Summer Cruise 2017 ❶❺

Summer Cruise 2017 (15)

Now Subtitled: "The Magnificent Two go to Liverpool" Nb Rose of Arden team up with various boats to enjoy a summer cruise along the inland waterways.

 
Salthouse Dock Liverpool to Parbold Bridge 37D


Date:  09/08/2017

Overnight the weather  was cold and overcast with a few light showers. By morning the overcast was broken with a bit of blue sky way off in the distance.

Morning:  We prepared for our departure at 07:30. Topping up water tanks and stowing things away in cupboards. We were at Man Island lock at 07:50 to be met by lock keeper Sid and his crew. We paired up with Nb Milly crewed by Jane and Willem. Three tunnels (St Nicholas Tunnel, Cunard Tunnel and Museum Tunnel) and what is known as "Sid's Ditch" then up the flight. By 09:30 we were exiting the top lock. We headed for Litherland swing bridge and the first trip down the weed hatch.


Afternoon:  At 12 noon  pm which was our appointed time we started for Swing bridge 6 which is operated by CaRT. there were 7 boats in the convoy. Periodically at various swing bridges the convoy would loose a participant. Usually because one was being tardy in keeping up and people waiting to cross the bridge were grumbling. Soon their was a nucleolus of four boats. Nb Milly, Nb Remembrance, Rose of Arden and Nb Fenland Breeze. Late afternoon we were entertained by a cyclist who rode off the towpath and into the cut. His cycling partner was in hysterics and we were finding it hard to keep a straight face. He climbed out - then went back in to recover his bike.

Evening: By 7:30pm the last two in the convoy had, had enough so we moored up at Parbold Bridge 37D.  Food, weed hatch, shower and beer in that order. By 8:30pm we were treated to an amazing sunset.

Wildlife:  Rat and Rabbit!

Birds: House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Starling, Blackbird, Mallard, Mute Swan, Goldfinch, Coot, Moorhen, Cormorant, Canadian Goose, Kingfisher, Grey Heron, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Buzzard, Greater Black Backed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Black Headed Gull, Common Tern, Arctic Tern, Sedge Warbler, Swallow, House Martin and Swift.

Butterflies: Meadow Brown, Common White, Small White, Tortoiseshell, Peacock and Red Admiral.

Damselfly: Banded Damselfly and Common Blue Damselfly,

Dragonflies: Emperor, Ruddy Darter and Four Spot Chaser.

Today's Total:

Miles: 28.8
Locks: 6
Swing / Lift Bridges: 16
Tunnels: 3
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 14.0


Accumulated Total:  

Miles: 2923.5
Locks: 1825
Swing / Lift Bridges: 398
Tunnels: 77
Pump Outs: 27
Engine Hours: 3903.6