God only knows what possessed Bill Bryson, a reluctant adventurer if ever there was one, to undertake a gruelling hike along the world's longest continuous footpath—The Appalachian Trail. The 2,000-plus-mile trail winds through 14 states, stretching along the east coast of the United States, from Georgia to Maine. It snakes through some of the wildest and most spectacular landscapes in North America, as well as through some of its most poverty-stricken and primitive backwoods areas. With his offbeat sensibility, his eye for the absurd, and his laugh-out-loud sense of humour, Bryson recounts his confrontations with nature at its most uncompromising over his five-month journey. An instant classic, riotously funny, A Walk in the Woods will add a whole new audience to the legions of Bill Bryson fans.
A touching and timeless story about finding friendship in unlikely places from the award-winning creator of Extraordinary Jane Rupert is a rhinoceros of refined sensibilities. Levi, the new tickbird in class, is not. He burps the alphabet, tells corny jokes, and does really embarrassing air guitar solos. Worse, he lands right on Rupert and is determined to be Rupert's symbiotic best pal! Rupert wants him gone. But when Levi finally does bug off, Rupert finds the peace and quiet a little boring. It turns out, Rupert could really use a friend like Levi. This sweet and moving friendship story shares an important message of acceptance for every reader--whether they're a Rupert or a Levi.
A New York Times Bestseller! We know there are certain things we must have to survive--food, shelter, and safety to name a few. But there are also aspects of life that truly allow us to be joyful and fulfilled. For popular podcaster and bestselling author Annie F. Downs, fun is close to the top of that list. Few would argue that having fun doesn't enrich our lives, but so much gets in the way of prioritizing it. Tough days, busyness, and feelings that are hard to talk about keep us from the fun that's out there waiting to be found. With That Sounds Fun, Annie offers an irresistible invitation to understand the meaning of fun, to embrace it and chase it, and to figure out what, exactly, sounds fun to you--then do it! Exploring some research and sharing some thoughts behind why fun matters, she shows you how to find, experience, and multiply your fun. With her signature storytelling style and whimsical vulnerability, Annie is the friend we all need to guide us back to staying true to ourselves and finding the fun we need.
The Journey is a collection of stories and the lessons learned from them. Everyday events in our lives are teachable moments where we can learn more about ourselves, our Creator and what our Creator hopes us to be. Within the pages of this book, you will find humorous stories and serious reflections, wisdom and truth, and encouragement for your daily walk with Christ.
Much of the world we live in is perceived by many as dangerous and unfriendly. Well into his early adulthood, the author thought so, to the extent that he had little interest in traveling outside the boundaries of his homeland. He certainly lacked any interest whatsoever in traveling overseas. While the author travelled extensively throughout the United States for work-related as well as personal purposes, preplanning of trip details was the norm. Assistance of tourist agencies was utilized regularly in order to assure comfort and safety. Overnight accommodations were almost always prearranged. All plans focused on assuring comfort and convenience. While the author proclaimed Christian faith early in his professional career, that proclamation did not extend to sharing that faith with others outside the United States or even locally outside the author's comfort zone. The author refrained from personally interacting with people of unfamiliar cultures, let alone those in foreign locales deemed difficult or even impossible to reach and interact with. Then an incredible transformation took place in the author's life. Roughly thirteen years into the author's professional career, his fear of the unknown and unfamiliar cultures was miraculously removed from his being. Shortly after, his staunch commitment to advance planning of trip details was eradicated little by little. Following the removal of fear of the unknown from the author's persona, he was, time and again, drawn into experiences falling further and further outside his previous comfort zone. Over time, the author was increasingly blessed with amazing new friendships overseas, wonderful ties with families abroad, and incredible faith-sharing opportunities in foreign lands--"independent" travels that have taken him to nearly ninety countries worldwide. Ron's amazing interactional experiences were regularly intertwined with stunning events most would describe as unpredictable, inconceivable, or even impossible--and virtually always unforeseeable. Hence the title of this book, A Stunning World of Faith, Family, and Friendship--and the Unforeseeable. In many instances, the experiences described in these pages might appear to be grossly exaggerated or even fabricated. Hence the inclusion of numerous photos documenting the stunning truth.
