Reginald Spittle's Blog: See my book blog, page 6

Two Spittles Conquer Half Dome

Our sons Brad (left) and Andrew summitted Half Dome (8,839’) in Yosemite National Park to watch the sun rise today. They grew up nearby and it was not their first time up the cables, but this time it came a day after they had climbed Cloud’s Rest (9,931’). Cheers, boys!

Newfoundland: Does It Meet the Hype?

Newfoundland, alas. We had heard so much. Canada’s most rugged, beautiful, and remote province. Friendliest people. Newbies must be Screeched. In Gros Morne National Park, we walked to Bakers Brook Falls, a place so wild I felt like I was in the Yukon. The boardwalks over marshes made it feel somewhat civilized, though. But the … Continue reading Newfoundland: Does It Meet the Hype? →

PEI Footpaths Float and Climb

Our RV “camping” journey continued on Canada’s Prince Edward Island, where we walked on a floating boardwalk that led to the beach dunes at Greenwich National Park. It bobbed like a pedestrian suspension bridge and may be too much for people prone to seasickness. About the size of Rhode Island, PEI is relatively flat, but … Continue reading PEI Footpaths Float and Climb →

You May Not Believe This, But It’s a Fact

I stand at low tide at the home of the world’s highest tide, at Fundy Bay, New Brunswick, Canada. I can see the shores of Nova Scotia. A question for you: How much water flows into the 94-mile-long funnel-shaped channel to reach high tide, a rise of up to 48 feet? The stacks are referred … Continue reading You May Not Believe This, But It’s a Fact →

Suspension Bridge Kicks Off Canadian Adventure

Can you spare four days? Do steep climbs, stunning coastal scenery, and Canadian wilderness sound like your cup of tea? New Brunswick, Canada offers the 27-mile Fundy Footpath that begins on a suspension bridge over the Big Salmon River and ends at Fundy National Park after traveling through 12 ravines. You’ll need to pack everything … Continue reading Suspension Bridge Kicks Off Canadian Adventure →

A Walk on the World’s Longest Trail

We were hiking the Matthews Head trail near Fundy, New Brunswick, Canada, when the sign informed us we were on the Trans Canada Trail, the longest trail in the world. If we kept going, we could end up on the Arctic Ocean coastline. Or the Pacific Coast. But we would need more than hiking shoes. … Continue reading A Walk on the World’s Longest Trail →

Gander: A Name You Won’t Forget

Have you been bitten by cynicism? This book may be your cure. In an uplifting and heartwarming story, Jim DeFede takes us to Gander, Newfoundland, to show how one Canadian town responded to an unexpected crisis on September 11, 2001. With little time to prepare, the town of 10,000 grew by 6,800 people who were …

Crowds Jam Iconic Illinois Park

It began as a routine hiking day during our campout along the Illinois River about 80 miles south of Chicago. We headed to nearby Starved Rock State Park to walk a loop trail. The parking lot at the trailhead made it clear this was an extraordinary place. We arrived mid-morning, but hundreds of cars already … Continue reading Crowds Jam Iconic Illinois Park →

Appalachian Conqueror Finds New Way

A changed man.That was David Miller after walking 2,172 miles on the Appalachian Trail. For the rest of his life, he vowed to do the hard things. “I will have fewer ‘shoulda have dones’ even if it means some ‘wish I hadn’ts’ “ he wrote in AWOL on the Appalachian Trail. He was 41 when … Continue reading Appalachian Conqueror Finds New Way →

North Dakota Proclaims a Lofty Goal

North Dakota is not what I expected. Sue and I came here to cross off state number 46 on our RV adventures, not anticipating much natural beauty. Theodore Roosevelt, who dedicated our nation to preserving lands as monuments and parks, said his experiences in this state made him a better man. Theodore Roosevelt National Park, … Continue reading North Dakota Proclaims a Lofty Goal →