Camino de Santiago (Part 1)

I was familiar with the famed Camino de Santiago, but thought it was a single long trail through the Pyrenees. It actually is a web of trails across France, Portugal, and Spain that gradually converge as they approach the gravesite of the Christian disciple James at...

Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad

John Muir once said that with so much of the world to experience he barely had time to write. Usually my life is mundane enough for me to write several hours each morning, but the past six weeks have been the exception. With an unexpectedly long trip to northern...

Essays to My Daughter (Excerpt #2)

I am still traveling without electronic devices, so I won’t be able to type up and post this week’s blog.  The following is an excerpt from my upcoming Essays to My Daughter on Our Relationship with the Natural World. By next week, I’ll be back to writing my usual...

Essays to My Daughter (Excerpt #1)

Currently I am traveling without electronic devices, so I won’t be able to write my weekly blog.  However, the manuscript for my next book is in the hands of Purdue University Press undergoing final revisions, so while I am away, I will print short excerpts from the...

Catch-22

Some people derive nearly as much pleasure in preparing for a trip as they do going on the trip. Travelers to Europe hover over Lonely Planet guide books and plan itineraries. Fishermen and fisherwomen go through their tackle boxes and get their gear in perfect order....
Steven Simpson