Real canal stories from 1980s & later

Book - I'd Go Back Tomorrow Ref: 483
by Mike Lucas.

The Mikron Theatre Company has been dispensing entertainment and inspiration for thirty years, taking theatre to the people. This is the story, a moving account of the perils and pitfalls, challenges and triumphs of running a small theatre company afloat.

This book will charm theatre-goers, country lovers and canal buffs alike.

Softback. 186 pages. 6" x 9¼" approx. Illustrated with various b/w and colour photographs.
Price: £7.50

Book - Fruit Flies Like a Banana Ref: 821
by Steve Haywood.

When Steve hits 50, he is galvanised into action. Exploring the English canals on his trusty narrowboat 'Justice', and the countryside in his classic Triumph Herald, he attempts to delve into what it is that makes the English so, well, English. Happily mixing with the eccentric array of characters he meets along the way, Steve experiences more than his fair share of mayhem, mishaps and, of course, torrential rain.

Soft back. 317 pages. 5" x 7¾"approx. (2006 reprint)
Price: £8.75

Book - Walking on Water Ref: 488
by Nick Corble.

Fired by memories of a canal holiday when younger, and inspired by a desire to rediscover the true values in life, Nick, in a moment of calculated madness, acquires a rather battered but much loved canal boat called 'Florrie'.

With a free summer stretching before him, Nick, aided by a rotation of very different crews, embarks on the Grand Trek South, through the canal system of England. Nick recounts the highlights and low points of his memorable and highly eventful trip with relish.

Softback. 307 pages. 5¾" x 8¼" approx. 2006 edition.
Price: £9.75

Book - The Water Road (paperback) Ref: 714
by Paul Gogarty.

The Water Road is the story of a magical journey through backdoor England. Paul Gogarty, travel writer and TV presenter, disappears for 4 months into a maze of canals linking the Thames with the Severn, Mersey and Trent.

The Water Road is both a celebration of a secret England and a powerful personal odyssey in which the author marks his own rite of passage.

Soft back. 364 pages. 5½" x 8½" approx. Some colour photos, and b/w maps.
Price: £8.55

Book - A Bit More Boating Ref: 701
by Shirley Ginger.

This is the sequel to 'Lock, Stock & Barrel', the story of a couples escape from the city rat-race to a canalside small holding and general store in Northamptonshire.

A Bit More Boating continues the twin themes of our inland waterways and self-sufficiency, and takes a light hearted look at the boating world from behind the counter and at the tiller.

Soft back. 181 pages. 5¾" x 8¼" approx. Illustrated by Shirley Ginger.
Price: £7.30

Book - Paddling to Jerusalem Ref: 652
by David Aaronovitch.

In the last summer of the 20th century got into a small boat at Camden Lock in London and set out on an epic journey to discover England and himself. This is David's funny and moving story of where he went and what he thought.

It is a tale of moderate danger, of slow adventure, of big exercise, wet water and bad food. Above all it is a story of what happens when a bad idea gets the better of you, and turns out to be a very good idea indeed.

Soft back. 306 pages. 5" x 7¾" approx.

Sorry, currently out of print.
Price: £7.75

Book - Narrow Dog To Carcassonne (hard back) Ref: 1182
by Terry Darlington.

This book is a true story of high adventure as experienced by two innocent pensioners and a reluctant dog, who decided to sail their narrowboat 'Phyllis May' across the English Channel and through Belgium and France to the Mediterranean.

Highlights of their trip were shown in the Central TV programme Waterworld.

Hard back. 372 pages. 5¾" x 8¾" approx.
Price: £14.50

Book - Narrow Dog to Carcassonne (paper back) Ref: 1459
by Terry Darlington.

Highlights of their trip were shown in the Central TV programme Waterworld.

Paper back. 426 pages. 5" x 7¾" approx.
Price: £7.75

Book - Narrow Dog To Indian River (hardback) Ref: 1863
by Terry Darlington.

No-one has ever sailed an English narrowboat in the US before, for reasons that become clear during the nine month voyage of the 'Phyllis May' - including thirty mile sea crossings, blasting heat, tornadoes, hurricanes, starving alligators, killer fish, insects from hell and the walking dead.

Hard back. 354 pages. 96mm x 150mm approx.
Price: £14.50

Book - Tales of the Cut Ref: 1463
by Carl Leckey MBE.

Carl was a mate on the Mersey tugs and a lock keeper for British Waterways, and awarded the MBE for services to British Waterways in 1995. He is a born story teller and his hilarious 'Tales of the Cut' does for the tight-knit macho world of the Northern waterways what the writer James Heriot did for Yorkshire and country vets.

Readres will meet 'Arry, Big Al, Pudding Paul, Pontius Pilot, Hissing Syd amongst others.

Soft back. 225 pages. 5¾" x 8" approx. 2005.
Price: £9.99

Book - Tales from the Towpath Ref: 1715
by Doreen Gordon.

This book tells of Doreen's adventures and times aboard a narrow boat in Great Britain. The story starts with a holiday afloat and the decision to buy an empty hull and fit the boat out.

A couple of years later they realised that their cratch making enterprise needed more space so they ordered a bigger boat and started again. Boozy parties, cold winters, boat gatherings, and accidents all occurred over the next 12 years until the sale of the boat.

Soft back. 75 pages. 5¾" x 8¼" approx.
Price: £4.99