(posted by Alan)
Well I may eventually get to do a synopsis of 2012 - a very busy boating year, and the first that we have owned both boats continually throughout - I just haven't managed it yet!
In the meantime we have been starting to think about possible planes for 2013. If we were able, we would probably go boating much of the time, but currently Cath has a job, which makes even the kind of things we pulled off last year fairly intensive on occasions - and, yes, we know the hobby is meant to be relaxing, before anybody reminds us.
A recurring theme will be trying to get "Sickle" to as many events as possible, particularly those with a focus on historic boats - we did pretty well last year, and a definite target is to do as many, or more, this year. All that has to be fitted in around trying not to forget we also have "Chalice", and to use her too wherever possible, (essential if more than just the two of us are involved!).
By now there are starting to be decent calendars of events on many sites, but when we started looking most did not contain many of the events that might interest us - so we started making our own. What follows is by no means an exhaustive calendar of all events in the country - just ones we have any hope of attending, either by boat, or without one. It is interesting that there can easily be as many as four events in just one weekend! A lot of choice, but clearly one can only realistically cover one!
At the moment entries in red are ones we are hoping we may get Sickle to, although I'm sure the list may need modifying as the year progresses.
Which ones will you be at?
Fri 29th - Sun 31st March - Ellesmere Port Easter Boat Gathering
Fri 29th March - Mon 1st April - Stoke Bruerne Gathering
Fri 29th March - Mon 1st April - Easter Boaters Banter (Calf Heath/Gnosall)
Fri 3rd - Mon 6th May - May bank Holiday Extravaganza - Vines Park, Droitwich
Fri 3rd - Mon 6th May - IWA Northampton Branch Boat Gathering - Beckett's Park Northampton
Sat 4th – Sun 5th May - Loughborough Canal & Boat Festival
Sat 4th – Mon 6th May – Canalway Cavalcade, London
Sat 18th – Sun 19th May – Rickmansworth
Sat 1st to Sun 2nd June - Etruria Canal Festival
Fri 14th – Sun 16th June - Middlewich Folk & Boat Festival
Sat 15th – Sun 16th June – Stoke Bruerne Canal Gala
Sat 15th – Sun 16th June - BCN Society Pelsall Boat Rally
Sat 29th – Sun 30th June – Braunston Historic Boats
Sat 29th – Sun 30th June – Chesterfield Canal Festival - Staveley Town Basin
Sat 29th – Sun 30th June – Foxton Locks Festival
Fri 19th – Sun 21st Jul – IWA National Festival, Watford
Sat 27th July - Linslade Canal Festival
Sun 28th July - Audlem Festival of Transport
Sat 10th - Sun 11th Aug - Blisworth Canal Festival
Sat Aug 24th - Mon Sep 26th - Alvecote Gathering
Sat 7th - Sun 8th Sept - Shackerstone Festival
Sat 14th – Sun 15th Sept - Stoke Bruerne Village at War
Sat 28th - Sun 29th Sept - Historic Boat Gathering Black Country Living Museum
