Boater
Step aboard Boater, a mesmerising voyage along the tranquil waterways of England, written by former UK Canal Laureate, Jo Bell.
'It's not a lifestyle. It's a life'
For over twenty years, Jo Bell, archaeologist and poet, has travelled the waterways of England (and sometimes Wales) meeting extraordinary people in an extraordinary environment. It’s a journey that's taught her about human nature, including her own; about rope and Brasso and bravery; about ducks and locks, and above all, about the necessity for a constant supply of biscuits.
In this smart, funny memoir she describes an alternative nation within a nation, a place of different maps and deep history, and home to people who live and work in a world quite separate from the land a few feet away on the banks.
Always at home, always on the move, Jo's peaceful life is interrupted when a turbulent relationship takes her on a year-long odyssey through tranquil waters and on to the treacherous Bristol Channel. Join her as she navigates shallow waters and deep trouble, and welcomes readers onboard a remarkable voyage through the past, present and future of our remarkable canals and the communities they support.
Jo Bell is best known as former UK Canal Laureate and as director of National Poetry Day. Originally from Sheffield and raised on the edges of the Derbyshire Peak District, her fascination with historic narrowboats ignited her passion for poetry, leading to a remarkable career that included managing a fleet of these vessels. Jo lives on her 67-foot narrowboat Tinker. Boater is Jo’s first work of non-fiction.