I love these Walking Guides

The best thing you can do for yourself now is Get Outdoors! Cicerone Press offers wonderful collection of walking guides for fantastic tracks around the globe.  I ordered Walking in The Cotswolds and in Walking in Cornwall in England as I hope one fine day to get back to the UK and take a much more up close and personal look. These books provide rich detail of the region, history, geology, and footpath difficulty. Informative, compact print with color images help the reader know what they are getting into.  Each of the books are written by locals with in depth knowledge of the nuances of the places they call home. They share specific instructions on how to get to the trailheads with detailed maps.  In addition, they give you information on the nearest transport, if it is wise to rent a car or to take public transport.  Suggestions for accommodations near the footpaths listed in the books are extremely helpful for the traveler.

With these pocket books that fit easily into my back pack, I feel confident to tackle hiking in the storybook footpaths of the Cotswolds, or the coastal cliff walks of Cornwall on my own. There is information about local guides if I arrive and feel uncertain. However, it looks like it will be a bit like following a buried treasure map with posted landmarks to my daily destination. It is recommended that you stay in a village close to many walking paths and explore a region in depth rather than rushing through all the walks  listed in the books trying to tick off as many as you can in a short time.

Go to the www.cicerone.co.uk and select you next adventure. Planning your next trip can be as stimulating as the travel itself. If you live in one of the many countries listed in their catalogue you will learn new ways to get out and explore in your own back yard.

P.S. in the U.S. they cover The Grand Canyon, Pacific Crest Trail and the John Muir Trail 

For walks along the Coast of California check out my book Lost Angel in Paradise. 

For more about my articles and books go to www.lostangeladventures.com
or www.LindaBallouAuthor.com

Lost Angel Walkabout is a Winner

My travel essay collection Lost Angel Walkabout-One Traveler's Tales filled with chills, spills, giggles and squeaks is the winner of 

2012 International Book Award in the Travel Essay category 

For a complete list of winners

Lost Angel Walkabout-One Traveler's Tales

It was also took the Bronze in the North American Travel Journalist Awards  in 2010 

Praise for Lost Angel Walkabout from Across the Pond

I am Thrilled with this review from the Quirky Traveller, Zoe Dawes, who hosts travel writer and blogging workshops in England.

5.0 out of 5 stars Feisty tales from a brilliant storyteller, 2 May 2011

By Zoe Dawes "Quirky Traveller" (Cumbria)

This review is from: Lost Angel Walkabout (Paperback)

So enjoyed this book. Linda has a really engaging way of writing and manages to change the style and tone of her stories depending on the circumstances. I was fascinated to read of her adventures in Canada and America; Alaska, the Yukon, New Hampshire, Hawaii and many more; evocative places that she brings to life with humour and insight. New Zealand is more familiar to me and I share her love of Maori culture and the way New Zealanders look after their environment.

This book made me want to take up riding again and acknowledge that I don't want to go white water rafting, much as I enjoyed reading of her risky exploits! But what lingers longest is a sense of place, spirituality and inspiration - and genuine enjoyment sharing Linda's "... quest to see as many magnificent places on the big blue before they are gone ..."

**Even more pleased to know that Zoe plans to share Lost Angel with her students!

Zoë Dawes
http://www.thequirkytraveller.com/about-zoe-dawes/


Travel Writing and Blogging Workshops | Quirky Traveller's Tales
www.thequirkytraveller.com
Travel Writing and Blogging Workshops Cumbria Lancashire

Get Inspired to Travel by Ellen Barone Mentions Linda Ballou and Her Experiences with Whitewater Adventure

The Canadian Mountain Holidays website in their Power of Adventure section has posted an article by Ellen Barone, titled, “How Travel Adventure Changed My Life” and in this article she talks about me, Linda Ballou as one of four travelers that are living proof of the power of adventure.


Get Inspired to Travel by Ellen Barone


We know that adventure travel is great fun, but it can also act as a catalyst for live-changing decisions, new relationships or transformational experiences that open heart, soul and mind. From facing a fear of drowning and a perfectly timed random encounter to following love across Africa and learning to love solo travel, these four travelers are living proof of the power of adventure. Read on for serious inspiration.

"A whitewater adventure gave me the strength to face my fear of drowning."

Having nearly drowned in the Pacific Ocean twice, Linda Ballou had a nagging fear of oceans and rivers. "I envied those who surf the blue face of foaming waves or whitewater rafters who fight their way through the fury of a wild river," says Linda.

Mired in the traffic and chaos of her Los Angeles life and craving an opportunity to regain control of her life, she signed on for a guided rafting adventure on the Salmon River. "I fell in love with the idea of taking an uninterrupted journey through rugged, isolated country where I might enjoy solitude," Linda recalls. "And a rafting vacation gave me the chance to face my fears head on."

Easing into the 86-mile float, Linda gained confidence in stages, graduating over the week from the group raft to a guided two-man kayak to solo status on the final day of the trip.
"It took all my strength to navigate the waves," says Linda. "But I felt empowered, brave and heady with triumph. Confronting, not hiding from, my fears allowed me to break down the barriers to forward movement in my life. It was a tremendous experience and a real breakthrough."

Read more: http://blog.canadianmountainholidays.com/the-adventure/bid/52375/THE-POWER-OF-ADVENTURE-How-Adventure-Travel-Changed-My-Life#ixzz11ma2sYP4

***

I walk in beauty on the good red road

Linda Ballou

http://www.lindaballouauthor.com/

Breaking News: The Ugliest American I Ever Met: Wins Travel Writing Contest!!!!!

Here's a short excerpt of the writing piece that I wrote that garnerd first place at Exotic Visitors Writing conterst.

The Ugliest American I Ever Met
by Linda Ballou

Umbrellas strapped in tiny straight jackets stayed with the picnic tables that skidded across flooded St. Marks Square. We edged our way into Harry’s Bar and Grill, the only dry spot in Venice and bellied up to the bar. Grateful for seats, we sat down with a heavy sigh at the bar. The harried bartender scrambled to serve the shoulder to shoulder crowd. Patience brought us two bubbling Bellini’s—an apricot juice with champagne touted to bet Hemingway’s favorite libation. I toasted our good fortune with my friend.

We were on our second Bellini feeling “chumsy” and warm from the body heat in the room when the swinging front doors blew open. Gusts of cold air caused the group to rise in unison as though someone had pinched their collective bottoms. The door wouldn’t shut as more people huddled in the doorway trying to get out of the deluge. After unloading from the vaparetto with hair drenched and teeth clenched, Maury and Bernice elbowed their way into the bar. Bernice ruthlessly shoved customers out of her way.

“Get your fat ass off my foot”, she said, as she shoved a blond woman with her elbow.

Read more here; http://exoticvisitors.com/


**
I walk in beauty on the good red road.
Linda Ballou
www.lindaballou.com

Lost Angel Walkabout is voted Read of the Week

Lost Angel Walkabout-One Traveler’s Tales was chosen to be Tripantini’s READ OF THE WEEK!

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