Boating holidays

[Gemini]

Has anyone been on a boating holiday?
Not a cruise, but a canal boat, or barge or any other types of self navigated river vessel?

Oh and 2 friends are currently trying to persuade me.
When my children were young I longed for such a holiday, but we could never really afford it. Now the moment has passed, LOL.
However, I feel I should be a Big Girl and at least try it, just for a few days. How bad can it be??

I just wondered if anyone had any experiences?

[Grauntie Mag]

We went on the Norfolk Broads with friends about 10 years ago. We were on a cruiser type boat. OH and I had the rear cabin and all I could smell was the ghastly chemical toilet. I have to say it was not for me. I was bored brainless looking at reed bed after reed bed. BUT I remember a similar family holiday as a child on a different canal as the best holiday ever. A brother and SiL went on a narrow boat every year for many years. I wouldn’t mind trying that. Go for it Gem and report back.😁

[Plantaholic]

Years ago, OH and I hired a relatively small boat and went on the canal from Worcestershire to Birmingham on the canal and part of the river, then back to Worcs. There were so many locks and they were so close together that it wasn't worth starting the engine sometimes. Most of the time we were miles from anywhere, hoped for a few pubs to call into. The canals were not as clean as they are today, going through Birmingham was quite an experience as there were still working barges. I think you need to research the route carefully but it could be fun. It didn't help that I was six months pregnant and leaping onto a bank to tie up not to be recommended. Be a big girl and go for it, especially if your graphic suggests you will be sitting on the side directing the crew.

[Clover]

It’s not something that would initially appeal to me but if someone else organised it I’d give it a go.You might really enjoy it. I think you’d have to have good weather though which obviously you can’t arrange.

[Nanto2girls]

When our kids were little, we had several holidays on the Norfolk Broads. loved everyone one of them.
Our eldest carried on the tradition when his little ones came along.
Ten years ago,when hubby retired, he (son) and now ex wife asked us to go on the Broads with them. Really enjoyed it.

[Oma]

Never done that Gem , would be interested what you think when you have been

[Gemini]

OH and one of our friends are keen to do the locks and driving. They are welcome. If we do go I will report back. I can think of nicer ways to spend the money to be honest!

[WeeGranny]

Many years ago, we hired a houseboat on the Murray River in Oz It was called.....wait for it The Love Boat!! You should have heard the comments form the neighbouring boat owners! It was great fun, but kept me fit with the jumping onto banks and tying up. The toilet and kitchen sink kept blocking and we had to go back to base to sort it out. I have some tales to tell from that week but won't bore you with them. The children loved it and it was a very novel way to spend Christmas. Not sure that I fancy a holiday like that now though.

[Plantaholic]

I presume you will be the cook Gemini

[Shemadee]

We quite often walk by the canals locally and I quite like the idea of a boating holiday but OH not so keen. He knows who would end up doing all the hard work!

[Gemini]

Plant, I hope we will eat out mostly!
As of the 4 of us going on this proposed holiday I will have the least hols (OH will have her lovely Portugese golfing break, the other 2 will be jetting all over the place) I don't intend to do more than I have to.

[Daisy]

We used to have a day sailer (ie you couldn't sleep on it) on various rivers, depending where we lived, but we only managed one 'proper' river holiday when our sons were 8-10 age. We went with another family and had two boats. It was June. We chose the Rivers Ouse and Cam - we didn't want loads of locks and hard work, and I have to say it was a brilliant holiday. The boys were old enough to manage the boats, leaving us free to relax. There were plenty of riverside pubs, which was a good job because we ran out of the wine we'd bought for the week after Day 2!!

Our friends, with 3 sons, had a 6-beth boat and we had 4 four berth one. If I was doing it again I'd opt for a boat with more berths than you need - the extra space is well worth it. We also had a large labrador at the time, and of course, he was often wet, but at least you wouldn't have that problem.

We were also lucky with the weather, but we had taken lots of board games etc just in case. I have to say it was the most relaxing holiday I've ever had, and very therapeutic to slow down to the 4 or 5 mph speed allowed. Other people were very friendly too. After the holiday it took us 20 minutes in the car to cover the distance we'd covered in the whole week!!

Gem - if you do decide to try it, lay down your ground rules. You've got two willing captains and lock operators, and if you eat out and picnic that's food taken care of. there's not much else to do except sweep the deck once a day!

[Plantaholic]

As I said in my post, there were very few places to eat or shop on the Worcester to Birmingham canal but as Daisy has said it is a very relaxing holiday if you have willing hands to open the locks. Maybe the river would be better.

[Qwerty]

Well is not my cup of tea, I like a nice hotel these days, and I’m a bit scared of water and locks , we live near the canal and river so see them a lot, those that do have them, seem to enjoy it guess you need to try Gem

[Shemadee]

OH went on a family boating holiday as a teenager. He has two younger brothers and a cousin who stayed with them every Christmas and Easter holiday as his parents were in Malaya. With four boys to share the work load it can’t have been too difficult. I enjoy watching the programme with Prunella Scales and Timothy West.