Author and Travel Writer Linda Ballou on Blog Talk Tadio Show "Conversations with Renée"

Linda will share her new book Lost Angel Walkabout and her secrets on How to Make Travel Writing Work for You --Thursday, February 17, 2011 @ 3:00 PM EST/6 p.m. PT. Call in with your questions at (347) 215-9536

“Conversations with Renee,” is an interactive, live internet talk-radio show that focuses on authors and writers of all genres and mediums. Host Yolanda Renee explore the careers, advice, writing style and personality of each guest.

Callers are encouraged (347) 215-9536 to listen or ask questions. The stream and archives are available at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yolandarenee.
Linda will share her travel writing tales relating her experience while kayaking, horseback riding, sailing, birding and hiking about the globe. She captures profiles of people she has met in “naturally high places” for her newest book, “Lost Angel Walkabout: One Traveler’s Tales.”

True Friendships on Valentine's Day

There's nothing on this earth to be prized more than true frienships. Even when that friendship is between a dolphin and a dog.

Let's be friends! If they can do it, then so can we.

My Valentine - The Healing Power of Dolphins

People who swim with dolphins often talk about the acceptance in the globelike eye of the Dolphin. They feel a sense of a non-judge mental intelligence, even unconditional love.

Great results from dolphin therapy with children who suffer from Down ’s syndrome, people with neurological disorders, autism, pain relief from spinal injuries, muscular paralysis and depression have been reported. Dolphin Therapy started in the early seventies. Dolphin therapy is not a cure, but it seems to help alleviate symptoms.

Children are asked to swim, touch, feed or pat the animals. It is a happy playful time that produces a change in hormones, endorphins and enzymes. Sonar pulses from the dolphins help bring both sides of the brain into sync creating a heightened awareness and increased learning ability.

Results noticed are:
Strong Emotional Change
Children calm down
Improved communication
Increased attention span
Increased confidence and self esteem
Improved gross motor skills
Better co-ordination
Better eye contact, smiling, laughing, touching
Better immune system

There are about a dozen dolphin therapy centers around the globe. Florida and Hawaii have the most but they are also located in England, New Zealand and Israel. They are not cheap about $2000 a week, and results are not guaranteed. Still it is an exciting alternative medical approach to serious problems.

This video shows how a young boy in Brazil received good results from being with a pink Amazon River Dolphin

February is Dolphin Love Month – Being Part of the Pod

One of the most exciting incidents in my life took place in the Sea of Cortez. I was kayaking up a deep, narrow channel when a pod of at least 100 dolphins came up behind me and swam all around me. The chuffing air puffing rhythmically from their blow holes as the arced with powerful grace in synchronicity all around me for about fifteen minutes was incredibly exciting. For a few fleeting moments I was a part of the pod. It gave me the real sense of a connection with the natural world. They soon were gone and off to a party I wasn’t invited to, but I will always cherish that incident.

There is a big difference in swimming with captive trained dolphins then an encounter with those in the wild. In captive situations with dolphins that are trained and used to interacting with humans people enjoy a much more intimate contact. At the Kiwalo Basin Marine Lab in Hawaii, Lou Herman has been training and testing dolphins for decades. He has learned that they are great mimics. If you roll over in the water they will. Even if you are not in the water they will take directions by imitating your movements. He has not broken the Rosetta code of their language, of clicks and bleats, but he is definitely communicating with them with hand and verbal signals.

He has found that dolphins are highly adaptable and clever. They will admire themselves in mirrors indicating self-awareness. They can understand numerous hand and voice signals and have cognitive skills that are much more advanced than even the chimp. There are 2,000 different sentences that they understand and will respond too. They also have their own language! Bleeps, whistles, clicks make up a constant conversation they have with one another. Each dolphin has his own identifying whistle, just as we have a name. Their language is not just made of words it is made of touch and they intuit a good deal in their tribal interactions.

February is Dolphin Love Month

Consider this . . . Man is the dream of the dolphin . . . the "other Intelligience" may be in charge . . . not us.

In an attempt to make the interaction between Wai-nani, and her dolphin friend Eku, in my historical novel Wai-nani High Chiefess of Hawai’i, I learned a lot about these enigmatic creatures. Wai-nani spends half of her life in the ocean, so it did not seem far-fetched that she would make friends with playful marine mammals.

Eku rescues her from drowning when she is about ten. Dolphin rescues are on record since the time of the Ancient Greece. If they see a human drifting into a vertical position they will lift them to the surface to prevent drowning. She begins a communication with him with clicks and whistles and they form a bond. She rubs his tender belly making him tremble with delight. He in turn gives her a massage of sonic blasts that cause her to tingle all over.

As recently as 2007 a surfer in Monterey CA was being attacked by a shark and a pod of dolphin formed a protective ring around the man and drove off the shark. Our kinship with the dolphins is greater than with any other sea creature. They are warm-blooded mammals who nurse their young and must breathe air. Unlike us their breathing is not automatic. If they loose consciousness they will drown.

