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

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 →

Truth or BS? Can You Tell the Difference?

If you are the first to tell a “truth,” people will likely believe you, then they will repeat your “truth” to others, who will also believe it. Humans are programmed to believe. Even if you are making up the “truth.” People once there was a race of bat people who lived on the moon. Hundreds … Continue reading Truth or BS? Can You Tell the Difference? →

My Camino Book: Is This Really Happening?

I was warned. The vast majority of books from indie authors find few readers beyond family and friends and have a short shelf life. Almost six years after my first book, Camino Sunrise: Walking With My Shadows, was published, it is finding new readers in surging numbers in several countries, especially the United States and … Continue reading My Camino Book: Is This Really Happening? →

Travel High in the Himalaya

You long for an up-close look at the world’s highest mountain range, but logistics, cost, and a long list of complications stand in your way. Here is an alternative: Travel with Erika Fatland and her superb book, High, A Journey Across the Himalaya Through Pakistan, India, Bhutan, Nepal, and China. The acclaimed author, anthropologist, and … Continue reading Travel High in the Himalaya →