Photography and Drinks at the Augustus John

High Tide at the Pier Head

Today, the weather was sunny with a light wind, so I decided to go down to the Pier Head to do some photography. Walking from the Liverpool One bus station to the Princes Dock.

I’ve used some of the photos in the various diary posts for this trip.

The photo above shows a very high tide, just over seven metres. The water was choppy, with waves crashing onto the embankment. At one point, I was concentrating so much on taking a photo that I didn’t notice a large wave approaching the bank. It soaked my feet, making the people around me laugh. You can see the water on the embankment in the above photo; that’s where I was standing.

While I was there, two tankers were heading upriver, one being guided by tugboats. Photos of them appear in previous posts about this trip. Not great photos, my hand was shaking a bit.

A pleasant walk.

Lunch at the Vernon Arms

After the walk, I needed a pint and an early lunch, so I headed to the Vernon Arms, an excellent pub close to the end of my walk. I’ve written about this pub before.

I had steak pie, chips, peas and gravy (just under £8), nothing to write home about, but it filled me up. The food at the Ship and Mitre just up the road is much better, but a bit more expensive.

26 Bus, The Sheil Road Circular

Today I wanted to see where the 26 bus stopped in town. I caught a 27 to the Liverpool One bus station, then a 26 bus to the Great Richmond Street stop, the first outside town. In town, it only stops at James Street Station and just before North John Street. Stupidly, it does not stop near the Queens Square bus station. Incredibly stupid.

I’d arranged to meet John at the Augustus John at 2 pm, which gave me an hour. Easily enough time. Except there were no buses back to town (after the 26 dropped me off) because Norton Street was closed, a complete disaster. I quickly decided the best approach was to catch a bus further out of town and another bus back in, along a different route. It worked and eventually got me back to the Queens Square bus station.

From there, the buses to the Augustus John were severely delayed. I decided to speed-walk over to Lime Street station to get a taxi. I was just over half an hour late. Without the taxi, I’d probably be nearly an hour late. When I met John, he told me that his bus was delayed by heavy traffic. Caused by the closed road.

Still, I now know how the Shiel Road circular buses work in town. Not much use, unless travelling to or from the Baltic Fleet.

Liverpool needs a circular bus around the town centre. Most other cities have one; why not Liverpool?

The Augustus John

The Augustus John is a pleasant pub out at the University, by the Catholic Cathedral (Paddy’s Wigwam). It’s next to the students’ union, but has a wider clientele than just students. Lecturers and locals also use it. It’s not expensive; real ales cost £4 a pint. They also sell two or three Ciders and Perrys. You have to pay by card.

It’s the local CAMRA branch pub of the year for 2026.

They sell pizzas. I was going to have one until the barman at the Belvedere told me they were brought in and microwaved. Student food, I guess.

After a session with John, it was back to Alison’s for my last night of the dreaded quizzes. I had a long wait for the bus back (7). It runs half-hourly; the one I went for was half an hour late. Two arrived at once.