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
Joyeux Noël
Can a Boatwif report on a totally boat-free trip…? It had been the idea of Godmanchester Friend 2. “Lille,” he’d...
Bands, bells and the elf on a shelf...
On the morning of December 1st Charlie was spotted – he’d arrived overnight from the North Pole. Charlie...
Are you SURE you want to do this?
Thanksgiving in Southern California was marked by rain, rain and more rain, by the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade...
Miscellany
These Thanksgiving trips to far south California encompass school runs and retail opportunities, leisure jaunts and visits...
Have you ever seen the Queen?
This week in Southern California it’s been a school week, though next week schools, colleges and the local university will...
Hurdling through November
After the October trip to Scotland there was the pear harvest to attend to: The pears added a certain piquancy to a pork-based...
Sea, Sheep and Space
Sea, sheep and space – after a few days on and around the Black Isle those are the abiding impressions...
Last Flings
Tuesday was a damp and dismal day in Congleton. Down in the town a new sculpture, a 2017 installation...
Cliffhanging
Since Cleddau could not have reached Lock 11 before nightfall it’s back to thinking about alternatives...
What’s the alternative?
Back in the day… (What a tiresome phrase that is. Start again, Boatwif) Decades ago, indeed almost...
Moorings ‘with attitude’
Cleddau and crew had spent the better part of two days and a night tied up to the pontoon at...
Chance Timings
So here goes, about to descend 50 feet from the canal to the River Weaver… On arriving at Anderton...
Not kidding…
It’s 46½ miles (and 48 locks) between the home moorings at Higher Poynton and Anderton, the...
Creatures – and creature comforts…
“What would you like to do for your birthday?” Boatwif was asked. Her answer was emphatic, unswerving...
"Locked out…"
From Congleton the Macclesfield Canal weaves its way towards the Bosley lock flight...