Boatwif

Downhill, heading north and east along the Staffs and Worcs Canal. Spring came on Saturday – what a delightful surprise. To be cruising minus numerous additional layers of clothing was sheer joy. The whole world was happy, it seemed: lambs played chase in the fields,     anglers sat and smiled on the canal banks,    families relaxed in a canal side beer garden, church bells rang in Penkridge, a hen party was partying on a trip boat    near Teddesley...

The canal breach at Middlewich has forced Cleddau and crew to make a long detour via the Shropshire Union Canal. To go a long way west to then turn north east in order to go south – such is the start to this year’s watery wanderings…   After travelling the Shropshire Union just twice before, once in each direction, the Cleddau crew were soon reminded of its particular features. The water comes downhill all the way from Wolverhampton to Ellesmere...

Cleddau has emerged from her winter hibernation.  After months of sitting out in the cold on the hard standing, followed by a period inside while her bottom was blacked, then another cold shivery spell outdoors, she was at last moved indoors, sand blasted and painted. From an early life as an ungainly, green-cabined, out of balance red-roofed vessel (here a four year old at Sawley, 1994)    she then became red with a blue roof, courtesy of an amateur paint...

Cleddau is still ashore, at Aqueduct Marina,  near Nantwich. In the absence of any floating there’s been the occasional feasting… “Since you’re still without your boat,” announced the Tentatrice First Mate, “how about coming over to us? We could take the boat out, go down into Droitwich, have lunch at the pub – and then go back…” What a tempting plan – time on a boat, time on a towpath, some paddle-gear operating, some gate-pushing… The Gardeners Arms, the pub referred...

The heavy darkness of winter is receding. Stirring in the morning to natural daylight gives a lift to the spirits and an incentive to be outdoors. Still boatless, Cleddau’s completion date has now been delayed to the second week In April. All the home-based boaty jobs have been completed, any enthusiasm for a pre-spring turn out of redundant items has faded, domestic duties hold no attraction – but meanwhile the lure of life afloat grows stronger… There was a very...

Bereft of a boat to float in, what do would-be boaters do…? Cleddau has been away from her mooring for over three months now. She was taken on a south westerly cruise in October, to Aqueduct Marina, near Nantwich. When last seen afloat she was a slightly sad looking picture, curtains gone from the windows, poles and ladder from the roof, herb pots from the rear cabin roof.  Next seen, just after Christmas, she was out of the water, on...

– Boating in December? In that cold week? Never! – Well yes… – But isn’t your boat out of the water up on hard standing somewhere…? – Well yes… Lacking a usable boat of one’s own, the Captain and Boatwif spent two days windlass-wielding, helping a friend navigate her boat down the Trent and Mersey Canal. From Sunday 10th December snow and ice had caused alarm and chaos across huge swathes of middle England and the Welsh Marches. Road travel...

Cal Guy Jnr is a connoisseur of play parks. Over three weeks in San Marcos there were expeditions to 9 different parks, some on more than one occasion. “You see, I can swing myself* now, Granny,” said the 7 year old.      After the first three parks Boatwif ‘felt a chart coming on’. Within certain circles, as when establishing plans for a Sisters & Cousins Coven gathering or finding dinner dates for the Girls’ Night Out set, a chart...

If calculated correctly this is the 15th visit to San Marcos. Though this Southern Californian city is familiar now, it’s still not necessarily easy to find your way about.  Whether on a shopping expedition, a school pick up run or a sight-seeing mission the US version of the Co-pilot app on the smart phone is a regular lifeline. With the app’s aid the Cleddau crew have managed to find their way to several previously new (to them) locations. “What, you...

It was as an 8th Grader in middle school last year that Cal Guy Snr began talking about Marching Band. Would he be able to join the marching band when he moved up to high school? What it would involve and how it would impact on family life no-one then knew… Marching bands developed over a century ago to perform during interval breaks at football games. After the first World War many veterans with musical experience became involved in music...