haskayne.   Once we had eaten Bridie and I were dragged (kicking and screaming) to the pub by Simon for a beer or three by way of celebrating the start of his holiday.  Just by chance there was live music with some really good guitarists, so we didn't leave until late, enjoying the beer and the good atmosphere.

Not too sure what to expect tomorrow, the weather looks like still being a problem and we have ten miles to go past Aintree then down the four locks into the docks before we start the actually Liverpool link heading for Albert and Salterhouse docks.

A life on the ocean wave.

We took a walk with Mac this morning to bridge 29 and then down past the Martin Inn to the farm shop.   It was a bit of exercise and by way of delaying the inevitable. The wind had picked up overnight and was gusting almost gale force with waves evident on the canal! In the end set off about 11:30 for the short cruise to Scarisbrick marina.  Everyone we past was asking the same question 'Are you heading for Liverpool?'  Probably because they were on their way back and wanted to know if we were as insane as they were!

Felt somewhat nervous as we turned through the bridge into the marina - there was a lot of water, lots of wind and plenty of boats to avoid hitting!   Managed to moor up by the fuel point as intended but didn't execute the 180 I would have liked as the wind was not helping at all.  Called at the cafe for instructions and moved onto a vacant jetty in front.  Again failed to reverse in as I would have preferred due to limited room, wind and other boats but managed to get into the indicated spot, moored up and went for lunch in the cafe.  Of course as the afternoon wore on the weather has improved a little there is now some blue sky and we are not rocking as much as we were. 

All set to see Simon tomorrow.

Great Score swing bridge New Lane

Although we have had a few attempts at rain today and it has been breezy again we have not got wet and it is fairly warm.   We moved a few hundred yards to Burscough Wharf to top up water and empty the elsan before mooring in Burscough so that we could go to Tesco to top up supplies again.   Then after a bite of lunch we moved on through two swing bridges to New Lane, mooring by the timber yard and disused swing bridge where the old wide beam barge Ribble normally moors.

Here we met up with another narrow boat heading into Liverpool on Sunday.   He tells me this is the third year running he has made this trip and that he has had a very quiet trip up this year from London.  Our conversation turned to difficulties he has had with finding moorings in London owing to problems with continuous 'cruisers'  (strike that) continuous moorers.

We are very close to Martin Mere here and can hear the geese when the wind is in the right direction.   We still haven't visited, although we have walked the dogs in the fields close to the site in the past. Had the paint out this afternoon and patched a bad scrape on our cream back panel.   I also painted the two keys I dredged up from lock 3 on the branch yesterday.

Visit to Burscough Wharf and the Ship Inn

Today did not start with a lot of promise it was still fairly blustery and not particularly warm when I took the dogs back down to German's and Chicken lock.  Richard Carpenter was single handing back to Fettlers from Liverpool having passed us just before I set out and I caught up with him being helped through Chicken lock by one of the BW gang working there.  He had enjoyed his trip to Liverpool and recommended the experience.

At about 11:00am we decided to move on and climbed the remaining four locks up to the junction.  I steered and Bridie locked.  It wasn't exactly her day as having prepared the washing machine she forgot to switch it on (we need to run that while the engine is running) then at lock 3 she managed to fumble with the anti vandal lock on the top paddle and dropped her key in the canal.  It was still not perfect weather but improving, dry and certainly better than Sunday.  Having negotiated the top lock and swing bridge we stopped to top the water tank before swinging through the bridge and pointing west towards Liverpool.   Not that we travelled very far.  The permanent moorings were somewhat empty and we moored on rings before the railway bridge and old mill ready for a spot of lunch.  While Bridie prepared it I took Mac a quick walk back to lock3 with my sea searcher magnet and retrieved the key plus two others (rather rusty but useable).

As we were sitting about two feet out from the towpath, owing to the camber of the stone work here, we christened our new ladder cum gang plank and managed to get Mac to use it straight away.   Sally has decided it is not safe enough for her weight and chooses to be carried!

Took a walk into Burscough for milk and to see what has become of the old BW wharf.  Very impressed, the boat facilities are much improved, there is a small chandlery and a number of gift shops, cafe, restaurant and ice cream parlour all opened last month and almost complete.  We sat in the courtyard and sampled a rather refreshing pot of (boxtree blend?) tea.

Back to Prairie Oyster and decided to visit the Ship Inn near top lock.  Have only ever stopped once for a pint here two or three years ago, so not sure what to expect.  Very pleasant, recently refurbished, very good food and  I enjoyed a couple of pints of Pendle Witches Brew while Bridie enjoyed the Merlot!   While we were sat inside enjoying our meal we watch rather ominous black clouds passing and saw a rather fine rainbow but managed to arrive back at Prairie Oyster in the dry and can report that no rain has fallen on us today!

