An Inland Voyage Section 1 - Antwerp to Boom

In which the narrator embarks upon the Scheldt River in canoes, navigating the currents and squalls with a mix of trepidation and unexpected confidence, all beneath a bright and shifting sky. The journey brings them to the smoky town of Boom, where they encounter a mélange of local characters, a curiously unmemorable hotel, and reflections on the resilient and self-sufficient spirit of women amidst the quiet hum of provincial life.