While swimming after a dolphin in the waters off the Big Island, I ran into the “Dolphin People.” They are a group who follow dolphin movements around the Islands in an attempt to make spiritual connections with them. There is a very large need it seems to make contact with this “other intelligence.” Anthropologist, Loren Eisley, calls it the yearning to end great loneliness of the human species....why go to Mars when the mystery of an alien intelligence is with us and it is in a pleasing, graceful energetic body.

This video called The Dream depicts the universal appeal of dolphin and how we have tried to connect with their energy and spirit.





Your comments about your own dolphin encounters are welcome.

Great Outdoor Day #10 - Ride on in The Ventura River Preserve

If you enjoy a well-mannered, fit horse with a private guide instead of the usual nose-to-tail walk offered at most stables, you will love the two-hour forest ride with Ojai Valley Trail Rides. You can trot and canter along when your guide gives the cue that the footing is safe. Ojai Trails is located at the edge of the open space of the Ventura River Preserve. You can also hike the miles of trails that meander through the oak canopy that shades Wills and Rice Creeks up to crest lines with majestic views of the surrounding Topotopo Mountains. In spring a dazzling display of wildflowers brighten the pockets of grasslands and meadows along the way.
Read more here at Examiner;

Adventurer Susan Alcorn gives Lost Angel Thumbs Up!

Susan Alcorn does for the Bay area what I do for L. A. and surrounds on Examiner.com
We both love to hike and share our favorite outings with other outdoor enthusiasts.
She has written a great book-We’re in the Mountains and Not over the Hill- that you can purchase at her site http://www.backpack45.com/. I was quite pleased to have a kindred spirit read my own book Lost Angel Walkabout. Even more pleased with her response to my work

Review by Susan Alcorn

Beautifully descriptive passages, inspiring adventures, and reminders of the bounty of nature combine to make Lost Angel Walkabout an intriguing read. Author Linda Ballou's stories of adventure will leave you breathless. In this fascinating collection of trips she's taken far and wide, she not only goes horseback riding on perilous cliff side trails in Ireland, but also learns how to jump fences. On the Green River near Moab, Utah and the Salmon River of Idaho, she starts out on kayak trips that she thinks will be mostly a serene glide. Sometimes it is peaceful and idyllic, other times... "I found myself flying out of my boat and falling into the center of a six-foot hole." As in most of her tales, Ballou emerges from her experience -- in this case being hurtled downstream in the Salmon River -- feeling stronger and even more courageous. Note of disclosure: I received Lost Angel Walkabout as a review copy with the option of reviewing it if I was so inclined. I was happy to be able to give it a 5-star review. I am also a travel writer and share Ballou's love of adventure and the outdoors. She does not travel as a tourist, she travels as an adventurer seeking to immerse herself in the culture and surroundings of her destination.


Susan’s Examiner Column
http://www.examiner.com/hiking-in-san-francisco/susan-alcorn

Outdoor Fun on the Southwest Gulf of Florida

A three-mile causeway from Fort Myers across San Carlos Bay to the barrier islands of Sanibel and Captiva takes you back to a gentler time. People seem to move slower here where there are no stop signs, no street lights, and no structures over three stories. The year-round population of about 6,200 souls bulges to 20,000 in winter when snowbirds of all stripes migrate here from the frozen North. Twenty-five miles of biking trails along with a 100-mile kayaking trail called the Great Calusa Blueway, the best shelling in the world, and opportunities for sport fishing make this a great getaway for those who love the outdoors.


A stunning 11-mile sweep of white sand washed by turquoise water fringes the southwest shores of the islands facing the Gulf of Mexico. Mansions of the sanded gentry and resorts line the beach awaiting the migrating flocks. The cozy Island Inn, splashed with happy Caribbean colors, has served as a home away from home for returning generations for over 100 years. Gracious grounds shaded by royal palms, a bountiful shelling beach, and arguably the best view of the sunset on Sanibel, make this a favorite spot for weddings and family celebrations. The newly remodeled traditional restaurant serves Mediterranean cuisine, and liquor, for the first time in the Inn’s illustrious history. Enjoy a relaxed breakfast in the sunny lounge before heading out for a day of adventure.

The Stone Crab, about a half mile from the Inn, is a local hangout with great seafood at reasonable prices. Sanibel voted against street lights that could reduce one’s ability to witness the intense beauty of the heavens, so a moonlight stroll to the restaurant is especially nice. This decision is also a courtesy to the light-sensitive loggerhead turtles that return here to breed from the beginning of May to October.

You can rent a bicycle at the Inn and pedal over to the 6,200-acre “Ding” Darling Refuge which occupies about half of the island. A four-mile road winds through mudflats and mangrove forests of the National Wildlife Refuge established in 1962, just one year before the causeway opened bringing throngs of tourists and development.


The bird haven is best seen by bicycle because it allows you to easily pull over to investigate the nooks in the mangrove forests where ibis, anhinga, and night green herons roost. Be sure to stop at the viewing tower to glass the tidal flats where flocks of white pelicans congregate on the sand bars, and roseate spoonbills dabble for a meal. Tarpon Bay Kayak offers kayak and tram tours of the refuge.


