For so many years, books were my window to the world. They took me away from the Bronx tenement where I grew up to many lands and different ways of life. They were my childhood escape. As I grew up and became an adult, my tastes in books changed. Married and with children, I found amazing children’s authors. But I still relied on books to take me to foreign lands. That remained my treasured hobby–until photography and the Lens Artists community.

Now you take me away and teach me about the world. And with photography, I can express myself and show my travels outside of and within the United States.

This week Ritva challenges us with the task of showing what significance books hold for us. Here’s one for this week’s show and tell.

Last December was a choose your own book month in my book club. I chose to re-read “Travels With Charlie” by John Steinbeck. This was a journal of his cross-country trip with his dog Charlie. This re-read showed me what an impact books and certain authors can have on your life. Now I know why I wanted to travel across America in our 5th wheel trailer in 2013. By the way, this was when I began photography and got my first DSLR.

Our 5th wheel and truck. AKA Rocky (the truck) and Bullwinkle (the trailer)

Steinbeck’s words resonated with me even more after re-experiencing his journey. We may not have gone to the same towns or met the same people, but he found the differences in culture and ways of life as we did.

Here is a small sample of the places we stopped.

Siligman, AZ
The Petrified Forest NP, AZ
Memphis, TN
Metro Station in Washington D.C.

We didn’t have Charlie, but we had Gem who was 3 years at the time. What an education that trip was. I still hold those memories in my mind and heart. Just see how you can attract people in a Maine campground with California plates on your truck!

Visiting Family in New Jersey
Niagara Falls, NY
Springfield, IL
Rocky Mountain NP, Colorado
Dinosaur National Monument, Utah

Our trip came to an end after 3 months and 16,000 miles. I could have continued for another 3 months. There was so much of the U.S. we didn’t see. But, Richard needed to have a torn meniscus repaired. And Gem was missing his big house. He wasn’t a good traveler!

Thank you Ritva for driving home how one book made a difference in my life. When you post about your favorite book(s), remember to link to Ritva’s original post and use the Lens-Artists tag.

Wow, what a week we had. I truly enjoyed your zooms and creativity. Some of you tackled zooming for the first time and others were pros at it. All your posts were great and fun to see. Thanks for participating.

Next is Sofia’s turn to challenge us. So look for her blog post. In the meantime, stay safe and live in gratitude.

50 thoughts on “Lens Artists Challenge #351: Books”

  5. Wonderful post! I’ve taken note of Steinbeck’s book, and I’ll look for it to read.

    I hope that when Richard recovers and Gem is eager to travel again, you can continue this wonderful journey.

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    1. Thanks Ana! That trip was taken in 2013. Richard has recovered and Gem went on to continue his lack of love for travel until this year when he left us at age 14 1/2. I hope you read the book.

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  7. What a beautiful journey—both in pages and on wheels! From Steinbeck’s Charlie to your Gem, stories came alive in motion. Books sparked the dream, the lens captured the reality, and Rocky & Bullwinkle carried the plot. A road trip written by heart, edited by adventure, and footnoted by joy.
    SudoFilozoper

    Thank you! You captured my feelings perfectly.

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  9. Anne, I love how a book inspired you to take your RV journey across America and led to your love of photography! I can’t believe I’ve never read “Travels with Charlie” but I am adding it to my must read list. In 2013 while you were exploring America we were traveling in our fifth wheel from Georgia to Alaska. I started my blog then so friends and family could follow us along on our adventure. I got hooked on blogging and I’m still loving it.

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  10. I love how books became an inspiration for travel, especially “Travels with Charlie,” Anne. I will have to check that out for myself. I can almost echo everything Beth just wrote! I love your images of the places you visited. Since June is Great Outdoors Month, please feel free to link to my post if you wish!

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  11. Traveling on the road is a favorite of ours – seeing countryside, staying a few days here and there. Books, too, always come along, in written, Kindle, or audio format. Both excite the imagination and open us up to many other parts of the world. I think it is wonderful to have the time and opportunity to drive through this country, and I am glad you have both books and Rocky and Bullwinkle to go along. (And where are Boris and Natasha??) Nice photos and essay.

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    1. Thanks N! Boris didn’t want to drive the truck and 5th wheel, and Natasha wasn’t the camping type! When we bought the trailer used, it had moose decals over it. I started calling it the moose trailer and my husband took offense. So I started calling it Bullwinkle and husband started calling the truck Rocky. We had many adventures with them.

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      1. Well, Boris and Natasha are darned lazy! Certainly easier than “stroke, stroke, stroke” if you recall that adventure of theirs . . . great back story about truck and trailer. And sounds like a lot of fun. 🙂

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  14. A fun way to see the country through your eyes Anne! I’ve always been a bit nervous about those big campers especially on back roads and mountain passes but you seem to have taken to it like a fish to water (as they say!). Loved your interpretation for the week.

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    1. Thanks Tina! These 5th wheel trailers go where they are towed to go. We’ve been on super curvy roads, bumpy roads, and worse. The truck pulled that heavy trailer up mountains and got us down safely. It’s my preferred way to travel.

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  23. Thank you for sharing such a heartfelt journey.
    From the Bronx to Bullwinkle, books clearly shaped not only your worldview but also your real-world travels. It’s wonderful how Steinbeck’s words stayed with you, and how your family, Richard, and Gem became part of your own cross-country story.

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