20 Oct 09 - Mersey

25th October 2009

Attracted by Queen Mary 2’s maiden call at Liverpool, I headed for the Mersey on Tue 20 Oct 09. The weather forecast had been for torrential rain but, in the event, this managed to hold off until I was well on my way home. The drive over the M62 was as bloody as it usually is with miles and miles of bloody roadworks with a 50mph limit and not so much as the slightest sign of any actual work going on and, of course, wall to wall trucks. I arrived at New Brighton before sun up and discovered, as I got out of the car, that the shipping forecast was dead right about the force 8 gale that had been predicted and that it was freezing cold as well. However, spirits perked up once some ships started showing up and the final score for the day was 26 ships of which 23 were new sightings. I can’t remember when (if ever) I’ve racked up a score like that in the UK – maybe on the Tees when I was still very low on the collector’s curve. A very successful (if somewhat chilly) day.

Dawn	Fort Perch Rock	Floral Pavilion	Liverpool Pilot
Royal Iris	Snowdrop	Apollo Lupus	Apollo Lupus
Apollo Lupus	Smit Collingwood	Smit Waterloo	Clipper Pace