The Road Trip Pilgrim's Guide: Witchdoctors, Magic Tokens, Camping on Golf Courses, and Everything Else You Need to Know to Go on a Pilgrimage

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Product Description

A quirky, quasi-spiritual look at road trips and what inspires us to travel.

Fun and funny stories, as well as goofy illustrations, will entertain all for whom the shout "Road Trip!" brings an automatic smile.

Vagabond, couch-surfing, road-wise filmmaker author writes with the experience of someone who lives with one-hand clutching a sleeping bag.

Contains useful advice to help launch aspiring pilgrims onto their journeys. This guidebook-cum-journal describes how to plan and complete a successful road trip. Anecdotal and inspirational, it offers learned-on-the-road advice for seeking adventure, having fun, and taking time for yourself-whether it's a weekend trip to a nearby bluegrass festival, a week's vacation to explore your roots in Ireland, or a months-long journey to explore the ruins of Southeast Asia. The most essential element for a pilgrim? A sense of purpose and mindfulness every time you hit the road.

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Customer Reviews

Review by Kathryn C. Stevens, 2007-11-07

The Road Trip Pilgrim's Guide is one of those books that doesn't fit into just one category. Instead, it does a great job of offering sound road-tripping guidance and sharing interesting stories for all manner of would-be travellers- at the same time.

Having never been on a long pilgrimage like some of those highlighted by author-adventurer Dan Austin, I found insights from these treks especially interesting. But he doesn't neglect the day-trip pilgrim in his praise of more involved trips. The Guide is refreshingly supportive of all lengths and types of pilgrimages, which is sure to make everyone from beginners to seasoned "pilgrims" feel excited and prepared for whatever trip they embark upon next.

The Guide begins each chapter with a personal story submitted by those who have gone before (there's a lot of variety in these short testimonies), and the entire book is carried along by principles taken from Austin's own journeys, anecdotes and all. But Austin's insights are far from frivolous or surface-level; in fact, he often returns to the themes of honor, perseverance, vision, and spiritual awareness that he encourages his readers to take very seriously while on their own adventures. Combine this with the candid wisdom about everything from disabling common park sprinklers to attracting members of the opposite gender while "homeless, sweaty, and broke" and you've got an impressive, all-inclusive handbook for the modern pilgrimage.

All in all, I recommend it quite highly. It's both informative and entertaining, and will prove a useful tool for anyone up for the adventure.

Review by Beth K, 2007-10-19

Whether your apartment is a charming combination of Coleman stoves and jars of wet peanut butter, you're gearing up for your first fresh-faced road trip across Delaware in your hatchback, or your idea of adventure is trying a new salsa for Monday Night Football, you'll find Austin's book inspiring and entertaining. The collection of personal narratives launching each chapter, and the wealth of photography collected from Austin's own adventures make you want to cinch up your Carhartt's, grab your journal, and hit the road. Don't borrow this book. Buy it--you're not gonna want to leave it behind.