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We began today’s walk at Seaforth and Litherland Merseyrail Station and made our way up to the site of the old lift bridge where the sausage factory used to stand. En route we stopped to admire the Beatles and John Lennon murals where a visitor from the USA was having his photo taken. As we reached the canal, we saw the magnificent frontage of the Red Lion Hotel (and a magnificent rainbow mohican punk haircut on one of its employees). Setting off northwards, we walked along a stretch between housing and other buildings before the west side opened onto Rimrose Valley, which is now largely a recreational landscape, but a further role as a road linking the docks to the newish Thornton/Brooms Cross is firmly on the cards! As the canal turned eastwards alongside Rimrose Valley Country Park, we saw a juvenile cormorant standing on the far bank near the motionless body of an adult cormorant. It was hard not to conclude that the parent? had sadly met its end. We passed through Ford and under Cooksons Bridge with modern housing on both banks. After passing the Netherton Activity Centre we took a slight detour at the Netherton Swing Bridge down Aldrins Lane to Netherton Green. Here, David Scott gave us a short talk on the historic interest of the area, pointing out the priests house with the hidden St Benets Chapel behind, the foundation stone of St Benets school and the workers cottages from 1914. After a drinks break, we rejoined the canal and continued towards the Old Roan passing under the A59 and skirting Aintree Racecourse. We saw golfers on the nine hole course within the racecourse as we passed the famous Canal Turn section of the course. Turning left past Handcock’s Swing Bridge, we crossed an aqueduct before passing under the M57 motorway and reaching Waddicar after Ledson’s Bridge. Shortly afterwards we came to Holmes Swing Bridge and left the canal to encounter the hazardous muddy slippery flooded footpath. Safely through this part, the rocky path (Melling Rocks) led us through New House Farm to the Bootle Arms. Unlike the last time we were here, we didn’t have to dry off before our well earned meals!