Synopsis
* 2009 Best Travel Book (Lowell Thomas Gold Award), Society of American Travel Writers
* Book of the Year Award Finalist (adventure), ForeWord Reviews
It was an idea born while hiking the famed Camino de Santiago across Spain. Two men shared a dream of trekking from Europe to the Middle East on the ultimate road trip. It just happened to be a path walked by thousands of Crusaders, pilgrims and merchants during the Middle Ages, a time when wars, unforgiving weather, wild dogs, and an ever changing cast of weird characters tested even the toughest traveler.
As they say, "The more things change, the more they stay the same." Two modern-day travelers discover the truth when they take on that same ultimate challenge--to hike the Templar Trail across 11 countries and 2,600 miles to Jerusalem. Throwing themselves out into the universe with bad maps, blisters, but plenty of optimism, they face identical challenges in search of adventure, life's meaning and lasting peace. Proving that even today, there's nothing like a little war to shake your strongest resolve.
With 44 photos, maps and illustrations
"More than the mere adventure of two brave men, it is a grand and noble quest for peace... Combines a marvelous sense of Zen with good humor, and his personal style makes you feel as if you were there taking part in it all..." ~ Mayra Calvani, Midwest Book Review
"A travel lodestone - a magical quest, a warts-and-all journey... This is a special book hovering above its obvious travel-shelf slot into a spot of its own." ~ Marilis Hornidge, Courier-Gazette, Maine
"Strictly fast-forward... Wilson's remarkably attractive account will galvanize couch potatoes..." ~ ForeWord Reviews
"The vivid prose and passion for adventure makes this book an exciting read... You can live vicariously, although I must say I am more inspired than ever to walk each day." (5 stars) ~ The Rebecca Review, Amazon Top 10 Reviewer
"Fast-moving and inspiring... Readers of Brandon's other books will be snapping this up. Great, touching and hugely interesting." ~ Jessica Roberts, BookPleasures.com
About the Author
Brandon Wilson is a Lowell Thomas Award-winning author and photographer, explorer and travel expert. A voracious explorer of nearly 100 countries, (and over 12,000 kilometers by hiking), he's particularly passionate about inspiring others with the possibility of discovery through long-distance trekking. Hours spent walking in those African jungles first opened his eyes to the deep satisfaction of traveling "one-step-at-a-time". By slowing down, he believes, we absorb the hidden magic in the world. We travel outside-while traveling within. This London to Cape Town African odyssey was shared in his book Dead Men Don't Leave Tips.
After Africa, he and his wife Cheryl went on to become the first Western couple to trek 1000 kilometers (650 miles) over the Himalayan plateau from Lhasa, Tibet to Kathmandu. Their story is told in the IPPY Award-winning true adventure tale, Yak Butter Blues.
Besides crossing Tibet, the author has twice hiked the famed Camino de Santiago across Spain, the Via de la Plata, the St. Olav's Way across Norway, and he was the first American to complete the 9th century, 1150-mile Via Francigena trail from England to Rome.
In 2006, he and a friend re-blazed the route of the First Crusades from France to Jerusalem, naming it the Templar Trail. (This story is chronicled in his book Along the Templar Trail (named 2009 Best Travel Book.) Then in 2009, he and his wife trekked the Via Alpina through eight countries from Trieste to Monaco, as captured in his book Over the Top & Back Again: Hiking X the Alps, ForeWord Reviews 2010 Book of the Year Bronze Award (travel essays).
His photographs have won awards from National Geographic Traveler and Islands magazines. He is a member of the prestigious Explorers Club.Join him for a behind-the-scenes look on Facebook.
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