Carefree on the European Canals - Softcover

There are over 45,000 kilometres of navigable rivers and canals in Europe. That is more than a global circumnavigation's worth of inland waterways to explore. Over one third of these are In France and the Netherlands, where much of the finer inland cruising is found. This book will lead the reader in discovering the better ways to enjoy these waters. The book draws from the knowledge and insights gained through the author's half century of boating experience. It is not a "How To" book, rather it is a look at many of the things that are possible. It is profusely illustrated with over 950 photographs and maps, which add depth and clarity to the narrative and give the readers a better understanding of the day-to-day life while cruising the rivers and canals of Europe.

Michael Walsh was born during World War Two on Canada's east coast. He joined the Air Force after school and trained as a pilot, moved to the west coast, discovered mountains, and made a name for himself as an exploratory mountaineer. Then restless, he transferred to the Navy to captain ships. A dozen years later, still restless, he resigned his commission to expand his wine importing business and to pursue his passions, becoming a wine and food writer and educator and Canada's chief coin geek. Restless again, he sailed off and rounded Cape Horn. Twice. The past few years he's lived aboard Zonder Zorg, a restored 1908 Friesian skutsje, as he explores the European canals trying to sort out what to do when he grows up. Meanwhile, he's gone back to writing, and after four nonfiction books on boating, he's turned to fiction.