Monthly Archives: August 2011

August 15th 2011 All quiet aboard

Well it does seem quiet on board after having our guests for the last few days and very nice it was to have them all on board. Today we carried on our way back albeit slowly to Mercia. We must complete on our our house move soon.  We need to be near our moorings so we […]

August 14th 2011 new guests arrive

After saying farewell to Cliff and Chris yesterday we left our moorings at Stoke Bruene and went back through the Blisworth tunnel and moored the other side at Blisworth. Today we have new guests, John, Alison and their son Steven are on board for the day. After a very nice day spent cruising up the […]

August 13th 2011 visitors on board

We have had a busy few days on Shell Bell.  On Thursday we met Chris and Cliff at the pub and after a drink transferred to the boat for tea, drinks and a chat, Chris asked about the crayfish trap so this was baited and dropped into the canal.We chatted on  late into the night as […]

August 10th 2011 Sheila does a pole and hat trick

We have turned back and have started the trip back north. Today was a real challenge with really strong winds blowing Shell Bell all over the place. Stopping to fill with water after our only lock of the day the captain found it difficult to get shell bell of the mooring,but Sheila grabbed the boat’s […]

August 9th 2011 retail therapy ???

We set off for Milton Keynes today in sunny but windy weather.  Only one lock today  just before Solomons bridge in Cosgrove and we went through with the family we locked up with yesterday.  Then we said goodbye to them as they were turning round to head home.   Next stop was the outskirts of […]

August 8th 2011 Yet another tunnel

We pulled the pins (mooring stakes) at around 10:00am and left Bugbrooke on a dull windy day. The plan was to get to Gayton junction and stop for water and empty the loo cassette, We made good time and moored at the sanitary station in a strong wind  – well done the captain, with everything sorted […]

August 7th 2011 we nearly lose drive ?

It was a good idea that we decided to have a short trip yesterday. After the Braunston Tunnel (a lot less scary than Harecastle)   we had to tackle seven double locks (luckily we locked up with a father and his two sons who were on a bonding weekend – made it quite easy).  We […]

August 5th 2011 Braunston in the sun

For those who wanted to know our exact location we will when possible include a map of  our location fingers crossed. We awoke to bright sunshine which shone brightly on the hills. Apparently the strips which can be seen in the field are known as furrow field patterns and were created by the villagers in […]

August 4th 2011 what happened to the sun

This morning we left Hungerfield at around 10:00am in light rain and very overcast conditions,although the temperature remained warm. The plan was to get to Rugby by lunch time and visit the the large Tesco store close to bridge 58. All was going to plan until we reached Rugby, and, with the rain now heavy most […]

August 2nd \ 3rd 2011 All locked out

It was very hot and sunny as we left Polesworth for Nuneaton.  On our journey we had eleven locks to go through.  Very hard work but the nice thing about locks is that you meet some lovely people and today was no exception.  There was a lady in front of us and one behind and […]