Bringing Home the Gold-Travelers Tales Solas Award

Rocky Mountain Nat. Park and Yours truly

My story “On the Road with the Lady of Rockies” received “Gold” for the best Destination piece in the Travelers Tales 12^th Annual Solas Awards!  It is being honored as the “Editor’s Choice” on the home page of the largest publisher of travel literature. I have long admired the great travel writers represented in the pages of the Traveler's Tales anthologies, and I am very proud to be included in their ranks. My story will continue to appear on the The Best Travel Writing page on the Traveler,s Tales site. 

Isabella Bird-Lady of the Rockies

Recently, my friend James Michael Dorsey’s book Baboons for Lunch was published by Traveler's Tales. I love a man with a sense of humor and James has me laughing out loud at the ridiculous situations he finds himself in by choice! It is hard to imagine this distinguished gentleman lobbing monkeys with dung balls, but strange things happen to people’s personalities when they hit the road.

You may enjoy my many outdoor travel adventures in my book LostAngel Walkabout-One Traveler’s Tales.Lost Angel Unleashed. What do you think?

Presently, I am collecting stories for the sequel

Remember “All who wander are not lost.”

Cheers,

Linda

Last Blast for 2017

Rocky Mountain National Park

It's been a wonderful year for me filled with exciting journeys. Here are some of the articles I published that give you details on how to walk in my footsteps if you get a yen for adventure.
It's not over yet! I am leaving for Patagonia in a couple of days and will return with articles about the exotic locales I visit with Overseas Adventure Travel.

Patagonia

Morro Bay

Highlights of the year include attending the Bird Fest in  Morro Bay that takes place in February and kayaking in the estuary.

Exploring Discovery Highway 1 through Caycos, Cambria and points north. This piece details points on the Whale Trail for your viewing pleasure

Hiking in the Rocky Mountain National Park just outside of Estes Park.

Riding in the Hoofprints of Isabella Bird at Sylvan Ranch The Lady of Rockies first stop when she rode solo here in 1873.

Getting a real horseback riding experience at the Laramie River Ranch located on the border of Colorado and  Wyoming.

Hiking in the Jack London Beauty Ranch two weeks prior to the dreaful fires that scorched the area.

Linda at Jack London Beauty Ranch

Adventure travel writer, Linda Ballou, has a host of articles on her site along with information about her novels and articles at www.LindaBallouauthor.com

Subscribe to Linda’s blog www.LindaBallouTalkingtoyou.com to receive updates on books, and travel destinations and events.

World full of Wonders Awaits

Just returned from adventures in Estes Park, Colorado, gateway to the Rocky Mountain National Park, a world full of wonders.

I am working on my articles detailing trails with tips for would be hikers.

 From there I headed to the Laramie RiverRanch

where I stepped off the grid for a glorious four days. That’s where I met my trusty steed, Owen,

who cheerfully carried me over hill and dale to head spinning vistas in what is left of the Wild West.

More to come, but I have to get to work while these fine experiences are fresh in my mind.

I have a host of travel articles on my site, along with information about my travel memoir, Lost Angel Walkabout-One Traveler’s Tales, and my historical novel Wai-nani, A Voice from Old Hawai’i, as well as my latest novel The Cowgirl Jumped over the Moon at-www.LindaBallouAuthor.com.

 Subscribe to my blog www.LindaBallouTalkingtoyou.com to receive updates on books, and travel destinations and events.

Best Birthday Gift Ever

 In The Cowgirl Jumped Over the Moon Gemcie determines to ride solo on the John Muir Trail in an attempt to sort out the confusion in her life.  While trying to capture the ethereal beauty of the John Muir Wilderness, I hoped to capture the imaginations of those who have not been privileged to ride or hike in the fragile beauty of the high country.

Here is what John Muir said on (June 23 which coincidently is my birth date) in his first My Summer in Sierra’s in 1869

“Oh these vast calm measureless mountains days, inciting at once to work and rest!

Days in whose light everything seems equally divine opening a thousand windows to show us God. Nevermore, no matter how weary, should one faint by the way who gains the blessings of one mountain day; whatever his fate, long life, short life, stormy or calm, he is rich forever.

With this thought in mind I can only feel gratitude that I was able to ride amongst the spires that inspired his musings that touched my soul so deeply. For my birthday, I am heading to Colorado to hike and ride in the Rockies. Should be splendid with tons of wildflower and bluebird skies. Grateful for all the good that has been put on my plate!

I have a host of travel articles on my site, along with information about my travel memoir, Lost Angel Walkabout-One Traveler’s Tales, and my historical novel Wai-nani, A Voice from Old Hawai’I, as well as my latest novel The Cowgirl Jumped over the Moon at-www.LindaBallouAuthor.com.

 Subscribe to my blog www.LindaBallouTalkingtoyou.com to receive updates on books, and travel destinations and events.

Making Tracks in the Rocky Mountains

Reading Lady in the Rockies by Isabella Bird has aroused my wanderlust to a fever pitch. I booked a room at Estes Park the gateway to the Rocky Mountain National Park in June.  The wildflowers should be thick in the meadows and views of snowcapped Long’s Peak sublime. I’m in for a little soul-cleansing while doing research for my next writing effort. I have long been impressed with the stamina and sheer determination of this English woman who rode in the winter of 1873 in the Rockies solo. I want to hike and ride in her hoof prints.

From there I venture north to the Laramie River Ranch on the border of Wyoming and Colorado to ride the open range. 

It is remote, rustic and hopefully a real dose of the old west. That is what I am looking for after reading about the thirty mile a day rides Ms. Bird galloped through with ease. She and Birdie, a sturdy Indian pony, cantered over 800 miles through vast pristine wilderness on tracks buried in snow.

 I may get a little sore on this outing, but what the heck. If Izzy can do it in the dead of winter, surly I can ride in the Rockies while the sun is shining high in a blue bird sky.

Come to my site for a host of travel articles along with information about my travel memoir, Lost Angel Walkabout-One Traveler’s Tales, her historical novel Wai-nani, A Voice from Old Hawai’i and her latest action-adventure novel The Cowgirl Jumped over the Moon at-www.LindaBallouAuthor.com.  Subscribe to my blog www.LindaBallouTalkingtoyou.com and receive updates on my books, and travel destinations.