I am a Liar.

[Just Bill]

Invitation-


If you are a dreamer, come in,
If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar,
A hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer…
If you’re a pretender, come sit by my fire
For we have some flax golden tales to spin.
Come In!
Come In!
Shel Silverstein, “Where the Sidewalk Ends”

While some may argue that I have published many books here on WhiteBlaze already, officially as of today, I have published my first.

Lying on the Trail is a book written by a fella named me, for your entertainment.

Spanning trails, ponds, mountains and hot-tubs near and far. Including bumbling adventures, yoga instructors, broken bones, opened beers, paddlers, swingers and even the occasional bit of walking, you’ll find a fair ‘n fine variety of tales around this fire. This is not a trail journal, but a collection of lies that spans many trails and many years. So for all those looking for a little something different, well, it’s different.


Available now on Amazon, in both paperback and Kindle Edition if you care to save a few tree branches or get together with about twenty friends to make it a whole tree.

Lying on the Trail (http://www.amazon.com/Lying-Trail-William-Townsend-III/dp/150319387X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418831767&sr=8-1&keywords=lying+on+the+trail&pebp=1418831770703)

The Kindle version allows you to download a free sample. For the paperback, if you don’t want to read in the mildly annoying little preview window- Here’s your “Look Inside” (http://1drv.ms/13dqh3j) free preview of the book* (Also attached for those who don’t like links and such.)


For an UNlimited time-
Free Golden Nuggets1 in each book!
Portion size guaranteed to fill a Thru-Hiker's belly.2
Will bring you to tears!3
Contains no spreadsheets, gear lists, or trekking poles!
Neither SUL or Heavy Hauling at 6”x9”x220 pages and just under 13oz.
100% combustible for Tipi Walter style readers!4
Goes great with a beer, goes better with three, not so good with six!
Select editions include free beer!5


Disclaimers-
1-Of wisdom
2-With Laughter
3-When used as a cutting board to chop onions
4-LNT edicts prevent burning of the Kindle version.
5-Beer included only in special edition sold at Just Bill’s house.

To those who helped me out with this book here on WB, I won’t slander your fine names any further by thanking you publicly- but thank you just the same.

And for you gossip fiends- their names are in the book now that I think about it- so looks like those who helped are screwed either way. No good deed goes unpunished, eh?

Most importantly- A sincere thanks to all who have read my tales, suffered my long posts, offered kind words and helped me find the voice I was trying to capture along the way.
29188
29189

[Dobie Swift]

Congrats! I will go purchase now.

[Connie]

U can't write a review of your own book?!

No, you wrote two reviews of your own book.

Is that your "real" name?

[Hikes in Rain]

Congratulations, and well done. I know how much work goes into such an endeavor; you are to be commended.

[Another Kevin]

...
While some may argue that I have published many books here on WhiteBlaze already, officially as of today, I have published my first.
...
4-LNT edicts prevent burning of the Kindle version.
5-Beer included only in special edition sold at Just Bill’s house.


Hey, congratulations! I'm looking forward to the finished product. I love the tales of a man who doesn't let the truth get in the way of a good story. (Alternative reading: who doesn't care whether the story is factual, as long as it's true. :))

(4) But don't worry too much, the Kindle version is printed on 100% recycled electrons!
(5) If you make it to Harriman in January, I for one will try to have a copy for you to inscribe. I'll even buy the first round. :)
Otherwise, I don't know when I'm next coming to Chicago. I had no time to look you up the last time. Otherwise, we'd no doubt have found someplace with draft Goose Island, and sat around spinning yarns until both our wives were quite cross. ;)

[Traffic Jam]

Awesome, JB...I can't wait to read it.

[kayak karl]

Congrads, but i must confess, i have never completely read one of your posts. Sorry :rolleyes:

[HeartFire]

promo code didn't work

[HeartFire]

Can we buy the book directly form you and get a liar to autograph it?

[rocketsocks]

promo code didn't workwell, he did say he was a liar, hehehe

Congrats Bill, look forward to not reading it, then lying about doing so. :D

[rocketsocks]

PS you know I'm down. ;)

[rocketsocks]

Cool, just found a used copy on amazon for .50 cents...score! and free prim shipping.

[Chair-man]

JB, I detected a bit of truth in your preview which would make you nothing but a liar. :)

[hikehunter]

I may need to get a copy for my 2015 hike....to pass the early evening post hiking time or to take the place of the TP i forgot to pack.....ha ha

[Connie]

digital tp?

[Another Kevin]

digital tp?

Using your digits? Make sure to wash your fingers afterward!

[Dogwood]

You had my undivided attention when you mentioned hot tubs, yoga instructors, swingers, open beers, trails, and bumbling adventures all in one sentence. :D

[T-Rx]

Congratulations and good luck JB. I look forward to reading it.

