School teacher Mackinnon begged an old Mirror dinghy for a couple of weeks messing about on the Upper Severn. Somehow the trip snowballed, he continued down the Severn , up the Avon, down the Thames, acros the Channel and through the rivers of Europe to the Black Sea, 4900 km and 282 locks later. Armed with cheerful optimism and the ability to gain sympathy and hospitality from those that he met, he achieved a remarkable voyage under sail and oar alone. A epic voayage, undertaken with courage, and recounted with flair and humour. PB. 355 pages.