Original oral accounts from the unique people who live in the Great Smoky Mountains. They embody their distinct ideals, beliefs, values and life patterns. There is wit, surprise, and, in some cases, wisdom. You will meet real moonshiners, people who have encountered unexplained events in their everyday lives, and tales of true love. The wild isolation of the Smokies nurtured independence, and a caring spirit.
Ron Swindall looks back at a life spent teaching, coaching, playing music, and enjoying the great outdoors. An ordinary guy from Indian Creek, near the little town of Pound, Virginia, he says there is no better place for him to call home. It was a small town, and he made lifelong friends there. Most of his life has been spent in or around Wise County, Virginia, either in Pound, Norton, Wise, or Powell Valley near Big Stone Gap. Hes been fortunate to enjoy a successful marriage, and he and his wife have three children. Together, they enjoy fishing, camping, and spending time outdoorsand he doesnt regret a single day. In his memoir, he traces his family ancestry as well as the history of the area his family has called home. He also looks back at his thirty-seven year tenure as a teacher with the Wise County, Virginia, school system. He makes the case that we must all maintain and support the public education system, which will help us move toward a brighter future, and shares lessons learned over a well-spent life in Chords and Stories.
Before she went missing, Susan Clements was hiking with her daughter on one of the most popular trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, less than a mile from Clingmans Dome. When Nancy East’s search and rescue team joined the effort to find her, she learned Susan was a mother to three children who adored her. What Nancy didn’t know then was how much the search for Susan would impact and influence her own life’s path afterward. Two years later, Nancy and her good friend, Chris Ford, set out to improve the speed record of hiking all 801 miles of trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park while raising funds for hiker safety and preparedness. While chasing the record, the duo faced tropical storm rains, swollen, unbridged creek crossings, injuries, night hiking, and wildlife encounters. Their arduous journey also became intertwined in one of the most rare human-bear tragedies in the park’s history. Maintaining a positive mental attitude was their superpower through it all. The enormous feat of endurance was one of the most grueling endeavors that Nancy, a mother and everyday athlete, had ever faced. However, the hardest things she had endured were in her past. The strength she gained from those experiences was now moving her forward, one difficult step at a time. Chasing the Smokies Moon is a story of grief, hope, empowerment, and love, and the thread that binds them all. ADVANCE PRAISE FOR CHASING THE SMOKIES MOON "If you think that setting trail records is about speed and hubris, Nancy East will prove you wrong. It is not her success, but her vulnerability that will encourage you to keep moving forward when the next step feels impossible. It is not her impressive miles, but rather her insightful reflections that allow you to recognize feelings of gratitude and connectedness in the midst of pain and loss. And it is not her attributes as a hiker, but her roles as a mother, spouse, and friend that make this book a valuable resource for anyone who is trying to navigate through relationships - and adventure." --Jennifer Pharr Davis, author of The Pursuit of Endurance: Harnessing the Record-Breaking Power of Strength and Resilience “I have always thought of Nancy East as somewhat of a real life superhero -- this harrowing and transparent account of her FKT attempt and SAR fundraising effort has certainly solidified that sentiment!” --Steven Reinhold, Backpacker Magazine, Brand Ambassador “Chasing the Smokies Moon is a deep dive into the depths of a Fastest Known Time record attempt. East relays with humor, profundity, and humility the highs and lows of an intense journey through the Great Smoky Mountains and human connection." --Heather Anderson, author of Mud, Rocks, Blazes: Letting Go on the Appalachian Trail “This story is more than just a recounting of an incredible feat of endurance and perseverance, it is an insightful and revealing look into the mind and soul of multi faceted adventurous woman.” --Kevin Fitzgerald, former Deputy Superintendent of Great Smoky Mountains National Park