A rainy day on the Rufford branch of the L&L

We stayed put today and watched the thundery showers.   Apart from two other boats moored just up the towpath and the very occasional dog walker it has been a very quiet day and we haven't seen a sole.  Only two other boats came down the branch towards Tarleton, probably heading for the Ribble link, although we understand there are no crossings this week owing to unfavourable tides.  No boats have moved up the branch towards the main line since we left Rufford yesterday, it is a good job we did not heed BW advice to wait for another boat to pair up the locks!

Where we are moored we can hear the regular procession of Pacer units along the Wigan to Southport line just ahead, as well as the Northern single car working the West Lancs branch between Preston and Ormskirk. However we are not near enough to a road to hear any traffic noise and the only other interuptions are from the swans and mallards.

I kept myself busy checking and topping up the batteries, not a five minute job with six batteries on board, each with six cells to check.   Anyway they all look OK which is good as all bar the engine starter battery (replaced in 2009) were last replaced in 2006.  I also made a start on polishing the port side of the boat which I couldn't reach in the marina.   Bridie meantime has baked a loaf and been very busy with the brasso!

Left Rufford Today

Last night the weather did not improve and we had plenty of rain with thunder an lightening thrown in for good measure.   Today wasn't much better to start with, although we did manage to take the dogs out along the towpath past Rufford lock without getting wet.  We decided that once back at the boat we would get ready to set off but no sooner back than the rain returned and it was quite breezy again.  However by 12:30 blue sky was evident and the blustery wind had dropped, so seizing this window of opportunity we made ready and set off out of the marina at 13:00 in sunshine.

The wind was sufficient to push the bow the wrong way as we moved out of the mooring so I let it go and ended up reversing up the marina until past the bridgehole and off we went.  Once clear we could see a dutch barge aproaching us after exiting Rufford lock, and with hand signals determined he wanted to turn into St.Mary's.  I waved him through and was repaid in kind as several lads at the lock opened the gates for us.  In fact I never touched a gate only opened and closed the paddles.  I elected to walk on up Rufford Branch to open Marsh Meadow swing bridge so that Bridie could sail straight through and then continued along (past the fishermen on the lock landing) a mile or so to Chicken lock (so much easier to have it ready for Bridie to sail straight into in the breezy conditions).  On quickly to German's Lock (No 5) and yes our favoured mooring spot below No4 was free.   So two hours cruising, two miles, three locks and a swing bridge and that was it for today.  As it was we had literally only just moored and got a drink when the heavens opened again, only just managed to get the covers up in time.  By 6 the storm was back overhead and the rain pouring down in torrents!

A good if cautious start to our cruise and we now have the dirty side of the boat alongside the towpath so no prizes for guessing what's on the agenda for tomorrow.  We plan to be in Scarisbrick marina for Friday night to pick up Simon and that is only about six miles away so we wil not be breaking any distance records this week.   Burscough next stop for a bit of shopping.

Getting ready for our first Retirement cruise

It is Saturday May 7th and raining!  Got rather wet taking Mac for his constitutional down by Rufford Old Hall this morning so I have decided it is time to try this blogging lark!

We waited for the Royal Wedding and Bank holidays to be over with before jouneying down the M6 to Rufford on Tuesday.   Also we used April to visit London, catch up with the household chores, some much needed gardening and also to enjoy the warm dry spell. 

Our first day involved shopping and cleaning so least said.   Thursday I took the car back up the M6, no point in leaving it in the marina car park until July and anyway we do not intend returning to the marina until autumn.  I returned by train and it was starting to rain as I waited for the first of three trains and then during the jouney south it turned pretty stormy especially over Shap and I could see cars on the M6 sending up clouds of spray.
I had to wait for an hour at Preston for the local to Rufford but time past quickly, more so because I had a call from my cousin to tell me he would be unable to visit as arranged for Friday, but for the very best of reasons, his son had come out of hospital unexpectedly early, and they had been told his brain tumor was not malignant.  That has to be the best news he and my Aunt and Uncle have had for a while.

Friday started damp and dismal, but brightened, and Bridie and I decided to take a train trip from Rufford to Liverpool.   This was to be by way of a recce to see where we are going to be moored in the docks and to see what we could of the 'Spring on the Waterfront' festival, which will be over by the time we get there.   We enjoyed our brief visit, which included lunch in Albert Dock and a city and dock trip on the 'Yellow Duckmarine'. 
Things went downhill thereafter as we returned to Liverpool Central only to find services on the rail line to Ormskirk suspended.  Getting directions to catch a 351 Arriva bus from Sir Thomas Street we arrived at stand SA (how appropriate?) only to find a notice saying service 351 was ceased in March!  After a phone call to a National helpline and selecting numerous options to get to Liverpool information we found we wanted the 311 and it would arrive in 10 minutes.  Of course this all took time, the bus took us on a very depressing tour of shuttered shops and arrived at Ormskirk 10 minutes after our train had departed. So a long wait before we finally arrived back at the marina.


Back to today and the rain.  No point in departing yet and after yesterday a day of rest is called for.  We have downloaded our pictures of Liverpool and been experimenting with Google.