Posts Tagged With ‘ NABBW ’

Title: Noble Chaos: A Novel Author Brent Green Audiobook narrated by Jack de Golia Reviewed for the NABBW by Anne Holmes Let me begin my review with this disclaimer: Brent Green’s Noble Chaos, is a book that powerfully resonates in my heart. It speaks deeply to me, as not only was I a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison during the early 1970s, but Madison is my hometown. Which means I was there during the 1960’s, when that campus became a hotbed of student activism, with student protests mostly focused on the highly unpopular Viet Nam war. In high school, I had a part-time... Continue Reading

Pap Pap goes to Paris By Janie Dempsey Watts, Illustrated by Lyn Martin Reviewed for the NABBW by Anne Holmes Snow globes and the winter holidays always seem to go together, so this is a wonderful time for me to share author and grandmother Janie Dempsey Watts’s delightful picture book about Ricky, his parents and his grandfather, who are lucky enough to live together. The book, available in both paperback and Kindle, is beautifully illustrated by Lyn Martin, who has previously illustrated more than 35 children’s books. Not quite 30 pages long, the book is a perfect length for bedtime storytelling,... Continue Reading

By Linda Ballou, NABBW’s Adventure Travel Associate Linda Ballou’s book, ‘Embrace of the Wild,’ flanked by two books by Isabella Bird. Isabella Bird was a Victorian-age explorer whose time has come again! The best-loved travel writer of her day wrote effusively about her travels in Estes Park in A Lady’s Life in the Rocky Mountains. Three books about her were published in 2021, including my historical novel Embrace of the Wild. In April I was honored to be selected as the “Isabella Bird Expert” for the upcoming BBC documentary “Trailblazers,” a series spotlighting heroic... Continue Reading

By Linda Ballou, NABBW’s Adventure Travel Associate Fishing in Evergreen on Bear Creek. Just 34 miles up sweeping I 70 from Denver lies Evergreen, a popular stop for folks wanting to breathe deeply of crisp, pine-scented air.  Forward-thinking Denver elders forged out huge open spaces for hikers and bikers in this area. A myriad of trail networks lace the hills surrounding the rustic mountain town. I hiked in Dedisse Park on an undulating trail through a forest overlooking the Evergreen Lake. Expect to meet mountain bikers and other hikers on the trails. Evergreen is a hub of outdoor fun and... Continue Reading

Title: Boomers, Zoomers, and Other Oomers: A Boomer-biased Irreverent Perspective on Aging  Author: Marcel Strigberger ISBN-10#:0995950121 Reviewed for the NABBW by Anne Holmes Canadian author Marcel Strigberger says he is a humorist trapped inside the body of a former litigation lawyer. You might think that is a unique resume starter, and you’d be correct. I’m pretty sure I don’t know of any other retired attorneys who can say that they have also worked as a stand-up comedian, sharing the stage with big-name humorists like Howie Mandel, Bob Saget and Jim Carrey. Although (sidebar here)... Continue Reading

By Linda Ballou, NABBW’s Adventure Travel Associate I love this interview with Brett Wilson at The Rocky Mountain Channel podcast. I felt relaxed and welcome. He wanted to know what prompted me to follow in the hoofprints of the indomitable Isabella Bird from pristine Hawai’i to untamed Colorado in 1873. Alberta Falls in Rocky Mountain National Park. Photo courtesy of Linda Ballou. We talked about how Isabella and Rocky Mountain Jim were two seriously damaged people who found their salvation in nature. Isabella describes their legendary romance and the ethereal beauty of the region in her... Continue Reading

By Linda Ballou, NABBW’s Adventure Travel Associate Embrace of the Wild Isabella Lucy Bird was a Victorian Age adventurer who endured tremendous hardships in her explorations of the Rockies in 1873. She became the best-loved travel writer of her time, and was the first woman inducted into the Scottish Royal Geographical Society. In my book Embrace of the Wild, I share Bird’s most transformative journeys. A fierce spirit trapped in a frail body, Isabella rode through raging waters on the Hamakua Coast, up the flank of a volcano, and into the Waipio Valley in Hawai’i. Her exploratory adventures... Continue Reading

By Linda Ballou, NABBW’s Adventure Travel Associate Each day, thousands traverse the narrow road that hugs the coast of Southeast Maui to the village of Hana, one of last remnants of old Hawai’i. Typical bridge on Hana Highway It is a miracle that the over fifty one-lane bridges, many of which are over a hundred years old, don’t collapse beneath the steady stream of cars. Drivers are rubber necking to see the most beautiful waterfall, and angling to find a pullout near unmarked trailheads to take a closer look. Still, chaos can be avoided and you can enjoy a tranquil, romantic journey into... Continue Reading

By Linda Ballou, NABBW’s Adventure Travel Associate Camping tents glow beneath dramatic storm clouds on the edge of the Tatshinshini River in Alaska’s Yukon. As temperatures begin to soar, I dream of the rivers I have known and loved. Tension mounts as I hear the rumble of rapids roiling ahead. Sitting up straight, tucking a foot beneath the pontoon of the rubber raft, taking a secure position for the white water to come, I listen for commands. “Paddles ready!” calls the guide and then we are bouncing through rapids with cooling waves splashing overhead. Squeals of excitement fill the... Continue Reading

By Linda Ballou, NABBW’s Adventure Travel Associate Ventura Harbor Ventura is a beach town with a laid-back vibe that is the gateway to some great adventures. About an hour north of Los Angeles spectacular day trips in the Channel Islands National Park are waiting for you.  Turn up at the Island Packer dock in Ventura Harbor at about 9 AM with a lunch in your backpack and leave your worries behind. After an hour-long cruise across the channel, passengers are dropped off at Scorpion Anchorage and admonished to be back by 4 PM, or plan on spending the night on the island. Some choose to do exactly... Continue Reading