Volume I
Trips #1–#50 (1942–1974)
From Childhood Adventures to Global Exploration
Journeys Over a Lifetime Volume 1 is the first book in my travel memoir series, sharing stories, photographs, and reflections from a lifetime of adventure.
In 2015, at age 73, I retired from work and began this series to chronicle every journey of my life. Drawing from hundreds of photo albums and diaries, I meticulously tracked the months and years spent “away from home,” preserving memories with accuracy and detail.
Volume I covers my early years from birth in 1942 through age 32, spanning 34 countries across North, Central, South America, and Europe. These formative trips ignited my lifelong passion for travel, history, and discovery.
Memorable Moments from the Road:
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1967, Trip #26 (Yugoslavia): At a mountain summit, we faced aggressive “Travelers” who encircled our car, grabbed at belongings, and threw stones as we sped away—adrenaline surging, one of my rare negative encounters.
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1967, Trip #26 (Gaza Strip): Post Six-Day War, we drove from Tel Aviv into Gaza City, took a wrong turn amid hostile stares, and made a hasty U-turn back to the market.
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1969, Trip #35 (Bolivia): A harrowing two-day bus ride from 12,000-foot La Paz over the snow-capped Andes (peaking at 16,500 feet) to the jungle town of Caranavi—narrow roads, no guardrails, transitioning from ice to tropical green.
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1974 (Norway): Visiting a traditional Lapp/Sami camp with tents and reindeer delighted our daughter. Later, camping by a fjord, midnight sun kept sleep at bay.
Buy Volume I Now – Start the Journey
In Volume 1, I look back on the early journeys that shaped my love of travel, reading, history, and photography. These memories introduce readers to the experiences, places, and people that would later become part of a much larger life story.
Over 300 pages of photos, diaries, and personal stories from my first 50 trips.
Volume II
Trips #51 - #101
From ski trails in Wisconsin to mountain roads in Europe, Volume II (1975–1994) captures family journeys, tradition, and discovery—from desert mesas and Hopi rituals to frosty northern adventures. The story of the road continues.
Volume III
Trips #102 - #135
From wilderness lakes to African savannas, Volume III (1995–2002) follows adventures across America and six countries in Africa—canoeing with family, hiking through swamps, and camping under starlit skies beside curious wildlife.
Volume IV
Trips #136 - #177
Volume IV continues the saga through 2003–2012, a decade marked by loss, remarriage, and shared discoveries. Widowed and then newly married in 2003, these journeys follow my wife and me as we introduce one another to “our” worlds—her first visits across North America and my first steps into the Philippines and a new family.
Volume V
Trips #178+
A continuation of travels from 2013 to 2016, this volume uses old diaries and photos to revisit journeys across the United States and overseas. It weaves together personal experiences, history, architecture, geography, and meaningful encounters, enriched by photos and music that bring each story to life.
Insight
Blog & News
7 Tips for Traveling by Land Across the United States
Traveling by land across the United States lets you see more than destinations—it lets you experience the country in motion. The roads between cities often reveal the quiet towns, open landscapes, and local traditions that flights can never show. With a little planning, patience, and flexibility, a road trip can become one of the most rewarding ways to explore America.
7 Tips for Traveling by Land Across the United States
Traveling by land across the United States lets you see more than destinations—it lets you experience the country in motion. The roads between cities often reveal the quiet towns, open landscapes, and local traditions that flights can never show. With a little planning, patience, and flexibility, a road trip can become one of the most rewarding ways to explore America.
Discovering Hidden Architectural Gems in Europe
During my years exploring Europe, certain buildings stopped me in my tracks—not the famous cathedrals