Thursday 11 June

Tina goes to 2 City Learning Centres – specialist, high tech areas where schools book in and bring students for specialised work/projects.

I start the day with library internet and a read of a quality paper – an hour-and-a-half goes by in relaxed fashion.

Having got confused yesterday I navigate successfully to Woodside Ferry. Both the pamphlet and Uncle Tom had talked about the pay and display parking. No different to NZ and everywhere over here. So imagine my surprise when I drove up to the ferry building and there was this large, open area with no machine, no signs and no markings on the ground. This was a strange as EVERYWHERE there are road markings (mostly saying you cannot park here) and paid parking. I parked in the empty area and wandered in. I went to the café first, had a cuppa and asked the blonde behind the counter. She stared at me as if I was stupid and asked another blonde what a carpark was! Back outside I approached two elderly gents and they were surprised when I asked them – they had never noticed and assumed it was all pay and display. Shows you how conditioned people can become. Finally I went back inside and asked at the ticket counter and, yes, it is free parking … until Monday!!! Great, some parking for free. Very rare. The amazing thing was how empty it was but the two pay and display areas attached to it were full!

I buy my ferry and submarine tickets. Decide to go on the ferry across the Mersey first. Ferry pulls into the dock. We are all standing around … I notice an interesting building (turns out to be for the road tunnel ventilation), take some photos, turn around … and the ferry is gone. A lesson is learnt – the ferry does not muck around!

No worries, I do the submarine first. This is the German submarine U-534 which did not surrender at the end of the war despite orders to do so. It was sunk by depth charges and rumours abounded about a secret mission and what treasure the sub might contain. It was raised in 1993 but no treasure was found (apart from new and rare torpedoes that MIGHT have been going to Japan to continue the war). The submarine ended up in Liverpool and was neglected until 2008 when this brilliant new home was found for it. They have cut it into 4 bits so you can see inside it. Very recommended.

Across the Mersey to Liverpool. As we get off the Gerry and the Pacemakers song “Ferry Cross The Mersey” is played. I immediately hit the Beatles and Liverpool Football Club shop. Buy many things including two cool Beatles ties.

Then a lovely stroll to Albert Dock and The Beatles Story attraction – very detailed with headsets. Well done. I get a taxi back to the ferry but ask the lovely driver to give me a brief tour. He takes me to Mathews St and the Cavern Club and to tomorrow’s hotel so I am orientated. Excellent.

Back at the ferry in the queue there is a man on a bike behind me. He is cycling from John O’ Groats (top of Scotland) to Land’s End (end of England). What amazed me about this is how little he was carrying – 2 small panniers at the back. No pack; nothing else.

On the ferry trip back I sat inside a big pigeon flew in – flying low and slowly. Two crew chased it around whilst the rest of us ducked down as the pigeon dive-bombed us.

Tonight we take Uncle Tom and Aunty Margaret for a meal. We go to The Farmers Arms – another traditional, old style pub. Tina and I have Traditional Scouse with pickled red cabbage. Delicious, cheap and very filling.