Escapees July-August 2024

from the bookshelf

Books for RVers By MARCELLA GAUTHIER #12371

Discovering America by RV: History, Science, People and Humility LINDA SCHOFIELD • INDEPENDENTLY PUBLISHED 2024 ISBN: 13-9798320290614 • PAPERBACK: $8.99 • KINDLE: $2.99 When I opened Linda’s book, I immediately checked locations I had previously visited to see what she had written about them. I picked areas that had impressed me and, I found that Linda found the locations equally impressive. But, in addition to the facts and histories of the area that I already knew, Linda enhanced my memories with her well-written observations, and she is a keen

We all enjoy reading the books written by fellow rvers about their journeys. As much as it is fun to enjoy their stories and adventures with them how much more fun it would be to open a journal that you wrote yourself, about previous trips, and to share your stories with friends and family. This journal would soon become a family treasure. But often it is daunting to try to fi gure out where to start. A lot of us think that writing is scary, di ffi cult or beyond our skill level; but, you will fi nd that this is not true if given some expert guidance. These two books journal of an experienced RVer, Linda Scho fi eld, and her journal about trips that she and her husband experienced while traveling across North America. The second book is a guidebook by Jessica Laughlin taking you through each state, in cluding Washington DC and Puerto Rico. Both would be valuable additions to your collection of books. deal with these two di ff erent groups: the

observer. Even armchair tourists will fi nd Linda’s stories will enable them to feel like they have been a part of each adventure. They will feel that they have met fellow RVers with their tales of dealing with the challenges of RV travel with often humorous outcomes, park rangers with their wealth of information, restaurant workers and fellow hikers with sound advice about things to see and places to go. The book is well-researched and fascinating with its history, scienti fi c data and excellent reporting. It is truly a book that many readers can enjoy. You will fi nd that opening just about anywhere in the book will cause you to keep reading to see what Linda and her husband, Mark, will do and where they are heading next, while traveling in their RV, which they have named Betty.

The 50 States Bucket List: The Ultimate Journal for a Journey Across America JESSICA LAUGHLIN • EPIC INK 2024 • ISBN: 13-9780760388495 • FLEXBOUND: $19.99 This fl exible, faux leatherbound book provides an excellent and beautiful guide to journaling your adventures. Jessica is an artist, graphic designer and photographer; this book is a lovely example of her multiple talents. There are colorful illustra tions of each state’s birds, fl owers, unique facts and important places to visit. Maps and Jessica’s

included categories encourage you to enter local restaurants, record the weather, and make note of your fellow travelers and new friends you met along the way, and favorite unique locations you visited. This journal makes it easy to note those special moments of your journey that you might easily forget in the hubbub of travel. But you will have captured those moments for posterity. The journal becomes a lovely keepsake recounting your memora ble trip. You might fi nd that you are a pretty good journal keeper and will begin a journal collection you can share with others for many years.

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ESCAPEES Magazine July/August 2024