Arrived in Liverpool - and got to say that today has been the WORSE weather so far: it rained this morning (so packed away tent wet), dried up briefly then rained on and off all day. My trousers would get soaked, dry off briefly then get soaked again. This wee apartment in Toxteth is draped with wet gear - fortunately there is heated towel rail in the bathroom!
The google maps sent me astray many times today - a field next to the canal, a gate I couldn't get the trailer through etc. etc. So I ended up on the A589 -much of the way. Noisy with traffic but usually a pavement to cycle on. Mabli didn't get to run so much today, but she enjoyed the field!
Saw lots of herons, ducks and ducklings, and swans and cygnets.
Liverpool suburbs went on and on - lots of new houses, and dilapidated old houses - and mills. Went through Ansfield - saw lads playing football. I sailed past more familiar names - Aintree, Jacob Cream cracker factory, an interesting sculpture place, big hotels, empty car parking lots. Went past the LIverpool University - saw the Yoko Ono/Lennon building.
I'm now in Toxteth, the flat I rented via air b&b is opposite a huge mural of Nelson Mandela, and I haven't witnessed as much ethnic diversity since I lived in London.
Went shopping for my evening meal in a halal shop around the corner... I have a little kitchen in this flat, so I got 1 onion, 1 tomato, 1 wee red pepper, half dozen eggs and a packet of spicy noodles. Stir fried veg and eggy noodles - yum - with a chilli bite to it all, from the wee packet of spices in the noodle packet. There was a bottle of sunflower oil in the cupboard so that was handy. (Nothing else, mind - no salt, pepper etc). Then I dried my tent off - caught up with social media (almost).
Slept well. Woke up in plenty of time to pack and catch the 'Ferry - across the Mersey" - and spotted the Liver Birds enroute.
T'other side of the Mersey - made my way to meet up with Kevin - who I haven't seen for about 25yrs - and who supported me when I started up Woodcraft Folk in Lustleigh first time round. I met Scarlett - his 17yr old daughter - a DF who knows several other Exeter DFs from DF camp last year (Remi, Angus and... name escapes me). Kevin hasn't changed much! Also met his MIL who hails from Plymouth and will beat me back to Devon - going home tomorrow.
I am off to see Fiona tomorrow - very exciting - we trained together how many years ago? Feb 1982 intake, set 255 at UCH iirc?!
Fiona lives near Chester, so I'm hoping to get up early and take the "Ferry - cross the Mersey" (last crossing in the morning is 9.30am I think - takes 10mins). (I DID catch the boat, if you see last paragraph - calling in on Kevin en route)
I was raising funds for the Woodcraft Folk centenary camp (to help Exeter District Woodies attend) on this trip - and it seemed very apt that I met Kevin again at the wonderful Centenary celebration 10 day Woody camp at Kelmarsh Hall in August 2025.
The google maps sent me astray many times today - a field next to the canal, a gate I couldn't get the trailer through etc. etc. So I ended up on the A589 -much of the way. Noisy with traffic but usually a pavement to cycle on. Mabli didn't get to run so much today, but she enjoyed the field!
Saw lots of herons, ducks and ducklings, and swans and cygnets.
Liverpool suburbs went on and on - lots of new houses, and dilapidated old houses - and mills. Went through Ansfield - saw lads playing football. I sailed past more familiar names - Aintree, Jacob Cream cracker factory, an interesting sculpture place, big hotels, empty car parking lots. Went past the LIverpool University - saw the Yoko Ono/Lennon building.
I'm now in Toxteth, the flat I rented via air b&b is opposite a huge mural of Nelson Mandela, and I haven't witnessed as much ethnic diversity since I lived in London.
Went shopping for my evening meal in a halal shop around the corner... I have a little kitchen in this flat, so I got 1 onion, 1 tomato, 1 wee red pepper, half dozen eggs and a packet of spicy noodles. Stir fried veg and eggy noodles - yum - with a chilli bite to it all, from the wee packet of spices in the noodle packet. There was a bottle of sunflower oil in the cupboard so that was handy. (Nothing else, mind - no salt, pepper etc). Then I dried my tent off - caught up with social media (almost).
Slept well. Woke up in plenty of time to pack and catch the 'Ferry - across the Mersey" - and spotted the Liver Birds enroute.
T'other side of the Mersey - made my way to meet up with Kevin - who I haven't seen for about 25yrs - and who supported me when I started up Woodcraft Folk in Lustleigh first time round. I met Scarlett - his 17yr old daughter - a DF who knows several other Exeter DFs from DF camp last year (Remi, Angus and... name escapes me). Kevin hasn't changed much! Also met his MIL who hails from Plymouth and will beat me back to Devon - going home tomorrow.
I am off to see Fiona tomorrow - very exciting - we trained together how many years ago? Feb 1982 intake, set 255 at UCH iirc?!
Fiona lives near Chester, so I'm hoping to get up early and take the "Ferry - cross the Mersey" (last crossing in the morning is 9.30am I think - takes 10mins). (I DID catch the boat, if you see last paragraph - calling in on Kevin en route)
I was raising funds for the Woodcraft Folk centenary camp (to help Exeter District Woodies attend) on this trip - and it seemed very apt that I met Kevin again at the wonderful Centenary celebration 10 day Woody camp at Kelmarsh Hall in August 2025.
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