Liverpool here we come!

Beautiful sunny morning - the best forecast of the whole holiday to date! Slow start - waiting for another boat to fill up with drinking water!  Onto Lymm - we took time out to wander round the village - watching the team sort out Coronation bunting etc. Rog thought they'd left it a bit late!!  Motored on to Preston Brook - to join the Trent and Mersey. We then waited for our timed entry into the tunnel - Rog walked back and rescued a boat which had come adrift from it's mooring. We finally managed to moor up on an extremely busy canal side - in the middle of nowhere.

Breakfast at Tesco's - we know how to live!! A quieter day for me - no locks or swing bridges. Yet another grey day with a chilly breeze as we headed south down the  Bridgewater canal. More boats around, we think they were heading towards Liverpool for Eurovision.  We cruised over the Barton swing aqueduct, it looked in need of repair, Rog did say as we were half way over it will 'fail one day' - but we made it! We turned west at water's meeting to a fresh bit of the Bridgewater canal, followed by lunch near Sale. Moored up for the night at Dunham - walked into the village, had a really good meal at the Axe and Cleaver. 

Grey, dull and cloudy, odd bout of warm sunshine. Rog watched a wagtail playing in a bywash at Dean lock.  Several thick patches of cows lips along the banks, interspersed with a heady smell of garlic. Carpets of bluebells in the woods - unfortunately not a good day for a photo!! Today was a Bank Holiday - there were loads of families out walking and cycling. The children loved to wave and catch our attention. A hard, tough day with big, wide locks again - we were pleased to moor up in Leigh late afternoon. Too tired to find a pub, so we showered and I cooked a scrumptious meal!! Rog already salivating at thought of a cooked breakfast at Tesco's in the morning!! 

 Travel from Maghull, bridge 16 to Parbold. Wet all day, lots of coots nesting in the reeds, hiding from the rain! Excellent pub meal at 'the windmill'.  Folks - sorry for the lack of post!! The rain messed up our photography, then a very poor signal.

The weather matched our mood this morning - light drizzle and grey - we really didn't want to leave Salthouse dock, a great few days!! Sure enough the CRT lock keeper met us at the first lock, to see us thro all 6 locks and back onto the main canal. We saw the new Everton football stand - not too far off completion, and a massive area that was due to be Social housing. My CRT mate was a local, had worked on the canals for 45 years - had never had a boating holiday - thought they were 'boring'. I kept quiet (I know - not like me!!) We wended away on our return trip - stopped for lunch after the 'canal turn' and continued working the notorious swing bridges!!  Stocked up on supplies at Morrisons next to bridge 14 - having realised we're on a bank holiday weekend!!  We have moored up in glorious sunshine (long may it last!!). Rog had suspicions that we had something around the prop shaft that needed investigation. His arms length

Our 2nd day in Liverpool didn't quite go to plan - both of the main museums were closed due to Industrial action!! Fortunately we had my 'birthday' treat to savour. We walked down to the West Tower for 12 noon where we were whisked up to the 34th floor. Our table was directly above our boat route into Liverpool. We watched 3, ant like, narrowboats make their slow crawl through "Sids Ditch" and emerge into Princes dock.  Lovely warm sunshine this afternoon, after a brief shop for supplies, Jude sat out on the pontoon and watched me fill up with water, wash and clean the starboard side and windows. Somebody has to keep things shipshape. Later we  strolled down to Pier Head and watched the I of M ferry depart. Tomorrow we begin our return trip.