A Thousand Miles in the Rob Roy Canoe

A Thousand Miles in the Rob Roy Canoe recounts the travels of John MacGregor in a "decked" canoe, known now as a kayak, on the lakes and rivers of Europe in 1865.

The book outlines the joys and difficulties of this pioneering paddler from his first "shakedown" cruise down the Thames and on the edge of the English Channel to his final triumphal paddle up the Seine into Paris.

As MacGregor was making the trip in 1865, his voyages became an international event that was cataloged in newspapers as far away as the United States. "Canoe spotting" became a popular pastime in Europe as MacGregor made his way as whimsy dictated down some of the most well known waterways in the world.

His observations recall a fascination with the glorious days of life that many find missing in the rush of our modern world. His prose is easy to read, much more modern in pace than his Victorian contemporaries. Altogether, this book is a wonderful read for the armchair traveler.