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
Familiar names in unexpected places
Up Foxton Locks, the coal removed from the front deck and the chimney swept...
For the sake of a loaf of bread…
Sunday morning. With the boat serviced and ready to go from Kilby Bridge, 8 miles south...
Since Sawley…
It was in April 1994 that the 60 foot Sir William Pennyman left Sawley to head south...
Meanwhile…
With Cleddau safely moored at Sawley Marina Boatwif was free to join a very special gathering. Cruelly designated...
Slowly to Sawley...
Boating was resumed on Sunday after the previous day’s visit to the National Memorial Arboretum...
South and east to Alrewas
Wednesday. So Tixall Wide was “full” and “boats were double parked” according...
Blacked and heading south
Cleddau had been delivered to the slipway at Red Bull Basin at Kidsgrove for hull...
Black, black, black and white, blacking…
Black is the colour of April, on this boat at least. Forsythia in flower can be startling, new leaves are light and refreshing...
A Grand Trip Out
If you’ve been an occasional viewer of Channel 5 this title might ring a bell for you: Susan Calman...
Creeping out of hibernation
December, characterised by artificial sparkly lights, was followed by sunny January! At least...
Taken by surprise
It was Baby Sis who sowed the seed – “I’m just telling you that I’ve decided to fly up to Inverness as a surprise for the 70th...
A Serious Dose of Hiraeth
Double jabbed. Booster jabbed. How fortunate we are to be living in times when scientists have developed Covid vaccines...
A bit o’ boating
The weather would be good next week, they said, ‘they’ being the BBC Met experts… A plan was formulated: north...