Liverpool Bound

Had a good day yesterday. Apart from a bit of a breeze it was first class running weather, cool and dry. A marked contrast to last year’s wet windy and cold conditions.
I didn’t light any fires, but then I wasn’t planning to. After injury interrupted my training I was looking at a sub 47 minute time, and came in at 46:39. Still nearly 2 minutes slower than my PB for the distance, but satisfactory none the less. I completed the race comfortably, with no problems, so now I’ve something to build on for the next event in Sheffield in September.
The fantastic Haile Gebreselassie came in first, in just over 28 minutes.

Mags got a blurry shot of him near the start. “He was running fast”
At 37 most top athletes are looking to retire, but not this man. With 27 world records to his name, he’s still going strong.

35,000 runners set off in 6 waves to ease congestion on the narrow bits. We were back at the boat before the last wave got off.

Runners in the middle waves nearing the end.
There was a fair smattering of fancy dress characters on the course.
As usual an excellent event, well organised on a good course. The afternoon saw the Powerade Great Citygames, a unique event where the main street in the city, Deansgate, is converted into a running track of 250m, and top international athletes compete in sprints and hurdles.

We had our second quiet night in the basin, with the wind dropping the reflections on the water were glass clear.

The 50 storey Beetham Tower.
This is the tallest residential building in the UK. The Manchester Hilton is housed on the lower 23 floors.
The moorings were pretty full yesterday afternoon. Several hire boats arrived doing the Cheshire Ring. They were on their way early this morning, though.

Castlefield this morning
Our across the way neighbour. I hope no-one was aboard when that happened.

We had to stop for water and to empty the loos on the way out today, so it was around noon when we finally left the basin.

The Manchester Ship Canal near Pomona Lock
Goslings foraging on the towpath
We made a right turn at Waters Meeting, heading out of town through the Trafford Park industrial area.

You could be on the Canal Du Midi in France….
But lurking just behind the trees are factory units, warehouses…..

And the Trafford CentreNothing was moving on the Ship Canal this afternoon, but a container ship was loading or unloading on the staithe near Eccles.

Onto the swing aqueduct
Looking East
Looking West
We pushed on, past the unlikely lighthouse at Monton…

Lighthouse at Monton
And arrived at Worsley at around 14:30.

We moored opposite the Victorian boathouse (built to accommodate the Royal Barge for Queen Victoria’s visit in 1851), just down from The Packet House.

Moored in Worsley.
It’s been a fine, sunny afternoon after an indifferent sort of morning. The forecast is set fair for the week ahead. Just as well; we’ve 40 miles and 8 locks to go before meeting our BW chaperones at Bridge 9 near Aintree on Sunday morning. From there we’ll be escorted into Liverpool docks.

Locks 0, miles 7