Adventures in the written word
FROM A YOUNG AGE, I was told I had “the wanderlust.” I always found adventure, even if it meant getting into trouble as I explored a new creek to catch crawdads or hiked a trail that took me much farther than I was allowed to go. My wanderlust didn’t begin outdoors, though. It started with reading. Even as a youngster, I had a fascination with books and their ability to take me places I had only dreamed of.
When I was a kid, two of my favorite books were Robinson Crusoe and Moby Dick. I have always been fascinated by the sea, and it’s due to these two books that I eventually lived on a boat in Alaska, exploring the many bays around Juneau. I would take my inflatable raft to shore to fly fish the many small creeks and lakes for days at a time, and I spent the evenings listening to the waves lap the side of my home while I read an adventure novel—imagining others’ adventures while living my own.
Winter has always been my favorite time to read about faraway adventures I never planned to experience. I’m drawn to writers who can tell a story that makes you feel like you’re there inside the book, along for the journey. John Geirach— my favorite author—is this kind of writer. When he writes about his coffee pot, you can almost hear it perking on the fire next to a babbling brook. His stories are what inspired me to write. Soon, I discovered how difficult it is to create a story that draws readers in. I have been writing for many years, and still work hard to get there. It’s a journey all its own.
My favorite story is Big Two-Hearted River by Ernest Hemingway. The story’s main character, Nick, hikes to a river to spend some time alone, camping and fishing for big trout. He inspired me to do the same. I spent many days alone on an Alaskan stream, listening to the wind rustling the tall grass around me with the sound of an occasional flock of ducks flapping up the creek, heads high, flying fast. I remember thinking how much I would like to share this wonderful experience with others—so I began to write.
Kentucky has many outdoor adventures waiting for you to experience. I encourage you to get outside and seek your own adventures—and when you get home, pick up a good book and go on another journey you might never otherwise enjoy.
