Arriving in Liverpool

Continuing our trip towards Liverpool the countryside is so much flatter so the few locks there are, are well spaced.  As we get closer to Liverpool however there are several swing bridges to stop me

Looking back to the bottom lock of the Stanley Lock Flight

from getting bored!  The canal take us through Aintree and along the edge of the racecourse.  No horses about!  As we are well into autumn with few leaves on the trees we can see across the track quite well.
Not many boats around and the water is very clear, unusual for a canal!  Lots of coots around as well as the usual ducks and moorhens.  Also the occasional swan.
On Wednesday we arrived at Hancock's Bridge.  A swing bridge which because it is a busy road the times of opening are restricted.  So at just after 9.30 I opened the bridge and Paul went through.  By now a fair few cars had arrived and

The 3 Graces, Liver Building is the far one.  you can see our shadow on the wall

a bus.  When I pushed the button to close the bridge nothing happened!  So we had to call Canal and River Trust (CRT)! It took them about 20 minuets to arrive but they were on the wrong side to look the workings so Paul had to take them across in the boat!  Thankfully most of the drivers were OK and eventually the bridge was closed and we all got on our way.  Unfortunately it wasn't far to Netherton Swing Bridge.  This time Paul got through and I closed the bridge, however the road barrier wouldn't lock back into place.

Cold but happy to have arrived in Liverpool

So once again I had to call CRT!  This time however we just tied the barrier with string so it couldn't swing open on to a car and we carried on to Litherlands.  There was 1 more swing bridge, however this one was mechanical and all went well.
Thursday was our final part of the journey.  No more swing bridges!  CRT have to unlock the flight of 4 locks at Stanley.  There were 4 lockeepers there.  2 volunteers and 2 we had seen at Hancocks Bridge!  As we started out the sun came out and the final part of our trip was wonderful  I stayed on the boat with Paul all the way.  Once again we saw a kingfisher along Sids Ditch, which is a channel through the industrial area of the docks.  By 3 pm we were moored and sat by the fire with a hot chocolate.  Yesterday my cousin Dawn and her husband Dave came from Manchester to see us and tomorrow Paul's cousin Alison and her friend Gill arrive for 4 days, but they are staying in a hotel nearby.  So we will all be off exploring together!  We are here for a week.