Three friends, along with a fox terrier named Montmorency, convince themselves they are suffering from various fictitious ailments caused by overwork and decide they need a complete change. They reject a sea trip based on disastrous accounts of seasickness and ultimately settle on a rowing excursion up the Thames from Kingston. After a complicated packing process filled with domestic incompetence, they set off on the river, encountering erratic locks, unpredictable weather, and troublesome tow-lines. Along the way, they visit historical towns, share humorous anecdotes about people they have known, and attempt various camp-style meals that often end in disaster.
The narrative weaves classical English history and romantic descriptions of the river landscape with farcical situations, such as getting lost in the Hampton Court maze, disastrous boat towing by girls, and struggles with stubborn tins of pine-apple. Throughout the journey, the characters display a profound laziness and a remarkable capacity for arguing over simple tasks, yet they continually find charm and peace in the natural beauty surrounding them. The trip serves as a humorous reflection on modern urban life, friendship, and the simple pleasures of a slower existence away from the city.
