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
Midwinter…
After the hugely successful November visit to family in Southern California (note: no Covid or other bugs either imported or exported) time...
For the record
“Thank you for the adventure,” Cal Guy Jnr said after a walk in a wild place one day. Was that before or after the accidental chocolate cake lunch…? An exact memory eludes…
Taking to the boards
Cal Son has explained that some geographers might describe all the settlements and cities south of Los Angeles as part of Greater Greater LA…
‘Unexpected item in the bagging area…’
Rather like going into a different supermarket and being surprised by unfamiliar items, this area of Southern California.....
October, retrospectively
If there was a thread of any kind through the Cleddau crew’s October maybe it was breakdowns, deliveries and one short list growing ever longer..
A Crack at Cracks Hill
Norton Junction – Cracks Hill Footbridge – Crick Marina: 4 miles, 7 locks, 1 tunnel It’s hard to leave a favourite mooring, especially....
Tight Spots
Newbold-on-Avon to Norton Junction 16½ miles, 9 locks, 2 tunnel transits, 0 swing bridges After the delightful, if “entertaining”....
To the Far End
Mid-afternoon (Bank Holiday Monday) the mission to reach the top /the end of the Ashby Canal was continued....
Sightings along the 300 foot contour
Some 2½ miles on from Hillmorton is Rugby, a magnet for boaters along the North Oxford Canal.....
Careful at the locks
Back to the boat – would it be fit for another little voyage? Well, yes – the bilges were empty of excess water.....
Recent Eye Catchers
So what’s caught the eye in recent weeks? Cal Guy Jnr has flown back to California....
Learning the ropes…
Cal Guy Jnr (now 13) had waged a campaign to spend his long school summer break in the UK.....