{"id":108869,"date":"2025-06-19T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-19T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/archwaybookshop.co.uk\/?post_type=product&#038;p=108869"},"modified":"2026-02-05T12:34:48","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T12:34:48","slug":"boater","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/archive.archwaybookshop.co.uk\/product\/9780008716295","title":{"rendered":"Boater"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Step aboard <em>Boater<\/em>, a mesmerising voyage along the tranquil waterways of England, written by former UK Canal Laureate, Jo Bell.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&#8216;<strong><em>It&#8217;s not a lifestyle. It&#8217;s a life<\/em><\/strong>&#8216;<\/p>\n<p>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&#8217;s a journey that&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Always at home, always on the move, Jo&#8217;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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Step aboard <em>Boater<\/em>, a mesmerising voyage along the tranquil waterways of England, written by former UK Canal Laureate, Jo Bell.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[641],"product_tag":[333,259,258],"class_list":["post-108869","product","type-product","status-publish","product_cat-biography","product_tag-literary-essays","product_tag-memoirs","product_tag-travel-writing","pa_book_author-bell-jo","pa_cover-hardback","pa_dewey-386-3092-edition23","pa_imprint-harpernorth","pa_language-english","pa_pages-8306","pa_publisher-harpernorth","pa_readership-general-trade-code-k","first","onbackorder","taxable","shipping-taxable","purchasable","product-type-simple"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Boater<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Step aboard Boater, a mesmerising voyage along the tranquil waterways of England, written by former UK Canal Laureate, Jo Bell.&#039;It&#039;s not a lifestyle. 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