Something booked for next year!

[Gemini]

As most of you know we couldn't go on our long awaited family trip to Florida this Easter, due to the pandemic. We then briefly entertained the idea of October this year but in the end booked April 2021. A few weeks ago we moved this to April 2022.
Surely things will be lot better by then!??

OH has wanted a boating holiday for years. I eventually agreed to try it. The two friends we are going with kept messing us about with dates, so each time they were fully booked. So it never happened.

Today we have booked, for next April! It's only in Yorkshire so we drive to the boat. Four days, as T and I are unsure so don't want to be stuck on there for a week if we don't like it! My OH and J are the keen ones. T and I will be happy to let them do the locks whilst we sip Prosecco on deck
Although it wouldn't be my first choice of holiday, its nice to have anything to look forward to!

[Oma]

Oooo im green with envy , I bet you have a lovely time

[Sunshine]

Sounds lovely.

[Daisy]

Gem - I'd take your place like a shot! We've only had one proper canal/river boating holiday, but we had our lovely old day sailer boat on the Thames for several years. The week-long trip we did was with friends with 3 sons, similar age to our 2. They boys were old enough to steer, moor etc, so we grown-ups had a very easy time. The weather was fantastic, we chose a very flat area, so not many locks and it was the most relaxing, lazy holiday we've ever had! The waterside pubs were great and we travelled through very pretty scenery.

Our main pitfall won't affect you - we had a bouncy Labrador who loved water. He ended up in a lock one day - fortunately it was filling and eventually we were able to haul him out. Another day he couldn't climb out of a slippery muddy bank and I hauled him out - he eventually got a grip - in my thigh. I've still got the scar!

But hopefully you will also have a great deal of fun, don't try and go too far - life slows down to a very gentle pace - oh, and you'll probably need at least twice the amount of alcohol you think you'll need.

[Gemini]

Thanks Daisy. It sounds lovely , muddy dog and scar aside!

Canal boating along with travelling coast to coast in the USA in a Winnebago were both things I wanted to do with my ex when our kids were young.
We never did either and I wouldn't do the coast to coast thing now.
I feel too old, stiff and aching for boating but I will try it. l'm sure we will be fine

[Daisy]

Gem - I'm sure the boat will have all mod cons and be very comfortable. Do you have to take your own sleeping bags? If so, I'd definitely recommend trying to borrow a Duvolay from someone. They are memory foam mattress bases with an attached duvet and sooo warm and comfortable. We've got them for the caravan, and sleep really well - much better than a sleeping bag.

I'd still like to do the coast to coast trip in a Winnebago!!

[Gemini]

Daisy I only slum it in style
We have a bedroom for each couple, with double bed, pillows and duvet, and shower and loo each too.

The Duvolay do sound a very good invention though!

[Daisy]

Gem, that sounds like luxury! Also with the gentle movement of the boat when it's moored up you will sleep like a log!

[Nanto2girls]

When the kids were small,we had a lot of boating holidays on the Norfolk Broads.
We all loved it, had some great times.
Never had a boating holiday on canals though.
Nice to have something to look forward to.

[Lizzie48]

You will enjoy it Gem, years ago I fancied a boat on the canals! I ended up on a motorbike flying past them DS1 is busy buying a boat at the moment.

[Plantaholic]

OH and I had a holiday on the canal not in a barge, kt was a small boat. I was 6 months pregnant. miles from anyone, no mobiles, very irresponsible. I was leaping onto the bank to moor up. Part of the trip was on the river around Worcester. That was before the canals were cleared, quite a lot of foam from factories and weed (not the smoking sort). Enjoy, sit back and let the others do the work.

[Gemini]

We have to pay the balance of this next week, and it's still so unsure as to whether we will be able to go.
We need to get in touch to be reassured that will will get a full refund, or the dates moved if possible.

[Lizzie48]

It is such a strange time for holidays etc, nothing can be safely booked.

[Glammanana]

When the ACs where younger John tried many times to convince me that a Canal Barge holiday would be ideal for us, no amount of persuading would convince me to go it takes me all my time to go across The Mersey on the ferry

I have to ring the travel agents this next week to chat about the holiday I booked for DD & I to Majorca in June I have only paid the deposit as yet but think I shall have it forward to next year we may be OK here in UK in June this year but we cannot be sure what the rules will be like on the Island will we ?
My DDs partner's family go away together every year and like everyone else have not been away for 2 years,they where discussing their holidays this week and expected DD to be included in their plans all very nice I thought DD told them she always goes away with me for a week either June or October every year which they thought was odd asking why John never went with us she explained her dad treated us every year and enjoyed his weeks peace & quiet the dad said no wife should leave her hubby on his own for a week I have not meet this chap as yet so it could be interesting I think.

[Gemini]

Glamma we would LOVE to go to Majorca this summer. As you say it is all such an unknown quantity right now isn't it?

What an opinonated man he sounds!!