If you’re thinking of making the life-changing decision of moving from a house to live on a narrow boat it is wise to do your research. Spend time holidaying on a boat, look at as many boats as possible, read the magazines and the books that give an idea of pitfalls and costs and speak to people about the life-style. Either that or just go out and buy a boat. Which is what the author did and then to make life a bit more ‘interesting’ decided to make the maiden voyage alongside another novice her ex-husband. That decision increased the steepness of the learning curve and quickly dissipated the illusion of life aboard a narrow boat being serene and tranquil. But she survived that first journey along the Rivers Nene and the Great Ouse, survived a harsh winter and went on to mostly love but sometimes hate life aboard. This is the story of travelling the water-ways, of towns and countryside, of the wild-life both human and natural. The story of getting it right and getting it wrong and of plans not going to plan.

Wiser is a comparative term. When you start with zero boating knowledge you can only get better. Can’t you? Stephanie Green, on a whim, sold her house, bought a sixty-foot narrowboat and set sail. She knew nothing of boating and was going it alone. She chronicled her shaky learning curve in her first book, A Wide Woman on a Narrow Boat. Two years on she is slightly less wide but only a little wiser ……….. In this book she explores more of England’s canal and river systems. And, on the journey, discovers she still has a lot to learn about boating, its people and herself.