After many delays and disappointments, two boats from the Fund Britain’s Waterways flotilla finally made the passage across the Mersey to Liverpool Docks.
STEVE Burt reports: “There were three boats in the convoy. We (Steve and Fiona on Lutra) were the middle boat, with White Butterfly (Paul, Bev and Carter the dog) behind us. The lead boat was a single liveaboard we met on the River Weaver, so not officially FBW.
“The weather forecast was for a low force three, but this actually dropped to force two from the north-west on the day, making for a relatively smooth passage. We left Eastham Lock at 10.45am and cruised steadily against the tide, keeping outside the four green Eastham channel buoys. The Mersey is expansive here, with large sandbanks, and our boats felt very small.
Enjoy more Towpath Talk reading every month.
Click here to subscribe & save.
“Turning towards the iconic skyline of Liverpool, we had to hack our way across the shipping lanes. Thankfully, we encountered nothing bigger than a couple of tugs. The Mersey is narrower here, so the tide is stronger, testing our engine to its limit and making the water much choppier.
“We were relieved to enter the newly repaired Brunswick Lock (a lock within a lock) at 12.45pm, but it was a further half-hour cruising through the warren of Liverpool Docks before we reached the Canal & River Trust’s pontoon moorings in Salthouse Dock.”
Brownhills Canal Festival
The FBW attended Brownhills Canal Festival, on the Wyrley and Essington Canal at Silver Street, organised by the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust. Despite shallow water and weed, many boats attended, including historic narrowboats Nutfield (1936), Raymond (1958) and Roach (1935). Herb Eppel, who managed the FBW stall, said: “It was the perfect opportunity for the FBW to go on an outing, and it was great to share the space with star photographer and Towpath Talk contributor Kev Maslin. We will be back next year!”
Holme Fen fire
FBW boaters attempting to navigate the River Nene found their passage blocked when Dog in a Doublet Lock was subject to an emergency closure order to allow water abstraction for use fighting a major fire at Holme Fen. The water was channelled to the site via the Middle Level Navigations; one consequence was that Bevill’s Leam and the Twenty Foot River reversed their direction of flow. According to the Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, at the height of the operation up to 10,000 litres of water was being used to dampen the smoke every minute; peat fires such as this one burn underground and are difficult to extinguish.”
GOBA meets MPs
The Great Ouse Boating Association represents boaters on the rivers Great Ouse and other East Anglian waterways. They have worked hard to meet all the MPs whose constituencies border the river, most recently Ben Obese-Jecty, MP for Huntingdon and St Ives. GOBA chair Nigel Morris and Mike Starnes took him on a boat trip to inspect the St Ives Sluice and to witness the duckweed which is currently a serious problem on the Ouse.
Shirley flies the flag
Among FBW’s indefatigable champions, special mention must go to Shirley Sefton, of NB September Sapphire. She has done her very best to ensure that everyone along the campaign cruise route has been made aware by means of vigorous flag waving and banner displaying. Not everyone can follow Shirley’s example, but it’s easy to show support by signing the FBW petition at www.change.org/p/fundbritainswaterways
