May Bank Holiday weekend will forever hold a special place in our hearts. For that’s when Chris and I found ourselves stepping into the colo world of the Crick Boat Show 2023 for the first time. This moment marked the beginning of our seven-year countdown to an adventure-filled retirement on a narrowboat.
As we arrived on Saturday, the animated hum of the show and sight of stunning narrowboats left us exhilarated. With a schedule packed with new boat viewings, meeting fellow vloggers, and indulging in some vibrant evening entertainment, it was clear that we were in for an exciting weekend.
First stop, the new modern boat builders. The ingenuity and craftsmanship of these boats truly stood out. We marvelled at the sleek designs, intricate detailing, and innovative functionalities. Exploring these marvels of craft, we began envisioning our future aboard a similar vessel. It felt like a tantalising peek into what our retirement years would hold.
The beer tent, with its lively evening entertainment, was a riot of fun. We clinked glasses with fellow enthusiasts, shared laughter, and raised a toast to our shared love for narrowboats.
When we weren’t immersing ourselves in the show’s vibrant atmosphere, we found comfortable respite at the nearby Holiday Inn. Tucked away in a service station, it served as our cosy retreat after the day’s excitement.
The arrival of our friends Neil and Naomi on Sunday added an extra dose of excitement. They were also contemplating an upgrade to their existing narrowboat. As we explored the show together, their perspectives and insights gave us additional food for thought for our own boat build, scheduled to begin in six years.
As we bid farewell to the Crick Boat Show, we left with a wealth of knowledge, a surge of excitement for our future narrowboat, and a notebook brimming with ideas for our own boat build. The event was not just a show, but a doorway into the lifestyle we were eagerly looking forward to embracing.
This adventure on the May bank holiday weekend was the spark that lit our path towards a delightful retirement, one we’ll navigate at our own pace, aboard our very own narrowboat.
Here’s to the future!