Chris Demasi, a hiker who runs a great blog at http://www.hikinghokie.wordpress.com has run a very thoughtful and insightful review about THRU: An Appalachian Trail Love Story. Take a look at it. And remember, if you are an e-book lover, THRU is now available by going to Amazon, clicking Kindle and entering the book title. Now you have no excuse not to support the Appalachian Trail Museum by reading my novel. Stay vertical and keep walkin’!

It was my pleasure recently to be interviewed by Roswell Current reporter Jessica Diamond. Her story about THRU: An Appalachian Trail Love Story was nicely done and a credit to my novel. Check out Jessica’s blog to learn more about her and to see the THRU story. Just click https://onceuponavagabond.wordpress.com/ press.com/

A nice piece about THRU at http://www.nooga.com/169208/appalachian-trail-thru-hike-comes-to-life-in-thru/

Last Saturday, I went to Mountain Crossings at Neels Gap to sell and sign THRU: An Appalachian Trail Love Story. I was invited by Georganna (people just call her George) and Logan Morton, the new operators of the store. They were having a special day which featured my old friends, the Barker Brothers, a family bluegrass band who add fun to any occasion. There was also a pottery demonstration that looked great. I met Robert Sutherland who runs an AT web page known as AppalachianTrail.com which I highly recommend. He ran the attached photo of me hawking my book and referred to me as the “incredibly handsome” author. I think the portrayal was tongue in cheek seeing as how Robert and I are both men of a certain age, generously proportioned and bearded. But, what the heck, I still sold a bunch of books and made some good friends. Mountain Crossings is located smack dab on the AT. It is the only spot on the entire trail where the footpath goes under a roof. To go through the gap, you must pass under a breezeway. The old CCC-built building where Mountain Crossings is housed is known as the Walisiyi Inn. Walisiyi, as I understand it, is a native American term for “the place of the Big Frog.” There is a Big Frog Wilderness just over the Georgia/Tennessee line in Northwest Georgia. Makes you wonder if prehistoric frogs were the size of dinosaurs. Regardless, I had fun with George and Logan and recommend their fantastic store as a great place to get expert backpacking advice, all kinds of nice crafts and my book!  Stay vertical, you guys, and keep walking.

While cruising on foot in Sarajevo, I met Stan Laurel. I assumed he was long deceased, but apparently he sought asylum in Bosnia in his dotage. We chatted briefly, and I complemented his “thumbs up” with a new gesture I learned in Albania. Look carefully. You’ll note that it is not obscene. It’s identical to the “Hook ’em Horns” gesture at Texas A&M in America, but it actually means something else altogether in Tirana. It’s a watered down version of giving someone the finger. In the Balkans, if someone says or does something mildly offensive, you give this sign accompanied by a rueful grin to register “gentle objection.” I have not tried it in the U.S. based on my assumption that it would be misunderstood and might cause me bodily harm. At my age, why take chances?

One more note about my pal, Doug Hellie. He got this photo last June in Arizona as he hustled to avoid getting caught in one of the many Southwestern U.S. wild fires. Whether it was climate change or just bad luck that caused all this destruction, it really doesn’t matter if you lose a house, property or — as in Doug’s case — possibly life or limb. I’m glad Doug survived, and I look forward to hiking with him again. I hope he’ll wear his top hat.