A Barge at Large

A Barge at Large is a light-hearted, humorous account of what happened when Jo and Jan May took time out to live on a boat. Although based around the waterways of Europe there's plenty here for non-boaters as they travel from the north of Holland to Burgundy in France. Their small barge was built in Groningen, Holland over 100 years ago and was in a sorry state when they bought her. In the early days there were times when they wondered what they'd done - the engine barely ran, the heating system didn't work and the rusty patches were growing like fungus on an old loaf. Professional help was generally unaffordable so they learned to do things themselves. Over time they gradually improved things to the point where they could at least have lunch without an alarm going off. Living on a barge is a life of compromise, less space yet more freedom, less cash but richer. There's no keeping up with the Jones' – if anyone starts being pompous they untie the ropes and go somewhere else. Travelling on rivers, lakes and canals can be exciting or frightening and the reader is offered a unique perspective on an alternative way of life. The book relates the pleasures and quirks of new countries and the joy of meeting a wacky assortment of people. What's clear is that there's not really a typical boater, they are all different, having drifted into this watery existence from any number of directions. There are common problems such as misbehaving lavatories and dribbly windows but also shared delights such as the wildlife, windmills and wine.