This is the blog of Norwyn & Sheila aboard their narrowboat Shell Bell.
part of shell bells new central heating
It was after a long train and bus journey that we finally reached Willington at 6.15pm. We were so grateful that Stuart (who had been putting the central heating in Shell Bell) turned up at the station to pick us up. He took us back and showed us how the heating works. It looks very posh and was very, very, very warm. The unit and the header tank are both very small and it’s like playing dolls’ houses. In our absence Shell Bell had also been blacked and she looked very smart.
We unpacked and set off for the co-op to get some tea. As we went out we bumped into John, Nancy and Paddy from Perfect Harmony and caught up with their adventures.
Tomorrow we leave Mercia and won’t return here until winter.
Shell Bell re-blacked looks really smart
We have been at home in Bungay this week whilst the work is being carried out on Shell Bell, she should by now have been blacked and the central heating should have started to be installed, I will phone tomorrow to get an update. The purchasers of our house sent there surveyor round today, so hopefully things will start moving soon, seems to be taking an age. We have planned our next cruise and hopefully depending on one or two things we should go back on Shell Bell on Monday, we will then make our way down the Trent and Mersey and up the Macclesfield canal to visit friends in Bollington. The plan also includes having Ben and Claire on board for a few days during the trip.
Not a canal but the River Waveney at Bungay
We had a lazy start to the morning but then got busy stowing everything away and packing some items to take back home with us. We payed a visit to Justin at Aqua boats just to check everything was still ok for Shell Bell to have her bottom blacked on Monday a process that takes around three days,we found Justin on board one of his hire boats making it ready for new customers,but although very busy still found time to take down particulars of a couple of quotes we would like, for having some internal alterations done to Shell Bell and of course he confirmed that all was ok for the blacking to start on Monday. Next stop was at Midland chandlers on site to replace the chimney cover we lost the previous day.(commonly called the china man’s hat) Before we left the boat I gave Stuart of Fletcher Marine services a call to check that he was ok for next Thursday to install the Webasto central heating system into Shell Bell once again no worries all arranged. So it was around 2pm we locked Shell Bell up and departed Willington to make our way back to Bungay it was a good journey with no hold ups, so we plan to be at home for a week to allow all the work on the boat to be completed.
It was calm and sunny as we set off from Shardlow for Willington. Shell Bell is going to have her bottom blacked and new sacrificial anodes welded on the hull.(These help prevent corrosion) We are also having central heating installed. The journey would be 11 miles and five locks. At the first lock we went through with a nice couple from Porstmouth who had picked up their hire boat the evening before. We ended up going through all five locks with them. This was good for us and them because these double locks are very heavy and can be quite
locking up with the couple from Portsmouth the 1st lock of five
rough. We stopped at Swarkestone for lunch.Then on route to Mercia a tree decided to pinch the rain cover from Shell Bells chimney and deposit it in the canal more expense when we get to the chandlery at the marina. With no more mishaps we arrived back at Mercia Marina at 5.30pm.
We are going home while the work is being done and hope to see our neice Kirsty before she goes off to Tanzania next week. As part of her MA she will be working at the Umoja centre – an educational charity. She will also be doing some research there. We will also be catching up on our house sale.
We are now making our way back to Willington but are stopping at Kegworth and Shardwell on the way. On Wednesday the weather dominated our travels. We were lucky to get through the first lock just after a heavy shower but we got absolutely soaked going through the next one. Just as we were through the sun shone on us. And so to the next one – just as we started opening the paddles it began to thunder and a shower of hail stones attacked us. The day continued like this but once we were moored up the weather settled, the evening was fine and there was a lovely sunset.
Thursday – the sun shone for us as we made our way through the Trent Lock junction and back on to the Trent and Mersey canal. We had a view of Ratcliff Power Station from all angles We stopped at Sawley and walked into the village and then found a path which led us to the junction again and along the towpath back to Shell Bell. Again we had great views of the power station.
We had pleasant moorings at Shardwell, Norwyn fished from the boat and caught about twenty skimmer bream and a dozen roach. Not so much luck with the Crayfish trap he put down last night – a blank!!!
Barrow on soar
- fantastic canal side garden Barrow upon Soar
In order that Shell Bell is back in Willington for the weekend we needed to start thinking about turning round. However, we wanted to go to Barrow upon Soar so we decided to head there and get back to Loughborough for tonight.
