Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #167529 in Books
• Published on: 2004-03-31
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Triumph World Magazine, February 2004
'fascinating reading' ... 'amusing stories about how he first became obsessed with canals'

City to Cities Magazine, Feb 04
'this delightful rural ride' ... 'a richly humorous book' ... 'a warm and generous book'

Canal & Riverboat Magazine, March 04
'a rich mix' ... 'difficult to put down; just in case you miss something.' ... 'an overall must-read'

Customer Reviews

Canals and boaters as they really are
What an excellent book! There are a number of books about the experience of boating on England's canals and rivers written by enthusiasts, and some written by professional journalists, but Steve Hayward is the first in modern times (since LTC Rolt, in fact) to be both well informed about waterways and a professional writer.

This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to know what canals and boaters are really like, and for all those already infected by the bug but presently deprived of being on the water.

I read it from cover to cover within 24 hours of getting it, and the only reason I'm not re-reading it right now is because my wife has stolen it.

Tales from the far canal
As a kiwi living down-under with nary a canal or narrowboat within several thousand miles, Steve's description of modern and early canal boating was an interesting and compelling read. I do confess that, as my old grannie had a Triumph Herald, Steve's inclusion of his beloved Herald into the storyline was a plus for me. I could almost smell the distinctive weathered-vinyl-plastic-dashboard Herald odour wafting from the pages. Brilliant! Would have been great to see a map outlining the path of 'Justice' through the canal system but, like Bryson, Steve makes one resort to a Googlemap for reference of his wanderings. Looking forward to Steve's next book.

What a disappointment
Easily the worst book I have read in a very long time.
I was expecting, at worst, a twee travelogue, at best a ripping yarn of life on the road and water.
Instead a dreary account of boaty & car-ry things, interspersed with unnecessary, entrenched opinion, and the lives of key players in the history of inland waterway restoration replayed in a way that begs the only question "who cares?"
Only sheer bloody-minded determination kept me going to the end (although the best is saved to last with the account of the Shapness to Bristol crossing)