Real canal stories 1960-1980s

Book - Innocents Afloat Ref: 462
by Jeremy Scanlon.

Jeremy was born and educated in Massachusetts. He discovered the waterways while pursuing historical research. His own narrowboat 'Unicorn' has cruised some 50,000 miles as a floating guesthouse.

This book covers a period before 'Unicorn', his discovery of the canals in 1967/8 and first trip, and his second trip in 1970.

Softback, 5½" x 8½" approx. 192 pages.
Price: £6.75

Book - Canals Are My Home Ref: 971
by Iris Bryce.

This new edition of Iris' classic book celebrates 30 years since she and her husband Owen sold their farmhouse in Kent and set off to tour the waterways of England.

They started in November 1974 in a brand new 65 foot narrow boat 'Bix', named after jazzman Bix Beiderbecke, into which they stowed all their worldly goods, including an upright piano.

Here is the story of their adventures - the ups, the downs, the many people they met, the places they visited and the sights they saw - recounted with charm and a delightful sense of humour.

Soft back. 224 pages. Illustrated with colour photos throughout. 5¾" x 8¼" approx.
Price: £12.50

Book - Narrow Boat to the Cheshire Ring Ref: 1701
by Ted and Margaret Hill.

Canal cruising and campaigning in the 1960s.This book covers the ten year period in the 60s when they were involved either in living on or campaigning for the inland waterways.

Sections include buying, converting and living on a boat at Oldbury, the first cruise, the IWA Festival in Stratford-upon-Avon to celebrate the restoration of the Stratford Canal, and their involvement with the Peak Forest Canal Society. It ends with a 1990 cruise of the whole of the Cheshire Ring.

Soft back. 173 pages. Illustrated with colour and black & white photos. 8¼" x 8¼" approx.
Price: £9.99

Book - Athene (Anatomy of a Dream) Ref: 336
by Anthony H. Lewis.

Here is life afloat, without a fixed base. Joys, heartaches, highs & lows are all here. After designing and planning their own boat, they embark on a DIY fit-out. Continual cruising is described in detail, together with a range of activities open to pleasure boaters.

Soft back. 5¾" x 8" approx. 235 pages. Various black and white drawings & illustrations.
Price: £6.99

Book - Kiwi Afloat Ref: 1241
by Doris Coppell.

Do you fancy a holiday on an English canal or river during which you will be ship wrecked (almost), cold, depressed, tired, anxious, bilious, blown backwards, blinded in one eye and completely enveloped in black smoke?

On the other hand, would you enjoy hilarious situations, colourful characters, friendly conversations, interesting navigation inns, engineering marvels and beautiful remote moorings?

Join Doris on 'Salidha', 'Maori' and 'Adagio' and crews as they explore the waterways.

Soft back. 248 pages. 6" x 9" approx. 31 black & white photos in centre.
Price: £12.50

Book - Worst Journey in the Midlands Ref: 822
by Sam Llewellyn.

Sam Llewellyn, amateur boatbuilder, writer, and fan of Antarctic exploration, is attempting to make his way from the bottomless depths of Wales to far-off London. By rowing boat. On the face of it, this is a simple voyage. Down the Severn, across a labyrinth of canals to the Thames, and on to the Houses of Parliament. But this is the wettest October on record, the boat leaks and the natives are not universally friendly...

Soft back. 224 pages. 5" x 7¾" approx.
Price: £7.75

Book - Journey Without End Ref: 561
by David Bolton.

In Journey Without End, the author tells of how he and his wife threw up their jobs in London and spent a rewarding 18 months travelling England's canals in a 70ft boat.

Softback. 192 pages. 5¼" x 8¼" approx. Black and white illustrations by John Mansbridge.
Price: £7.75