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
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...
Worcester Canalfest
The last post ended with: There was no Civil War on board Cleddau on Thursday night – but an emergency had the...
Hello Worcester
It’s never particularly easy reaching the River Severn from the Stourport Basins. First (this was on Wednesday 10th June)...
From county boundary to the River Severn
At the end of the Worcs section of the delightful Staffs and Worcs Canal on Tuesday came an unexpected quandary...
The problem with Kinver...
Kinver – Kinver is a large village in South Staffordshire district, Staffordshire, England. It is in the far south-west...
Narrows, circles - and extra crew
Locks can be sociable places. Boaters gather around a lock chamber and, even before there’s any discussion about..
South west through Staffs
Tixall Wide to Penkridge Cleddau and crew might be on an extended cruise but ordinary life has to go on – hence a need...
Delays, guests and gifts
From Stone to Tixall Wide – simple, just 10½ miles and four locks. Why then, did a trip that can be done in four hours take...
Turn on the light!
(Congleton – Stoke-on-Trent – Wedgewood –Stone) The faint sound of church bells ringing (from Congleton?) drifted...
Southbound – slowly
Grass cut front and back, meetings met and minuted, clothes and gear assembled, car loaded – and at last, after...
Time in the slow lane
A road trip (another!) up to Macc to take The Cheshire One home. What next? Why not have some boat days…