Published in 1913, this book is the firsthand account of a truly quirky adventure. Author John Cowan and his friends didn't just go on a boat trip; they built their own motorboat, the Sometub, and pointed it down the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal from Cumberland, Maryland, to Washington, D.C. This was no pleasure cruise. The canal was already in serious decline, a relic of the railroad age. Their journey is a 300-mile puzzle of mechanical breakdowns, navigational headaches, and constant repairs.

The Story

Cowan writes like a friend telling you about his vacation, complete with all the mishaps. The plot is simple: they try to go from Point A to Point B. The drama comes from everything in between. Will the Sometub's engine survive another day? Can they clear the weeds and debris blocking their path? Will the lockkeepers, few and far between, even be there to help them through? It's a day-by-day chronicle of problem-solving. They patch leaks with chewing gum, jury-rig parts, and often resort to pulling the boat by hand through the worst sections. The 'characters' are the canal itself—slowly being reclaimed by nature—and the handful of people still living along its forgotten banks.

Why You Should Read It

This book charmed me because it's so honest. Cowan doesn't pretend it was all glorious sunsets. He talks about boredom, frustration, and exhaustion. But that makes the small victories—a smoothly working lock, a peaceful stretch of water, a friendly face at a lockhouse—so rewarding. You feel the group's determination. More than a travelogue, it's a snapshot of a moment. They were witnessing the very end of an era, traveling a waterway that was a bustling highway just a generation before. There's a quiet, almost accidental, historical importance to their trip. They were documenting something about to vanish.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who enjoys real-life adventure stories, American history from the ground level, or tales of obscure journeys. It's not a flashy epic; it's a slow, thoughtful, and often funny ride. If you've ever tackled a DIY project that was harder than you expected, or gone on a trip where everything went wrong (but you're glad you did it), you'll connect with Cowan and his crew. Think of it as a peaceful, engaging escape into a simpler, yet much more physically demanding, time.