Nope, not the candies. I don’t eat that kind of stuff if I can avoid it. This stands for Mersey and Medway, two rivers close to my home.
The Mersey, in the back of my house was used for shipbuilding until 1962. In that year, the fixed bridge was installed in 1962, probably a while after the last ship-building activities had ceased.
I have often photographed that bridge as it’s an easy target from the backyard. Yet every time I see it, it presents a new challenge to “get it right”
Mersey River Bridge in Liverpool
So here is the Liverpool Bridge again, just so you won’t forget it 
. The area where I live is dominated by 2 fairly strong rivers, although neither of them is navigable.
Mersey River
Both of these rivers have their namesakes in the UK as well. The Mersey river is not navigable anymore, at least not past the fixed bridge. Before the bridge is still a harbour area for fishing boats, that’s also where we get our freshly frozen scallops.
Medway
The Medway, some 15 kilometres away has never been navigable and has never seen any commercial activities on its banks. This is the wilder river of the two, for sure. It is flanked by a road that needs grading every year, but doesn’t get that every year…
Medway
Some years, it’s fine to drive on, the next year you need a big 4x4 to get through the holes (I wouldn’t call those potholes anymore). But either way, the drive is a great one, if you avoid driving it after a period of rain, that is…
Medway, on the wild side
My all-wheel-drive vehicle is a modest Ford Escape. It has seen a lot of roads and paths where it shouldn’t have been in the first place. From deeply snowed-in roads in Manitoba to muddy and rocky roads in Nova Scotia. This road is no different.
Medway, on the wild side
But when the roads are frozen, then all bets are off 
. And when you don’t bet on a decent road, you come across scenes like the one above. That makes all the difficult driving worthwhile.
Mersey, just before a dam
The Mersey River is a bit more “civilized” in the sense that it has plenty of bridges over it, and most of all, hydro dams for electricity. Those dams and hydro stations ensure that the roads are better maintained and a little larger. After all, the trucks for Hydro will need to pass frequently. It doesn’t always make the road more passable, but maintenance is more frequent.
Mersey
On the Mersey, there is even a hotel/resort that is open year-round.
Whatever the road conditions, both of these rivers are an absolute must for photographers. All seasons look wonderful in this area and if you are here, you should definitely reserve a day or two to visit the area and wear out your camera in the process .
Until next time…