Log No 190. Tue 26th Nov 2013 - Southport to Liverpool, 22 miles (2930 miles walked)

Having camped in Southport I was able to get an early start and was away by 07.30. It was cloudy but dry with very little wind and much milder than yesterday.

I had an hour on the cycleway adjacent to the very busy minor road along the coast, there was no view due to the sand dunes.

At Ainsdale I got onto the beach, another wide expanse of flat hard packed sand.

It was empty apart from the odd dog walker but this beach is apparently used for kite powered racing.

Speaking to one dog walker he told me you can walk on the beach all the way to Liverpool. I was slightly dubious because there was a river to cross and the small matter of the MOD Firing Ranges.

I don't know if any of the locals go digging for "Spoots" but the tide line suggests there are plenty to be had.

Coming towards Formby I spoke to another dog walker to ask if he knew the extent of the MOD land as I had to get across the river somewhere.

The bridge I had earmarked as a crossing point was apparently inside the MOD boundary so it was a slight detour to get to the public footpath, which turned out to be a cycleway, alongside the railway line, going to the village of Hightown.

There was plenty of shooting going on and there was a manned security check point just across from where I was walking on the outskirts of the village.

From Hightown I took a footpath meandering through the dunes, with all the dog walking there was a myriad of paths to choose from.

It would have been quicker if I had headed directly to the shore as it turned out there was another cycleway there which wasn't shown on the map.

Looking at the River Alt as it found it's way to the sea I would probably have had to wait until the tide was right out before I could have crossed it easily.

Stewart had told me that when I get to Crosby I would see 100 statues in the sea, well the tide was out so most of them were on the beach.

These statues are made of cast iron and are a lifesize model made from a mould of Antony Gormley himself. Antony Gormley is the artist who designed the "Angel of the North" statue.

With 100 statues on the beach you would think it would be crowded, but far from it as they are well spread out.

They each have an identity bracelet on with their number, those furthest out from the shore are more heavily encrusted with barnacles.

An information board on the promenade says they are seen here for the first time in the UK after being in Germany, Norway and Belgium and will be moving to another site in 2006!!

After leaving the promenade at Crosby I was coming into the docklands of Bootle so I was forced inland to walk on the pavement by the main road into Liverpool.

This last 5 miles had nothing to recommend it and I made my to the railway station without delay and without seeing anything of Liverpool.

Hopefully I should get to see something tomorrow, I've never been here before.

The train station was a bit of a surprise, having to go underground.

22 miles in under 7 hours then it me 3 hours to get back to Southport and then drive the camper ahead to Runcorn on the very busy roads.

It struck me the other day that I am doing the coast 3 times: by foot, by public transport and driving the camper.