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
Sing out the old...
Christmas for the Cleddau crew was well and truly heralded by carols: two Carol Services back in Bedfordshire...
Afloat Again
We are back on Cleddau for the New Year. The temperature inside is 17C/63F and rising. The Captain...
Farewell California
After the Midway trip on Sunday only three days remained of the 2014 Thanksgiving visit. There were some shops...
All aboard a flight deck
If you think manoeuvring a 60 foot narrow boat can be a challenge imagine steering this… Moored in San Diego Harbor...
Snippets from San Marcos
It may have been George Bernard Shaw who said that England and America are two countries divided by a common...
Trains, boats, planes, snow, ice - and a canal
Visitors to the land of fast freeways and swooping flyovers, where car is king, might nonetheless prefer to...
Across sea and land to San Marcos
Google San Marcos and you’ll probably find references to San Marcos in Texas or San Marcos in Central and...
To London, to London...
There was a boat trip – so Boatwif apparently is duty bound to report on it… Way back in August the Tentatrice...
Musings from a broken-wristed Boatwif
There’s a different perspective when one has a disability, albeit a temporary one. Life assumes a far slower pace...
How far’ve you come?
“How far’ve you come?” someone called out from the bottom of his garden on Sunday afternoon. “Just from Poynton...
The unexpected (part 2)
To come across unexpected things can be a joy; to have unexpected things happen to you can be, well, a nuisance…
The unexpected
Cleddau returned from the River Weaver to canal level last Saturday morning. Into the Anderton Lift at the bottom...
Weaver reflections - and a bat in the boat
Cruising the Weaver Navigation is one long visual and mental treat – there’s active industry, industrial heritage...
The Anderton Boat Lift
Message to the Cheshire Three: “Fancy a ride on the Anderton Lift? We’re going down onto the Weaver.” There was an...
To Northwich
Into Northwich – twice. What comes to mind when you think of Cheshire? The Cheshire Plain and Jodrell Bank?...