The Unlikely Voyage of Jack De Crow

Equipped with his cheerful optimism and a pith helmet, this Odysseus in a dinghy takes you with him from the borders of north Wales to the Black Sea - 4,900 kilometers over salt and fresh water, under sail, at oars, or at the end of a tow rope - through twelve countries, 282 locks, and numerous trials and adventures, including an encounter with Balkan pirates.

A.J. Mackinnon was born in Australia in 1963. He got hDiploma in Education and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, Linguistics and Anglo-Saxon from the University of Adelaide. His teaching career started at Westminster school, Adelaide, where he taught English and Drama for four years. AFter this time he traveled overland England by yacht, hitch-hiking, river-canoe and even horseback-spending a brief time in a Chinese prison after accidentally swimming into China and being attacked by Komodo Dragons, amongst other experiences. In England he taught at Sherborne and Cheltenham before becoming Head of Drama at Ellesmere College, Shropshire, where he also taught English. From Ellesmere he launched his unlikely voyage aboard his dinghy Jack de Crow. He is currently teaching English and Drama at Geelong Grammar School in Australia where he also coaches sailing.

List of Illustrations Part One: Bumping into Places Chapter 1: Teacher's Thief Chapter 2: The Dinghy and the Dreamer Chapter 3: Departure and Dismay Chapter 4: Sails and Stained Glass Chapter 5: Rapids and Repairs Chapter 6: Steam Trains and Smooth Sailing Chapter 7: High Tide to Bristol Chapter 8: Wi' a Hundred Locks a' A' an' A' Chapter 9: Death and Dreaming Spires Chapter 10: Return to Reading Chapter 11: Capsizes and Colleges Chapter 12: London and the Law Part Two: Caution to the Winds Chapter 13: Dooms and Delays Chapter 14: Tide on the Thames Chapter 15: Of Shallows and Shipwrecks Chapter 16: Cake and Carpentry Chapter 17: Dashing to Dover Chapter 18: Crossing to Calais Chapter 19: Dead Dogs and Englishmen... Chapter 20: Et in Arcadia Ego Chapter 21: Farewell to France Chapter 22: A Jollyboat in Germany Chapter 23: Contrary Currents and Kindness Chapter 24: The Kaiser's Canal Chapter 25: Pigeons and Palaces Chapter 26: Into the East Chapter 27: Proud Hearts and Empty Pockets Chapter 28: Bad Times in Bulgaria Chapter 29: The Wings of Morning About the Author