It's been a while

It's funny how things come round in circles.
Having not really looked at this blog for, erm, 8 years, here we are back on blogspot and thinking about our narrowboat holiday coming up soon.
In the last few years, we've continued to hire boats; we've moved house and started to think about actually getting a boat of our own - only been dreaming of that for how many years now?
A quick summary of our recent boat holidays:
Summer 2013 - having lost my grandparents in 2012, we hired 3 boats for the whole family to have a wander down the Staffs & Worcs from Great Haywood. Finding moorings for 3 65' boats was fun at times but other than that, a good time was had by all.
Summer 2014 - We decided to tackle the 4 Counties ring, taking a boat from Bunbury we did the clockwise route wanting to get the hard work of heart-break hill out of the way first, leaving a pleasant saunter up the Shroppie to finish the week. In true style, we managed to rocket round the ring as a result of a couple of early mornings. We love doing this ring, not because of the "challenge" of completing it in a week, but because of the varied coutnryside and views you get as you go around. I don't think I'll ever tire of this route. It was also interesting to travel within 3 miles of home! So we got to cruise an amount of canal that is now our regular dog-walking routes.
Summer 2015 - my father-in-laws 80th birthday warranted a trip out on a hire boat and the opportunity for that side of the family to holiday today. A week from Gailey heading to Stourport and then round to Stourbridge was in order.
Summer 2017 - after a year off, we decided to head out again. This time travelling a little further afield and down to Alvechurch. My in-laws in tow again and we decided to head for Stratford. The guide books said a nice easy week for the return journey - we did it easily and spent 2 nights in the basin at Stratford. A lovely canal and I think I would do it again. I'd like to explore this area some more I think.
This summer sees us head back to Gailey. Interestingly, hiring the same boat we had in 2015. Just the 4 of us this year, but given we can't blast round the 4 Counties ring this year due to the Middlewich breach, we are planning a gentle cruise up the Caldon - a canal we haven't done before.
Hopefully, I will get round to posting after the holiday with some photo's and information about the trip!