Took colleague Frank for a paddle on the Mersey recently. My favourite spot to go, and only a minute from where Ree lives. We paddled to the cormerand rock below the Bluff, past the Lighthouse, and back again past the Port side marker. We paddled over the shipwreck which was completely covered by the tide. I went back the next day and took some photos.
I saw what looked like a plastic bag floating in the river and decided to pick it up. It turned out to be a floating rock! We also had a huge seagull dive 10m. in front of me into the water and come out with a fish. The fish darted out of its beak, somersaulted and landed back inside as the bird flew off. My camera was on my lap...
The shipwreck in the river is the G. Ward Cole, an iron twin-screw steam dredge, 431/196 tons. Built in Renfrew, Scotland, 1889 and registered in Melbourne in 1890. Lbd 146.5 x 32.2 x 11.3 ft. Whilst under the command of captain F. M. Calvert it parted from her cables in a heavy squall and grounded on the Mersey River breakwater on 29 October 1930. Damaged beyond economical repair, dismantled and abandoned.
