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
Upstream to Denver
“See you at 0600 tomorrow then,” Daryl Hill, the Wash pilot had said. King’s Lynn is a good-looking town...
Wandering down the Witham
“I’ve told the others that there could be a boat trip. The boys might be interested.” So said Cheshire Mum, while...
In Line of Sight
Cleddau and crew cruised out of Lincoln on Thursday afternoon to a delightful mooring pontoon...
Shore leave in Lincoln
Cleddau left her high security safe place at Burton Waters on Wednesday afternoon. Tentatrice left first...
Tidal to Torksey
Passage along the tidal sections of the Trent is determined by high water times at Hull. On Sunday afternoon (May 13th)...
Historic Newark-on-Trent
In six years of living about 14 miles or so away from Newark there are memories of only two visits, once to a toy shop...
Between two castle towns...
From the babbling waters at the Shugborough Estate Essex Bridge (photo from 16th April) to Holme Lock
Two boats to Nottingham
Boats have been arriving at Nottingham for centuries – while the Tentatrice and Cleddau crews arrived (and left)...
To the Trent
From the Staffordshire moorlands the River Trent wends its way south and east towards Nottingham...
Forget Me Not
The Cleddau summer cruise resumed on Thursday: remarkably, there was no rain and there..
Beached boats, bobbing boats and a beautiful bride…
To leave the boat, after so much angst about the paint job being completed – why? Well, for a wedding! (Boaters...
It’s all in the timing...
Downhill, heading north and east along the Staffs and Worcs Canal. Spring came on Saturday – what a delightful surprise...
Where was the Wrekin?
The canal breach at Middlewich has forced Cleddau and crew to make a long detour via the Shropshire Union Canal...
Growing older gracefully...
Cleddau has emerged from her winter hibernation. After months of sitting out in the cold on the hard standing, followed...