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
The final stretch
Thursday 16th June. Back on the Macc – and there was a homecoming feeling about the cruise. The rounded bridge holes...
Volunteers!
Canal and River Trust welcome volunteers to fill a host of roles. Most visible of course are those who fulfil lock...
SAL EST VITA
Down to the Weaver via the Anderton Lift on Wednesday afternoon – and back onto the deep waters of a river...
It’s all in the timing
Dunham Massey, near Altrincham, is just a five minute walk from the Bridgewater Canal. It was 1976 when the...
Back on the watery road – and a few extraordinary things...
Hull care… you need to protect your hull if you want your boat to last. That’s an understatement for all boat owners...
Just because...
Liverpool is an out and back destination. Down into Liverpool Cleddau had gone on 16th May. Six days later, early on...
Tourists in Liverpool (2) - or Birds, bells and books
With so much to see in Liverpool where to start and what to investigate? The Maritime Museum is but a minute’s walk from...
Tourists in Liverpool (1)
After five and a half days in tourist mode maybe it’s time to put words onto a screen… Liverpool is stunning – visually...
Down to Liverpool Docks
“Where are yer going?” So often along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal that question has been asked...
Water Road past Wigan Pier
Blame the shopping list… if it hadn’t been for the shopping list Wednesday might have seemed less dismal and less wet…
Tunnels, bridges and curious structures
Once past Middlewich the northern Trent and Mersey Canal has a character hard to define...
About turn
How could it be that the ideal mooring about a mile from Middlewich, not once, but twice, had to be given up last Wednesday…?
Boaters’ inspiration
For a number of years Sue and Vic of nb No Problem have been an inspiration to the Cleddau crew. Sue’s blog...
Over and Under
Water – when land-based you turn on the tap, use the washing machine, have a shower, and maybe use a hose pipe...
Crawling like tortoise...
Months of planning, weeks of boat preparation, hours of baking and a stash of winter clothing – that’s what it takes...