Life afloat suits some people, & with a business that`s made living & working all over the English waterways possible, it suits Giles Byford & Jill Parkinson so well they feel blessed. Everything, from the circumstances of finding their first narrowboat to rejecting academia, seems to bring rewards; so they`re not surprised that the same strange magic appears to be working its charm when they set about building Hawthorn, the barge they intend to spend the rest of their lives exploring Europe on. The future`s promising & wonderful. & then, quite suddenly, everything falls apart. Reedbound is largely about what followed: how the terrifying voyage across the Irish Sea became an act of faith that contrasted with a gentle westward wander along an empty canal to the River Shannon & the heart of Ireland`s waterways. & how, despite feeling vulnerable & nervous, they were determined the best way to recover their confidence in life afloat was to avoid doing any research & simply trust that all would be well. This unusual approach delivered constant surprises, adventures, unexpected spaces & the company of other misfits. Giles began to write
- initially a widely read blog, & then articles for waterways magazines
- & Jill finally had time to explore her interest in art; the success of which can be seen in the numerous illustrations that are a feature of Reedbound. Reedbound compares & contrasts two inland waterway systems
- England & Ireland
- & two boating cultures. It`s about Giles & Jill`s approach to travel & life, which is as rare as taking a barge across the Irish Sea. It`s also about the delight of experiencing the Irish landscape & culture through naive but willing eyes.