In 2007 I rode the Leeds-Liverpool both ways including branches,over 254 miles - raising over £600 for Heartbeat - SEE FULL ALBUM: http://www.flickr.com/photos/barryspix/sets/72157622767838339/
figurative map of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal western section
Victoria Tower stands sedately on as the docks lay quiet,2007.
Old map showing course of canal
West half Leeds-Liverpool Canal
A big thankyou to Joe Neary,exacta2a on Flickr for allowing me to use his superb photos of the link section,he holds copyright to them. NB Liverbird having left Stanley locks sails through Stanley Dock to Victoria Tower,turning left into the marked channel photo courtesy Joe Neary.C 2009 Flickr exacta2a
Liverbird continues through Collingwood to Salisbury... photo courtesy Joe Neary.C 2009 Flickr exacta2a
Liverbird turns at Trafalgar into the newly formed channel which incorporates the original dock side and bollards... photo courtesy Joe Neary.C 2009 Flickr exacta2a
The new channel towards Princes Dock does have a tricky bend to negotiate.... photo courtesy Joe Neary.C 2009 Flickr exacta2a
Liverbird negotiates the bend towards Princes Dock... photo courtesy Joe Neary.C 2009 Flickr exacta2a
As the channel approaches Princes half tide Dock,there are buoys marking the way ahead here as in other places.... photo courtesy Joe Neary.C 2009 Flickr exacta2a
The barge Aintree setting the bouys marking the way in Princes Dock.Millenium bridge behind it.... photo courtesy Joe Neary.C 2009 Flickr exacta2a
Barge Aintree comes through the lock from Princes Dock... photo courtesy Joe Neary.C 2009 Flickr exacta2a
Barge Aintree now emerging from the tunnel towards the Pier Head...detailed MAP: http://www.britishwaterways.co.uk/media/documents/LCL_Skippers_Guide_A3.pdf photo courtesy Joe Neary.C 2009 Flickr exacta2a
The Aintree entrering the tunnel under the Museum building,detailed map: http://www.britishwaterways.co.uk/media/documents/LCL_Skippers_Guide_A3.pdf photo courtesy Joe Neary.C 2009 Flickr exacta2a
The finished new canal at Pier Head area,with the ferry terminal almost finished....MAP: http://www.britishwaterways.co.uk/media/documents/LCL_Skippers_Guide_A3.pdf photo courtesy Joe Neary.C 2009 Flickr exacta2a
Salthouse Dock has been fitted out with new jetties purpose built for canal boats...MAP: http://www.britishwaterways.co.uk/media/documents/LCL_Skippers_Guide_A3.pdf photo courtesy Joe Neary.C 2009 Flickr exacta2a
The Salthouse Dock jetties await visiting craft.... photo courtesy Joe Neary.C 2009 Flickr exacta2a
looking across the new Salthouse jetties towards the entrance to Albert Dock... photo courtesy Joe Neary.C 2009 Flickr exacta2a
The Final stretch to open water + 4 locks...MAP: http://www.britishwaterways.co.uk/media/documents/LCL_Skippers_Guide_A3.pdf photo courtesy Joe Neary.C 2009 Flickr exacta2a
A big thankyou to Joe Neary,exacta2a on Flickr for allowing me to use his superb photos of the link section,he holds copyright to them. The channel returns into Salisbury for Collingwood and Stanley.... photo courtesy Joe Neary.C 2009 Flickr exacta2a
The massive Grain Silo looking quite sad
Looking very sad presently,the once busy Stanley Dock wall and buildings,2007
The Tunnel for canal traffic to Stanley Dock
Barry Clare on charity ride 2007,bottom lock Stanley,Liverpool,see ALBUM: http://www.flickr.com/photos/barryspix/sets/72157622767838339/
looking up the 4 large locks from Stanley Dock to the Leeds-Liverpool Canal
lock 2 Pool,Stanley Locks,Eldonian Village on right
looking up Stanley Locks
The Merseyrail viaduct looking down the lock flight towards Stanley Dock
Looking down Stanley locks,the Victoria Tower just visible in background
Top of Stanley locks,Eldonian Village is on the left
Eldon Way,Vauxhall Bridge and Eldonian Basin,the canal did appear to continue further into Eldonian village,but was not accessable from here.
Sheltered loading at warehouse opposite Stanley Branch,Eldonian Basin
2007 There has not been much traffic here so weeding quite bad
2007 This area needs a good cleaning out to attract boats to new link when it's done
Must have been quite daunting for horsedrawn boatmen!The sign has extra protection from paint by scallies
A branch canal used to go off here in Bootle
British Waterways Maintainence Depot at Litherland there are watering/toilet/shower facilities for boaters here
Restored crane as monumemt where branch used to go off
Iris Park Walk,Melling
Near Melling
Heron was on flotsam,centre;bottom right a cowering waterhen dare not move,I was chasing the heron for a photo on my bike,thus not central alignment of shot!
GOT IT !Grey Heron,centre picture.Took some chasing (on my bike)to photograph this !
More weedy stretches,not much boating passed here recently,thus the abundant wildlife
Near Melling out in the fields.Grass carp were introduced around here and have bred like crazy.The weed is lesser and the water itself is quite clean and free of industrial effluents or silt
MAGHULL.One of several swing bridges.This seems to be quite a nice town with good housing and nice gardens etc
Maghull;not much weeding here,much more boat movement .Very picturesque parkland stretch here.
Downholland
between Aintree and Melling
near Melling
Outskirts of Kirkby
WW2 defence Pill Box at Heatons bridge,near Pinfold(Scarisbrick)
West of Burscough
Burscough Bridge
The Old Corn Mill at Burscough
East of Burscough Mill
Dutch barge near Burscough
New paintjob,near Burscough
Sign at Burscough Junction
Looking under Junction bridge from Rufford branch to main line - Wigan left,Liverpool right.
