Holidays

Now that we have some long winters evenings to ourselves and we know what jobs need doing on Naughty-Cal we can start looking ahead to 2015 and planning our cruises for the year.

2014 was a real year of firsts and we really want to continue that theme into next year, exploring new places and hopefully finding cruising grounds we will visit again in the years to come.

At the moment we are just throwing ideas around and exploring different avenues but we have the makings of a great list of cruises for the year:

• Easter - Black Sluice - We have yet to visit this recently opened stretch of waterway which is right on our doorstep so this year we plan to explore it early in the year before the weed becomes too much of an issue.
• May Bank Holiday - West Stockwith - We always enjoy spending time at West Stockwith. This cruise gives us the chance to open up Naughty-Cal and give her a chance to stretch her legs and we always enjoy a hearty meal in the White Hart.
• May Bank Holiday - Wells next the Sea - It wouldn't be right if we didn't visit Wells during this week. It is a great start to the summer coastal cruising season. In 2015 we look set to have some new boats making the trip across the Wash with us.
• July Summer Holiday - The Great Ouse - Another first for us. We have visited the Great Ouse previously but only as far as Kings Lynn. The plan for 2015 is to head further upstream and visit Ely whilst also exploring a few of the rivers tributaries. With two weeks off work we plan to visit the Great Ouse for a week but also spend some time in the Wash, perhaps visiting Wisbech and Fosdyke on the way back to Boston.
• August Bank Holiday - Boston - 2015 signifies time for Naughty-Cal to have her Boat Safety Test. We will head to Geordies at Langrick Bridge on the River Witham to get her tested so whilst we are in the area a trip to Boston seems in order. It has been many years since we actually made Boston a destination rather then a stop off point.
• September/October Holiday - Sprotborough - This weeks cruise rounds off the year. At this time of year the weather can be very hit and miss but if the weather holds off in 2015 we plan a cruise to Sprotborough on the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigations. We would head in at Goole, head along the Aire and Calder and then up the New Junction before joining the SSYN and then venturing into waters new beyond before heading back to Keadby and up the Trent for home.

This series of cruises may not sound quite so demanding as previous years and in all honesty it probably isn't, but it will provide us the chance to explore new waterways and new places. Hopefully we will be as lucky with the weather as we were this year.