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
Thames titbits
The Thames: river wide, water plentiful, riverside property fascinating. That’s it, isn’t it, the same judgement every time...
More musings from the River Wey
Monday 10th – Saturday 15th August There’s a different view on a return journey – or you notice things you missed...
Along the Wey
When not on boating duties there’s sometimes chance to jump ship and explore the local area. At the furthest navigable...
Slowly through Surrey
Just round the corner from Runnymede the county boundary changes from the Royal County of Berkshire to...
Pause for thought at Runnymede
“There’s been a lot going on at Runnymede over the summer,” said Senior Niece. She’s a relative local, so she knows...
Dawdling down the Thames
The lithe and curvaceous Thames twists and turns her way from near Lechlade in Gloucestershire, through Oxfordshire...
Larking downstream
Monday to Thursday: Newbury to Burghfield ‘What larks you two have’ wrote a correspondent in an email recently. (Recognise...
Flashbacks
Cleddau is on a previous cruising patch, this section of the Kennet and Avon Canal being familiar from Frouds Bridge...
Open your eyes
WARNING: this post is free of references to alternator troubles and to the blight of K&A “continuous moorers”...
Troubles on the Long Pound
The Long Pound stretches between the top of the famous Devizes Locks and the four locks at Wootton Rivers...
Water steps up a rather steep hill
Phase 3 of the Cleddau 2015 Cruise has been resumed. Back at Caen Hill Marina just west of Devizes (on Friday...
Crowded on the K&A – and use a bread knife
“We’ve a long way to go,” pronounced the Captain, “and we need to be at Caen Hill Marina by 3 o’clock on Sunday afternoon...
Drenched at Bath
Bristol to Bath (Friday 26th June) The Captain had spent the winter planning an around England cruise. Leaving Bristol...
Shipshape and Bristol Fashion
The harbour at Bristol hums with activity: there is a cross harbour ferry; there are round the harbour sight-seeing tours...