Mersey Basin Campaign Blog

Tom Workman prepares for his moment on camera...

Deckhands help to launch the boat at Fiddlers Ferry

Fred makes sure his lifejacket is securely fastened...

Fiddlers Ferry SC - departure point for the relay armada!

Sammy says...Fiddlers and Fred on the roof

Well! What a day I've had! The sun was shining for the penultimate leg of my hannibal-esque trek from Stockport to Liverpool - and that's lucky, because we had the cameras to think about, darling. Yes, that's right, you can call me Sammy the superstar from now on. I was the subject of an in-depth report by Fred 'The Weatherman' Talbot of Granada TV, who met me at Fiddlers Ferry Sailing Club, and waved me off on my sail-powered journey to Liverpool Sailing Club.

You know me, I'm happy to share the limelight, so I let Bev, Roger and Tom talk to Fred on camera about everything from how to navigate your way along the Mersey in a small, wobbly Mersey Falcon boat, to the way that my fellow salmon are starting to make the river their home again, and the details of my amazing achievement in travelling along the river this week. You should be able to see how they did on Granada Reports either Thursday or Friday evening.

Then it was time for me to join Colin and his band of hardy sailors from the club for the voyage to Liverpool. They'd done a lot of work to enable my cruise to go smoothly, and I thoroughly enjoyed a pre-trip brew at Fiddlers Ferry SC - as well as the sight of Fred scaling the clubhouse roof (well, it IS the bridge of an old ship), and braving a spin on the safety boat. 

We set off in fine style, and I like to think I showed the camera my finest Leonardo di Caprio impersonation as we floated over the horizon. The sailors had everything organised so that we could take advantage of the Mersey's tides, and reach our destination in optimum time.

It was almost a relief to arrive at Liverpool and find myself out of the glare of the media spotlight for once. Time to relax in LSC's beautiful carbon-neutral clubhouse and enjoy the view of the estuary......

Pictures will follow as soon as I've called my agent.

Is there time for me to have my scales buffed before I meet the Mayor of Liverpool on Saturday, do you think?

Wandering from Warrington

It was wonderful to meet the Warrington Ramblers on Tuesday.  They accompanied me on the next leg of my journey from Howley Weir to Fiddler’s Ferry.  We followed the river Mersey and canals running alongside it and learned all about the history of the different waterways – knowledgeable lot those ramblers!

The sun shone brightly all day and the sky was bright blue.  Luckily, I’d taken some factor 15 with me – wouldn’t have liked to have sunburnt my scales!  There were dozens of baby water birds – ducklings, goslings, cygnets and coot chicks, playing on the water and they all cheeped a cheery greeting to encourage me on my journey.

Mid afternoon I reached the sailing club at Fiddler’s Ferry, where I drank lashings of tea and ate sandwiches followed by my favourite ginger-nut biscuits. 

At the sailing club the tide was out and the sun was glistening on the mudflats and sand banks and there were lots more herons to watch out for.   Hope the tide is good tomorrow – I’m really looking forward to my sailboat ride down to Liverpool Sailing Club.  Can’t wait to see Tom Workman in his new clubhouse.

T.T.F.N.

Sammy

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fintastic film

Woah!

Check out this film of my voyage along the river with Warrington rowers. That's a SPEEDBOAT they're filming from - how FAST were we going?

Sammy says....

Phew! have you SEEN Gemma's pictures from Warrington Rowing Club? That was HARD WORK! I thought I was going to fall in a few times. Those rowers really work hard, I have to say. It was lovely evening for a row, even if the scenery did whizz by at a rate of knots. I'm not sure if I'll be taking part in the next Manchester vs Salford Boat Race, but I had a great time. I'm really excited today because it's actually World Environment Day. I'm going rambling in Warrington - thank goodness, a slower pace will suit me, or else I'll be a smoked salmon in this heat......

Sammy's crew report from Warrington...

Sammy's personal cox, Gemma, says:

Iain and myself travelled to Warrington last night to watch over the fourth leg of the baton relay, where Sammy the salmon enjoyed a trip down (and back up) the river with the Warrington Rowing Club.

Around 20 young rowers got out on the water on a beautiful summers evening to complete a 6k row. It looked like hard work, and we should know as we had a great view of the tired, red faces from the coaches' boat!You'll have to wait for the professional photos! I took these on my little digicam from the boat.

Striking a pose on my way along the Ship Canal!