We had a plesant journey, very quiet and we passed several magnificent houses on the way. We got caught up with some very young canoists but luckily their instructors had got them well in hand and the incident was no where near as traumatic as the yachts. Sheila also managed to stay on the deck.
After a walk into the village, where our shopping app. directed us to a supermarket ,we headed back down Barrow deep lock for Loughborough. We locked down (get the jargon) with a couple who were on holiday and doing the Leicester Ring in ten days. They had some long days cruising ahead
Shell Bell taking on water
- locking up with NB Kathrick
A sunny start to the day, we set off from Kegworth to Loughborough. Still on the Soar the countryside scenery was beautiful. The first lock was another double, but there were two coming down (so the lock would be set for us) and another waiting to go up NB KATHRICK (so Sheila had help with the gates and paddles). This made life easy and we were lucky enough to lock up the next two with them. We stopped at Bishop Meadow lock to fill up with water and get rid of rubbish.
On arriving in Loughborough we had lunch and walked into town to look round the shops. What used to be big W is now Tesco and we bought some supplies. We passed Loughborough Wharf which was impressive as it is very near the centre of town.
We finally moored for the night just through chain bridge (so called because the original one had a chain to stop the bargers sneaking through after dark without paying their tolls. (Found this fact in the book Sheila bought me)
A very active tow path with plenty of dog walkers, cyclists and runners.
Lovely moorings on the river Soar at Kegworth
Who said life on the canals was relaxing? What a day!!! It was overcast and windy (of course) when we started out. We hoped to reach Ratcliff on Soar by this afternoon. The first lock (western) went quite smoothly. We went through with some hireboaters. Just as well because the paddles were really stiff. And so we trundled on to Shadlow where we stopped for lunch and had a look round the heritage centre. Just after Shadlow we left the Trent and Mersey and joined the River Soar. We travelled down to Sawley and during this journey we passed under the M1. Much quieter going under than on it. At Sawley there was an electrically operated lock. Luckily there was also a lock keeper so easy peasy. Not so once we left the lock. There appeared to be a yacht race. Captain Norwyn was instructed how to proceed past the boats so as not to hit any. “Keep to the right and follow a steady couse and speed and they will miss you” was what he was told. They did but Sheila couldn’t stand the tension and had to hide inside. All she could see was colourful boats flying past the window.
That over our next challenge was to negotiate the junction of The Erewash Canal, The River Trent and The River Soar. Not easy but we managed to find our way to continue on the Soar. There weren’t any moorings at Ratcliff so we continued on through one more lock to Kegworth where we found some lovely moorings (but no television
arriving in Shardlow
signal).
And so it was time for tea. Chilli tonight, cooked by the captain. Great. Wonder what tomorrow will bring.
Bridge carrying the M1 slower underneath me thinks
double teamed with NB ani in stenson lock
- Inside Stenson Lock
We have a week before Shell Bell has to be back at the boatyard so we decided to try and navigate to Loughborough. We have travelled the road many times but this will be the first time by canal.
Although it was sunny the wind still persists. This made no difference as we turned left out of Mercia and headed for Stenson Lock. This would be our first double lock. It looked huge and imposing but we went through it with NB ani which made the task less daunting as the couple on board were very helpful and gave us lots of tips about these double locks.
And so we continued, another double lock and it was time for us to moor up at Weston on Trent. The journey took a long time because there were lots of boats on the move.
We walked to the River Trent and saw a pair of bullfinches and a yellowhammer.
Tomorrow we will head to Ratcliffe on Soar. More big locks to come!!!!
Thanks for the t shirt Andy I wear it with pride
- New guests fed and watered time for work
Friday afternoon and we on our way back to Mercia for another week on Shell Bell before she goes in to be blacked. A lovely sunny day – very hot in a car without air conditioning!!!!
Everything seems to be good on the boat. No leaks. Once we have unpacked Norwyn did a bit of fishing and caught a couple of bream and some roach. There is a very large carp cruising around the marina but failed to take the bait provided.
We have new guests – Rosie and Jim have joined us for a few weeks or longer.
We exchanged blog site details with John and Nancy who are on NB Perfect Harmony in the next berth to us.
