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
South west for winter: Day 6
Day 6: Not speeding on a blustery day Wheelock to Middlewich, 6¼ miles, 6 locks Was Wheelock damned with...
South west for winter: Day 5
Day 5: Leaf drop day Hassall Green to Wheelock: 2 miles, 10 locks Away, away from the noise! The M6 is a constant...
South west for winter: Day 4
Day 4: A numbers sort of day… Red Bull Services to Hassall Green, 4¼ miles, 13 locks Lock 44 lay directly ahead...
South west for winter: Day 3
Day 3: A gentle sort of day Biddulph Aqueduct to Red Bull Services Visitor Moorings, 6½ miles, 4 locks Not every morning...
South west for winter: Day 2
Day 2: Downhill, on a dampish sort of day Bosley to Biddulph Aqueduct, 3¼ miles, 12 locks Rain-streaked windows...
South west for winter…
Cleddau is on an Autumn cruise. It’s a one-way trip: she’s off to spend the winter at Aqueduct Marina (near Nantwich)...
A cruise to a party…
Those who know him well recognise that the Captain is a Planner: give him a project to develop or routes for...
Pottery pottering
Cleddau’s trip along the western end of the Caldon Canal had been to allow a trip to the Emma Bridgewater Pottery...
Double Trouble
After three nights moored below Bosley Locks it was time to move off on Bank Holiday Monday...
Having numerous locks on us...
Knowing where the flags were stored on Cleddau wasn’t the problem, although suspending them above the boat...
Tales of the Unexpected
When it’s just a question of turning a boat round to retrace your route you don’t expect there to be much different...
Outbound on a mission…
Cleddau and crew are afloat on a mission, the first of several… First off it was head southbound down the Macclesfield...
Sand, sea, stairs – cake!
Periodically the Captain and Boatwif get Sea Fever * when they “must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and...
Crew Training
Crew Training is back! (This post was first posted in early July. The Boatwif blog underwent some techno interference...