It’s Saturday, the 22th of October, when a beautiful decorated WRT (red and white roses) leaves Scarisbrick Marina.
Beautiful Decorated
We’re on our way towards Liverpool. With a stop at the New Scarisbrick Arms, where we will cheer when shortboat Kennet goes past (on her way from Leeds to Liverpool) and where we will attend the boatersclub’s Breakfast. With us are Rorah (with Ann and Mick) and Tin Lizzie (with Bill).
Waiting for Kennet
It’s late when Kennet finally passes The New Scarisbrick Arms (and us). But cheer we do. And blow horns. And ring bells.
Kennet (finally)
After an (as per usual) delicious meal on the Saturday night, and a full English breakfast on the Sunday everybody in the boaterclub goes back to the marina, except for us.
Meat (but not as we know it)
We resume our westerly course towards Liverpool.
Towards Liverpool
After a stop at Litherland we are just in time at the Stanley Locks. After that it’s the ocean-liner-feeling again.
Canning Dock Liverpool
Three days we spent in Liverpool. Unfortunately it’s children’s holiday again, so museums and town are packed with families and (screaming) children.
Salthouse Dock
But we manage. And guess who’s there as well?
Kennet again
On the Thursday we start heading back to home base.
Stanley Locks
We stop for the night at bridge 10, where WRT tries to run away…
Lawrance does the bridge, I’m on the tiller, and as I jump off to moor up after the bridge the wind starts blowing like hell. And off she goes, to the other side of the canal. I can hold her 18 ton under normal circumstances, but not with a force 12 wind. Luckily for me there is a couple, walking on the towpath…
The next night it’s New Scarisbrick Arms again.
New Scarisbrick Arms again
Back in the marina we fuel up, for the last time this year. And start preparing ourselves for a long, dark winter.
Home for the winter?
As already mentioned before, I start making my own bread again. A very tasty, multi-seed sourdough bread, with an almost perfect crumb. I also started to make yoghurt, but at the moment that’s still in the experimental phase…
We celebrate my birthday, and I get a painting of WRT.
WRT in WRT
And we have numerous stunning sunsets and sunrises. I’m probably the only one that sees the sunrises… But twice I just have to interrupt breakfast preparations, grab my camera, and get out on a frozen jetty.
Sunrise 1
Sunrise 2
Finally, the latest ‘event’ so far was Lawrance’s cataract. This time his left eye got hoovered out and got a new lens. He can see clearly now…