"Arkholme cross the Mersey"
After being consigned to dry land in 2016 due to illness and our 2017 route south blocked, until late May at the earliest, by the Bridgewater Canal stoppage at Boothstown we embarked upon the River Mersey escape route.
The Mersey escape route begins at Brunswick Lock at the end of the South Docks system, Liverpool, crosses the river to the Cheshire side, travels along the coast to Eastham Lock which is the entry to the Manchester Ship Canal. Passage is then made down the canal to the Ellsemere Port Boat Museum which gives entry to the Shropshire Union Canal.
As we were making the passage solo we employed the services of a pilot, Stuart Wood, who was invaluable.
A unbelievable amount of organisation has been done to get us to this stage.
Firstly Arkholme had to undergo a sea-worthy certificate carried out by a MSC surveyor (£120)
Brunswick Lock is booked through Liverpool Marina (£40) Permission to transit Eastham Lock and the Manchester Ship Canal is granted by the Marine Supervisor, Paul Kirby.(£65) He needs application form, seaworthy certificate, copy of insurance and payment 48 hours before prior to transit.
There is a swing bridge before the Ellesmere Port lock which need to be opened by arrangement with Ellesmere & Neston council.
Finally Canal & River Trust need to be aware of your intention to use the lock in the lower basin of the Boat Museum.
Raising Brunswick Lock bridge.
That's where we are heading!!!
We felt a good swell for about the first 5 minutes
Passing craft.
45 minutes of making excellent progress and Eastham is in sight. We could not have asked for better conditions, very little wind and a calm river.
Keeping right of the bouy.....
and so is this monster with whom we have to wait for before we are allowed to enter the lock.
So we nestle into the outer lock wall and wait with baited breath and afternoon tea!
Small by container standard but well big enough to dwarf Arkholme.
First attempt at entering the lock could have gone better!!!
Now its our turn, Trev is at the ready with the front rope.
All ready to rise up the lock.
As we were making the passage solo we employed the services of a pilot, Stuart Wood, who was invaluable.
A unbelievable amount of organisation has been done to get us to this stage.
Firstly Arkholme had to undergo a sea-worthy certificate carried out by a MSC surveyor (£120)
Brunswick Lock is booked through Liverpool Marina (£40) Permission to transit Eastham Lock and the Manchester Ship Canal is granted by the Marine Supervisor, Paul Kirby.(£65) He needs application form, seaworthy certificate, copy of insurance and payment 48 hours before prior to transit.
There is a swing bridge before the Ellesmere Port lock which need to be opened by arrangement with Ellesmere & Neston council.
Finally Canal & River Trust need to be aware of your intention to use the lock in the lower basin of the Boat Museum.
Raising Brunswick Lock bridge.
That's where we are heading!!!
We felt a good swell for about the first 5 minutes
Looking back at the lock......
and the Liverpool skyline.
Passing craft.
45 minutes of making excellent progress and Eastham is in sight. We could not have asked for better conditions, very little wind and a calm river.
Keeping right of the bouy.....
and so is this monster with whom we have to wait for before we are allowed to enter the lock.
So we nestle into the outer lock wall and wait with baited breath and afternoon tea!
Small by container standard but well big enough to dwarf Arkholme.
First attempt at entering the lock could have gone better!!!
Now its our turn, Trev is at the ready with the front rope.
Bring on the Manchester Ship Canal
The canal itself is wide and tree lined
Gaining speed the container passes us.
Passage from Eastham to Ellesmere Port takes about 45 minutes.
Ellesmere Port Lower Basin Lock.
Safely moored. A awesome adventure , well worth all the planning and a wonderful start to our 2017 cruising season!!!!
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