It’s a Wonderful Life — in Norwalk, Connecticut

Generous people are everywhere, even in places where you don’t seem to be looking for them.
I was recently reminded of this fact (several times over in fact) when my radiator hoses exploded on my way home from a book festival.
Why I U-turned back to Sedona

Sedona. I first heard the name when I was painting a house for an elderly couple in Maine a few decades ago. It’s not unusual for people to escape Maine winters. What stuck in my mind was their destination of choice and the effect it had on them. As soon as they would say the […]
Travel Tales: The Art of the Unplanned

One of my favorite sentiments regarding travel comes from Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley – In Search of America. He contends that they sure way to ruin a journey is to think that you control it. This is such a marvelous metaphor for every aspect of life — work and relationships come to mind— but one place that […]
The True Meaning of a Road Trip

I’m currently on a national road trip for my book, Appalachian Odyssey: A 28-year hike on America’s trail. At least that’s the headline version. But, as with all meaningful journeys, there’s a much deeper story woven through my sojourn through America’s National Parks, cities and towns. It’s that we are (still) a nation of incredible […]