Travel Resources for Riders

FOR RIDERS WHO WANT TO SEE THE WORLD FROM THE BACK OF A HORSE!

Nancy Brown on Writing Horseback

Equestrian travel expert, Nancy Brown, has created a website that is a terrific resource for riding destinations.   On w.writinghorseback.com you will find Dude Ranch Reviews and links to articles on horseback adventures around the globe.  

My article about riding in Ecuador is featured there. She was one of the first to review my book The Cowgirl Jumped Over the Moon when it came out in 2015.  Since then she has added and upgraded her site to make it one of the best resources for riders looking for equestrain adventures. 

Linda leading group on Inca Trail Ecuador

In the meanwhile, I published Cowgirl in audio book format and it is getting rave reviews.

This story is full tragedy and triumph. The tragedy of divorce and being hurt. The triumph of healing and working towards want you want! I couldn’t put this down. I stayed up all night to finish it. I will be listening to again. Audible listener

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Can’t go on a riding adventure right now? Do the next best thing and ride with Gemcie aboard Marshal her Irish Hunter ont the way to the World Cup!

Linda Ballou is an adventure travel writer with a host of travel articles on her site www.LostAngelAdventures.com. You will also find information about her travel memoir, Lost Angel Walkabout-One Traveler’s Tales.  She is also the author of Wai-nani: A Voice from Old Hawai’i a historical novel set in pre-contact Hawaii. More on her books at www.lindaballouauthor.co

Forest Bathing! Really?

."We humans do not save beauty; rather, beauty saves us." -Gretel Ehrlich

What Bill Bryson so aptly called a “Walk in the Woods” is now known as “Forest Bathing.”

The Japanese have over 60 Forest Therapy Camps in Japan alone. We have certified Nature and Forest Bathers right here in river city. The Lost Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic garden offers guided forest bathing walks.

  I need the soothing balm of breathing deeply of oxygenated air. Watching butterflies flit from flower to flower is enough entertainment for me. Putting one foot in front of the other allows my mind to relax and puts an end to repetitive thought. Studies indicate that getting into nature can boost our immune system, improve mental clarity and decrease anxiety. All good reasons to get outside, but the sight of a seductive trail through a shady tree canopy has always been enough for me. So whether you need a docent to steer you to the benefits of forest bathing, or just want to take a walk in the woods, it’s all good.

In my book Lost Angelin Paradise, I take you on 32 outdoor days most of which include a 2-4 mile hike somewhere beautiful. It is on in Amazon’s kindle store and ITunes both offer the ability to download the book to your phone. It has live links that take you to trail maps and a good place to eat nearby.

L.A. County Arboretum & Botanic Garden


 Please stop by my site where you will find travel articles, photo essays and more about my books.  www.LindaBallouAuthor.com

Presently, I am focused on getting to as many beautiful places I can before they are gone! That is why I created this web page www.LostAngelAdventures.com dedicated to travel.

Our Hawai'i remembered by Charmian London

Our Hawaii by Charmian London
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In spite of the fact that the language is archaic I enjoyed experiencing Charmian’s experiencing Mrs. London’s POV. She and Jack London were hosted by Hawaiian royalty all over the Islands and were privileged to enjoy in a way that few have. They were hosted everywhere they went with lavish luaus and princely accommodations in a Hawaii that does not exist today. When they arrived in the early 1900's Hawaii had been annexed by the United States and the royal families were in decline. The Missionary families owned huge tracts of land and lived as royals themselves. The horse was the favorite mode of transport and the London’s rode throughout the Islands sometimes in less than comfortable conditions, but they were troopers. Their years in the Islands were some of the happiest for the London’s and they both wrote fondly of their time there. I researched heavily for my historical novel Wai-nani: A Voice from Old Hawaii. I only saw a few discrepancies in this precious rendering of the Islands by Charmian London. She states that Kamehameha the Great died at 82. I read that he only lived to be 69, but in almost all matters of Hawaiian history and legends she was accurate. This book is not for everyone, but if you are a Hawaii aficionado like myself it is a delight. Note: There are numerous errors in formatting and misspelled words that are very distracting. It might be because it is an old book and hard to translate into kindle format, but I think a proofreader would have helped.Wai-nani: A Voice from Old Hawaii

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