Dan's 1999 holidays

Grandma hadn’t been too well, so we decided to book as holiday not to far from home. Alvechurch’s Wrenbury base was chosen and we spent a week cruising up to Llangollen. Their 69ft 6+1 berth “Honey Buzzard” was very nicely fitted and was one of their flagships at the time, even boasting a dishwasher onboard (which was never used)!.

October 1999: “Broadland Wave 2”, Richardsons of Stalham
This was my first holiday without my parents. After a couple of months of dating I booked a Westward 31 style from Richardsons. The two of us had a perfect holiday, despite the weather being quite cold and the boats interior being quite shabby and worn! The boat had an ‘island’ double bed forward and a convertible double in the aft saloon which we slept on as it was so much warmer for being higher up! Both boats in the class were totally refitted a couple of years later.

July 1999: “Glossop Greenfinch”, Napton Narrowboats, Napton.
As a teenager I’d been interested in the Black Prince Narrowboats company that rapidly expanded during the ‘80s before going bump briefly in 1987, emerging soon after in new hands. During this time they’d built up an empire of blue & yellow boats and whilst these had long since disappeared from their fleet several were still running with other operators. Keen to hire one before they all got retired I booked a 47ft 4 berth from Napton Narrowboats. Built in 1985 as “Waxwing” she was one of the later craft they built, was much the original inside and was a nicely designed home for the week. We especially liked the raised forward dinette which was comfy and sociable, plus meant you could see out of the windows whilst seated. She was not dis-similar to the boat I was to buy a few years later (see here for more info). We cruised the Ashby Canal and enjoyed the sun and few locks this route offered!