I read this a few years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it.

"On a fateful South American bus trip, journalist Nick Thorpe overheard an improbable plan: to sail 2,500 miles to Easter Island on a boat made of reeds. Intrigued by this modern-day Kon-Tiki, he blagged his way on board only to find himself with nagging questions. Why did the crew include a tree surgeon, a jewellery salesman and a duck? What had happened to the navigator? Did anybody actually know how to sail? And, most importantly, where was the life raft?

Eight Men and a Duck charts this most eccentric of Pacific voyages as it lurched between high drama and high farce: the slow-motion launch that took five days to complete; the bungled phone call that triggered a Naval rescue alert; and the constant race against the inexorable sinking of the soggy hull.

Yet despite the menace of storms and sharks and fast-moving freighters, a singular lack of sailing qualification, and a rival explorer dogging the adventure at every turn, the crew of the Viracocha lived to tell their extraordinary tale right through to its wickedly unexpected conclusion. Nick Thorpe’s account is in turn funny, touching and thrilling – a story of friendship, fate, and the unfeasible lengths we will go for adventure - and a wonderful debut from an exciting new voice in travel writing."

I am sending this out on a bookray. The participants are:

dogsapples
LyzzyBee
rainbowandrain
AnglersRest
candy-is-dandy

Recieved from pennywhistler today - thank you. Will try to read as soon as poss, have one other ring book to read first.

Really enjoyed this once I got into it. The early part prearing the boat and the delays before launching frustrated me (as it must have done for the crew) but it was very interesting, especially to see how the characters interacted and evolved as the journey went on.

sending on to Lyzzybee as soon as i have her address.

Arrived today - thank you pennywhistler and dogsapples!

Now - I have one ring I'm reading at the moment, and one TBR. The TBR one is a biggie and will be a "read at home" book, to be started after I finish my current large book. The one I'm reading is a "handbag - journies and work) book and this one falls into that category too.

So what I'm trying to say is that I have a couple of Rings to read but this one should be started and finished and sent on within the month.

Why, oh why, oh why, do they always all arrive at once???!!

Subtitle tells exactly what it is: an improbable voyage by reed boat to Easter Island. A well-written, warts-and-all tale of what it was like to be a late joiner on a trip by reed boat from South America to Easter Island. No glossing over the facts here - he and the other crew members mess up, argue, and make up. Lovely epilogue featuring Thor Heyerdahl himself. I really enjoyed this.

I have PM'd rainbowandrain for address to send on to.

RELEASE NOTES:

Posting to Rainbowandrain on Saturday.

Came in the post- thanks a lot!

I am afraid I got part way through this and then left it on my desk over the summer hols- I am a teachher so couldn't get in! Anyway will send it on without finishing so it can be on the move again! Just waiting for the next address.

Arrived this morning. In the middle of another ring, so should get to this soon.

A fascinating account of a reed boat sailing from South America to the Pacific. I really enjoyed this, thanks for sharing.

I have the address for candy-is-dandy, so in the post Tuesday 3rd Oct.

The reed boat arrived safely today. Thanks Julie, and Pennywhistler for sharing.

To go to playtheman in Oz next.

Sorry for sitting on this for so long (I've got plaited reed indentations in my bum). Took this on holiday to Herefordshire where it finally got read.

I love to read about expeditions and adventures like this one and wish I was brave enough to do something mad like this. I managed to go canoeing on the River Wye for 2 hours while on holiday. That is likely to be the extent of my adventures but I can dream that one day I too may make an epic journey.

Thanks for sharing this book. It now has further to travel - off to Australia next (once I get the address). It's getting nearer to Easter Island. I wonder if it will ever make it there.

The book arrived safe and sound. And I was impressed with the London Phone Boxes card, candy-is-dandy.

I,m sending this book to Iojima in France as an RABCK.

What a wonderful surprise! Thank you very much.

Don't know if I've read too many travel books lately or what, but I just couldn't get going with this. Although I loved the pictures. :-) Thank you, again, Playtheman.

Going to Brazil to fellow BookMoocher.

This little book is travelling further than the raft ever did!

Received from Margot, a fellow BookMoocher. Plan to read it and put it back on BookMooch. Sy