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
New experience at Bunbury Staircase
Retracing a route allows views of familiar things from a different angle. Today’s course involved first the eight mile...
A tramp round historic Chester
A guided walk – with a tour guide? It seemed like a good idea and indeed it was. At 1030 the...
An umbrella day
It was a great day for umbrellas – but less of a good one for boat mooring. Get up the two locks...
Tied up at Ellesmere Port
10 am on Monday and the Cleddau crew were ready to start their exploration of the National Waterways Museum...
Arrival at the National Waterways Museum
It was an extremely quiet Saturday night in Chester and only the crunch of early morning joggers and...
Down the stairs to Chester
Saturday – what, no wind? No rain? The sun really shining…? Beeston Castle seemed to be shimmering this morning on top...
Up two, down six...
Usual preparations for departure were momentarily delayed this morning. The Captain grabbed the camera to photo the chimney...
Not all Plain sailing...
A lesson for the day: make your interpretation of a weather forecast – but do not assume your interpretation will be accurate…
Wind-lashed to Middlewich
Arrived in Middlewich today: after a total of 37.35 miles (and 47 locks) since last Friday. The direction had been generally...
Courtesy and concerns on the T and M
Imagine a courtly flourish. Yesterday afternoon Boatwif walked on from Red Bull Services to Lock 44, just ahead...
Legal - and lower...
It was as Cleddau was about to draw away from the Hightown shopping area of Congleton this morning that it happened...
Many hands make light work
There were five pairs of hands involved in getting Cleddaudown the flight of 12 locks at Bosley today. The Cheshire Three...
Snow mitts in summer time
Escaped! On Friday duties done (for a while) the Cleddau crew could head north in a heavily laden car. There was a...
Better than watching paint dry...
There was one last weekend before Summer Cruise departure date, one last chance to “do boat jobs”. The Captain...
Spit and polish – a sequel
“I’ve started so I’ll finish,” a particular TV quiz master used to say. That was the sentiment in the Captain’s heart: he’d...