Kayaking is the best way to explore the endless waterways in this region that at low tide are often too shallow for motorized craft. I chose Adventure Kayak in captivating Captiva, Sanibel’s little sister to the north. Adventure Kayaks, owned and operated by Brian Houston, was the first kayaking company on the island. Brian is an expert who takes time to teach the greenest novice how to maneuver his top-of-the-line kayaks. It is a tremendous pleasure to glide through the water in an easily maneuvered craft that is very sensitive to steering cues.


A long-term resident of the region, Brian is chock full of local lore and is a strong advocate for environmental protections. He spotted the many birds we passed by in the primordial mangrove tunnels of the island refuge of Buck Key, imparting specific knowledge of their habits. We were so close to many of the birds like the tri-colored heron that I didn’t need binoculars to see them clearly. Part of our outing was on segment of the Great Calusa Blueway, a paddling trail used by the indigenous Calusa tribe that extends through these coastal waters from Cayo Costa to the Imperial River in Bonita Springs. You can paddle bite-size chunks of the trail with stops off for good eats on the way. (Maps of the trail and kayak outfitters on the trail are available at the link below.)


After a hearty lunch at the Tween Waters Inn beach bar, I met up with Brian’s son John, owner of Native Guides. In his custom motorized launch, he takes folks sport fishing, shelling at Cayo Costa State Park, for a sunset joy ride, or whatever your pleasure might be. When I arrived, he was filleting grouper for his last bunch of guests and feeding the innards to the pelicans and herons lined up for the feast. Native Guides offers a day trip to Pine Island for a tasty seafood feast at the Tarpon Bay Lodge and then a guided walk on the Calusa Natural Heritage Trail. A student of the indigenous Indians, John delights in imparting his knowledge about them. Born on Captiva, he knows every aspect of the region. He took me to a sleepy lagoon populated by nesting osprey and then for a spin around North Captiva where damage from Hurricane Charlie that struck on Friday the 13th 2004 can still be seen today. We stopped at Red Pass just as a burnt orange globe dropped into the sea and a luminescent mauve and lavender glow lit the horizon to the east.

Bring a hearty appetite to the splashy Keylime Bar and Grill in the heart of tiny Captiva and enjoy live music any time of day. The seafood antipasto, a mix of clams, mussels, and squid in a wine-lemon broth will excite the most discerning fruit de mere aficionado. It is just minutes from pristine Captiva beach with billowy sand fringed with white surf perfect for an afternoon of lollygagging.

It’s hard not to have fun here with so many easily accessed outdoor things to do. The best time to come is fall, winter, and spring. Christmas week is high season, so it’s best to avoid the deluge in the last two weeks of December. You can expect any kind of weather. Brilliant cloudless skies can be blanketed in mushrooming gray in a matter of minutes. Be prepared for tropical squalls in between sunshine and blustery winds.

My last evening was spent strolling with other shell seekers along the beach in front of the Island Inn. Winter storms decorate the shores with lightning whelks, Scotch bonnets, starfish, horseshoe crabs, conch, and more. There is a display of prized shells collected over the century by guests in the lobby of the Inn, but if you want to learn more, visit the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum for the finest collection in the western hemisphere. The sunset of pastel pink, periwinkle blue and lavender stippled against yellow gold sky remains my favorite keepsake of this very special place preserved by loving generations for us all to enjoy.

Note: There is one land taxi on the Islands and no other public transport.
Water taxies and Captiva Cruises take travelers to outer islands.

The Island Inn
http://www.islandinnsanibel.com/

Email:info@islandinnsanibel.com

1-800-851-5088

Adventure Sea Kayak Wildlife Tours
Brian Houston 239-579-6000
John Houston 239-822-3337
http://www.kayak-captiva.com/

Tween Rivers Marina, 15961 Captiva, Drive Captiva Island, Florida 33924

The Great Calusa Blueway
http://www.greatcalusablueway.com/

For general information go to
http://www.sanibel-captiva.org/contact.asp

Great Outdoor Day #9-Cozy Dell Trail in Ojai-As Sweet as it Sounds

About three miles north of Ojai on the Maricopa Highway (Hwy 33) there is a pullout marked Cozy Dell Trail. Stop here! The instant you enter the sweetest trail in Ojai you are enveloped in cool green. Eighteen gentle switchbacks take you persistently upward to expansive views. Lacy maidenhair ferns and dewy miner’s lettuce are happy here shaded by oak woodlands and

Read more here; http://www.examiner.com/outdoor-travel-in-los-angeles/great-outdoor-day-9-cozy-dell-trail-ojai-as-sweet-as-it-sounds-review

Lost Angel Walkabout Showcase at Distant Lands Traveller's Bookstore

Linda Ballou presents a slide show highlighting the geographical settings in her travel collection Lost Angel Walkabout -an eclectic mix of chills, spills, giggles and squeaks on Monday, January 17, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.

Admission is Free. Public parking across the street is also free. Such a deal.

Distant Lands Traveller’s Bookstore & Outfitter
20 S. Raymond, Pasadena, Ca 91105

Phone: 800-310-3220

See you there!