The Wheel Up and the Cavern Club Down.

 Thursday 10th August 2023 in Liverpool.

This morning, we said au revoir to our lovely Floridian friends Chris and Debbie on nb "Hirondelle" as they had decided to go back along the Liverpool Link and up the Stanley flight back on to the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. Like some of the other boaters here, they were getting a bit twitchy after being stuck this side of Burscough for several weeks.

The leak in the canal at Burscough is still not due to be fixed until 19th August, so they will have to bide their time before they can start back to King's Bromley, where they moor for the winter. But at least it will be a change of scene for them.

After breakfast, we walked across to the M&S Bank Arena and the big Wheel as we had decided to have a trip on the Wheel. On the way, we saw this "Peace and Harmony" monument dedicated to John Lennon by Julia and Cynthia Lennon on what would have been John's 70th birthday.

Discovering that the Wheel doesn't open until 11:00, we had no option but to return to the Albert Dock for coffee and cake!

 

Returning to the Wheel, we found that there was no queue, so we walked right in. From the side, it looks like a very pretty bracelet.

 

There is one special "VIP" cabin but we decided against it partly because it is at least five times more expensive, partly because we thought that it was too early in the morning to be drinking champagne (!) but mainly because it has a glass floor and M wouldn't hear of it!

However, the view from the normal cabins was just as good. This is looking back towards Salthouse Dock and MM - you can just make out the washing line up!

The view across Albert Dock and out to sea was well worth the price alone. 

Looking down on the M&S Bank Arena (where the Eurovision competition took place) gives an idea of how high the wheel is.

 Taking place in the Arena this week is the International Baton Twirling World Championships. A clue was a number of young people practising in the courtyard in front of the Arena.

There are, apparently, 2,400 contestants from all over the world. All around the city you could see groups in uniforms representing the country that they came from and all were carrying twirling batons.

A common sight was to see groups like these Czech contestants lining up in front of the wheel for a photograph.

Considering that this was a "World Championship", the publicity was non existent. The only notice was this screen that did tell you that the World Championship was taking place today, but neglected to mention that it ran all week from 4th to 13th August, nor did it invite you to attend. We did ask at the "Box Office" nearby; it had no indication as to what was on at the Arena, didn't have any leaflets or programmes, told us if we wanted more information to look on line and said that seats were available at £35 each for each day.

Deciding that there were a lot of things that we would rather do with £70, we headed towards the Cavern Club. On the way, we passed an old fashioned "Punch and Judy" show. Nice to see that it can still exist in these "sensitive" times. William, the young man operating the puppets and doing the voices, was brilliant with the spectators.

Although the Cavern Club still exists exactly where it used to, the original was demolished  and so this is actually a recreation. The entrance has also been moved as the old entrance/exit was considered to be too difficult in an emergency.

Opposite the entrance, a familiar figure leans nonchalantly against the wall, watching the people going in.

Even the new entrance is quite steep and about three storeys down.

Inside, the Club is incredible. There is almost continuous excellent live music and the collection of memorabilia is astonishing. Almost everyone who is anyone has visited and/or played here and left some memento behind. The young man below was playing the Rolling Stones track "The Last Time" which M remembered was released as a single when she was sitting her A-levels.

Imagine seeing the Beatles in the Cavern Club for just 6/6 (32p)! MInd you, that was pre-Ringo!

Even Charles and Camilla served behind the bar; "One's Usual Sir?".

We spent a happy hour wandering around looking at all the photographs, posters and memorabilia. Probably the best £5 each that we have spent this week.