Last night we had a wonderful evening hearing Simon Parker talk about his 4,000-mile adventure. A Ride Across America is an account of his journey through the small towns and big issues of the USA.
Author talk: A Ride Across America by Simon Parker
Tag: USA
An Extract from Soundings
An extract from Soundings: Journeys in the Company of Whales by Doreen Cunningham.
Travelling the grey whale highway
The train ride is a beauty. We shoot out of the station in our capsule, in glorious limbo, past the Wun Fun meat company buildings and a viaduct. Max and I stare out the window, transfixed. Muddy brown snake of river and yellow conveyor- belt- plant flash past. Glittering heaps and in the distance mountains. I can feel the landscape filling my head. This is how my heart is furnished, like the view from a train. I like to be totally occupied in the immediate. And am always, always, longing for something in the distance.
Continue reading An Extract from Soundings
Stanford’s Folio Smaller Railway Map of the United States (1876)
The Stanford’s Smaller Railway Map of the United States is from a fascinating series of reproductions from our Edward Stanford Cartographic Collection archive. This map was originally published in 1876, the year the United States celebrated its centennial. Continue reading Stanford’s Folio Smaller Railway Map of the United States (1876)
Our March Books of the Month
A pinch and a punch….
Not only is it the 1st day of the month, it is also St David’s Day, the start of Lent, Pancake Day Recovery Day and the day we announce our new books of the month. Here goes: Continue reading Our March Books of the Month
Wish we were
In the USA’s national parks.
Western Montana
Montana is a state of two halves. The eastern (much larger) part of the state is dominated by the vast rolling landscapes of the great plains, more similar to the Dakotas or Kansas than to any of the states to the west. The western part is dominated by massive mountain chains, including the mighty Rockies. Continue reading Western Montana
Mount St. Helens
It was my second attempt to see Mount St Helens. First time, more than a decade ago, the weather was so bad that we only managed to reach the first visitor centre located at Silver Lake, 30 miles from the mountain itself. There we were told that there was no point of going any further as due to dense fog and heavy rain the visibility was near zero and even from the furthest viewpoint up the road you couldn’t see the mountain.
Steve Boggan and David Reynolds
When author Steve Boggan heard there may still be gold in them thar hills, he grabbed his pick and pan and set off for the California hills. He shares stories from his first hand experience (not) striking it rich, and shed light on the rich seam of history that links the new breed of modern prospectors with the Argonauts of the first Gold Rush. In conversation with David Reynolds. Continue reading Steve Boggan and David Reynolds
The 5 scariest places on the planet
Just in time for Halloween – head off on a terrifying trip to one of these five frightening locations IF YOU DARE! Continue reading The 5 scariest places on the planet
Texan Travels
Writing about our last trip to the US I so far avoided the elephant in the room (literarily), the enormous state of Texas. It is time to rectify that issue as it was the place where we started and finished our last American adventure. Continue reading Texan Travels