Liverpool is Fab!

Despite the dodgy alternator, we scraped our way out of the marina in extremely windy conditions to travel towards Aintree. We moored on the 'Melling Straight' with nb Gloriana. Next morning, again pretty windy and cold, we did the last few miles and swingbridge by 9.30 to join 6 other boats all going to Liverpool with our BW escort. We were joined by Chris's sister and brother-in-law who were, like us, very excited to be making this trip - for me it was my first ever visit to Liverpool. Two swing bridges on, and after stopping at Litherland for facilities, also for most of us to remove Liverpool's rubbish from our props, we set off the last stretch to meet the BW team at Stanley Locks. A good flight down and soon we were weaving our way through the docks - following the buoys marking the route. Eventually turned into the lovely Albert Dock and then into Salthouse where we found very good, wide pontoons (with elec hook up!) and water points. Time for a very late lunch.

We then had four whole days to explore this wonderful city. The low moorings were quiet despite being in the centre of town and beside a very busy wide road. We managed to squeeze a lot in - 2 cathedrals, Red Bus Tour, Maritime (and Slavery) Museum, the Beatles Story (fantastic and with 2 sites it takes ages if you hear and read everything, as we did!), marvellous echoing circular Reading Room at the Library (now closed for restoration), Mersey Ferry trip, Crosby beach to see the 100 Gormley statues. There was so much to do, much of it free, and we didn't even go shopping! It would be easy to fill the allowed 2 weeks stay - without exhausting yourself as we did! It really was a fantistic stay with wonderful moorings.

The return journey was also good - apart from managing to catch a runaway buoy on our rudder, the 2 concrete blocks stopping the gates from closing on the 2nd lock (no they were not from our buoy), a sunken car and another stop at Litherland to leave the prop rubbish behind.

Next day I was back in the marina on hook up. As the alternator had worked intermittently on the trip, they returned the new one eventually ordered and said they didn't know what to do next. Chris and Mary went home and the next day I left the marina to moor outside. The following evening the alternator worked but, of course, Bank Holiday friday it didn't. Luckily I was opposite Mersey Motor Boat Club (my cunning plan - I am a member of AWCC via Cutweb) and they were able to give me a hook up for the weekend etc. Now waiting for their highly recommended resident engineer to find a solution to my baffling problem. The mooring also gives me a chance to go to visit son Steve and family in Devon next weekend, so I will definitely not be leaving here until at least 12th May.