Boatwif
The occasional adventures of the Cleddau crew
About Us
We are ‘The Captain’ and ‘Boatwif’, owners of nb Cleddau.
Cleddau was a five year old youngster when we took her on in 1994. She was built for cruising on the River Trent. Over time Cleddau has had internal and external adjustments but she retains her original hull, propeller, anchor and portholes.
When asked (frequently) “What does Cleddau mean?” our response is usually “In Welsh it means swords but Cleddau is the name of the river that flows into the Milford Haven deep water estuary in Pembrokeshire…”
We both grew up in Pembrokeshire; for some years we have kept a record of what we call ‘Monkton Moments’, those exchanges with boaters and non-boaters who recognise our Pembrokeshire connections.
This blog below is a record of our mainly boating adventures.
RECENT KEN & SUE LOCATION
Feasts, treats and reunions
Of all the many Boris announcements these past umpteen months none was greeted with more enthusiasm than this one...
When you can’t help but read it
Conversation during childhood breakfasts was not encouraged: there were four girls to be got out of the door and dispatched...
We thought you’d gone for good…!
“We thought you’d gone for good!” said a mooring neighbour at Victoria Pit the day after Cleddau had returned from her Round..
Familiar places, familiar faces
Sometimes, however early you start, you are not ‘the early bird that gets the worm…’ There were lots of other boats moored...
As is customary…
While moored at Tixall Wide for a couple of days there were some customary things to be done… A stroll through Great Haywood...
Signposts ticked!
These final downhill miles of the Staffs and Worcs Canal have been completed in two hops, first from Penkridge to Stafford...
From Collection to Collectible…
From Cleddau’s mooring near Wightwick Bridge (western outskirts of Wolverhampton) it was but a five-minute walk...
Just lookin’
Cleddau’s first trip into Stourport-on-Severn was back in 1994. Boat and crew had come up the river from the Avon...
Right – or left?
A Friday night mooring in an urban or semi-urban area is not generally a good idea – but it was a case of needs must…
“Luvely day...”
Shropshire Union Canal: Nantwich – Autherley Junction It’s hard to know when the Shropshire Union Canal...
Tunnels and junctions, flashes and breach sites
It was Monday morning and overcast as Cleddau and crew cruised the last few flat miles of the Bridgewater Canal...
Bowling along on the flat and level
After descending the Rochdale Nine (the southern end of the Rochdale Canal) Cleddau joined the Bridgewater Canal...
The Great Descent
A summer cruise, where to – and how? Ever since news broke of the collapsed culvert and de-watered canal at...
‘…It’s a boy…’
Time to reflect on some recent ‘firsts’. Even while still in lockdown in March there were small pleasures to be had...
For the record…
On the 16th March this year the Captain made an online order for a new pair of walking boots. This was a big purchase...