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
Dawdling down the Thames
The lithe and curvaceous Thames twists and turns her way from near Lechlade in Gloucestershire, through Oxfordshire...
Larking downstream
Monday to Thursday: Newbury to Burghfield ‘What larks you two have’ wrote a correspondent in an email recently. (Recognise...
Flashbacks
Cleddau is on a previous cruising patch, this section of the Kennet and Avon Canal being familiar from Frouds Bridge...
Open your eyes
WARNING: this post is free of references to alternator troubles and to the blight of K&A “continuous moorers”...
Troubles on the Long Pound
The Long Pound stretches between the top of the famous Devizes Locks and the four locks at Wootton Rivers...
Water steps up a rather steep hill
Phase 3 of the Cleddau 2015 Cruise has been resumed. Back at Caen Hill Marina just west of Devizes (on Friday...
Crowded on the K&A – and use a bread knife
“We’ve a long way to go,” pronounced the Captain, “and we need to be at Caen Hill Marina by 3 o’clock on Sunday afternoon...
Drenched at Bath
Bristol to Bath (Friday 26th June) The Captain had spent the winter planning an around England cruise. Leaving Bristol...
Shipshape and Bristol Fashion
The harbour at Bristol hums with activity: there is a cross harbour ferry; there are round the harbour sight-seeing tours...
Portishead to Bristol
Cleddau and Tentatrice had spent the night of 23rd June moored in Portishead Marina, two narrow boats among a...
Down the Severn Estuary
Sharpness, Tuesday 23rd June – Check final preparations for a cruise between Sharpness and Portishead: Cupboards...
Around Sharpness
Sixteen mainly rural miles after leaving Gloucester is Sharpness. From the canal the view is of the estuary, haunting...
All Washed up at Saul
Thursday, 18th June. What timing! Two hours further along the canal from Gloucester is Saul Junction which itself...
Phase 2 begins...
It was farewell to Worcester on Monday morning, southbound down the last mile or so of the Worcester and Birmingham...