[Chair-man]

What about a movie? You can't have a book these days without the movie. And who would play the part of JB? I'm thinking Russell Crowe. He kinda looks like you.

I'll be checking the NY Times best sellers list to see if yours makes it. Heck, Wild by Cheryl Strayed is currently # 2 on their E-Book Nonfiction list (http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2014-12-21/e-book-nonfiction/list.html). If she can make it you can too.

[Black Wolf]

i know it won't help your pocket .. but I have it on my Kindle Unlimited ... I'll read this month ... no doubt it will be entertaining ..Congrats ..

[Abatis1948]

I had to tell my wife it was a new required read to hike the AT.

[Just Bill]

promo code didn't work


well, he did say he was a liar, hehehe

Congrats Bill, look forward to not reading it, then lying about doing so. :D

Yar, a liar I may be, but not a Richard Cranium. Apologies about the code, apparently "for a limited time" was limited to the day I crafted the post.:o


Cool, just found a used copy on amazon for .50 cents...score! and free prim shipping.
Musta been Kayak Karl's copy to have been part read and sold already. :D

[Just Bill]

Can we buy the book directly form you and get a liar to autograph it?

Maybe... but not until January or so- Amazon rules and such as well as time for me to get some "stock".
I'd have to work out payment and such as well, but if there is interest from anyone let me know and I can set it up.
Though I hope to visit you in the next few months young lady.

[jbbweeks]

I thought trail people just lied about being writers...

[Just Bill]

i know it won't help your pocket .. but I have it on my Kindle Unlimited ... I'll read this month ... no doubt it will be entertaining ..Congrats ..

Thanks to any who read it, no matter how you do it!
On that note however- I did allow that option as a bit of a gamble.
In theory, an author can get paid this way, but it's a bit of a lottery ticket sorta system- the more readers who select this option the better chance for a payday fer yer ol' pal Bill.
So if you have Kindle Unlimited- the more the merrier!

And thanks to all who have posted well wishes and bought copies thus far!
Please stop back when you've had a chance to read and tell us your thoughts- good, bad, or sarcastic comments welcome- it is WB after all. :p

[Just Bill]

Happy Solstice!
To celebrate the paperback copy of Lying on the trail is 10% off for a limited time.
Curl up by the fire or in your bag and celebrate the rebirth of the sun.

[Just Bill]

Hey- my first magazine article! Complete with some beautiful illimustrations and fancy artwork too!
http://www.trailgroove.com/issue20.html?autoflip=95

Joined the Mighty Mags and all the fine folks at Trail Groove in Issue 20http://www.trailgroove.com/issue20.html.

If you haven't been to Trail Groove yet, now's a fine time. It's free, no reason not to check it out.:D

[rocketsocks]

Happy Solstice!
To celebrate the paperback copy of Lying on the trail is 10% off for a limited time.
Curl up by the fire or in your bag and celebrate the rebirth of the sun.
Thanks JB, lovin' the book thus far, lots of little nuggets of truth through out, really dig your writing style, thanks again, and congrats on a great book.


Tried to PM ya, your a busy man with a busy mail box.

[Teacher & Snacktime]

We received ours yesterday Bill. Thanks so much, especially for the inscription. Nice job and congratulations again....hugz.


Also...just read the article. I can see why it was chosen, and the artwork enhanced the message (and vice versa) Congrats on that too.

[Another Kevin]

Please stop back when you've had a chance to read and tell us your thoughts- good, bad, or sarcastic comments welcome- it is WB after all. :p

You've heard me say in the past, "never let the truth get in the way of a good story."

You've, in places, taken it to a different level: "never let the facts get in the way of a true story."

I liked the essay on Time (that you excerpted in Trail Groove as well). It very much reminds me of the Greek way of thinking about time. The Greek language has two words that translate as 'time' in English.

Χρόνος - chronos - is the time that we measure in seconds, hours, days, years. It is also the time of day on a clock, the duration of a happening,

Καιρός - kairos - is translated also as 'time', but most New Testaments will translate it as 'season' or 'moment'. When a tree brings forth fruit 'in its season,' or 'now is the time for the coming of the Kingdom.' that's the word that's used. Kairos is God's time. When in prayer or in contemplation - including the walking meditation that you describe - we for a time step outside our time and into Eternity, that is where God's time intersects with ours.

The Greek liturgy tries to evoke this sense. At the beginning of the Divine Service, the deacon addresses the priest: "Καιρός τοῦ ποιῆσαι τῶ Κυρίῳ": "now is the moment (kairos) for the Lord to act." And the priest replies later with "We stand outside of Time (chronos) in a place not of Earth.... Let us who mystically represent the cherubim, and sing the thrice-holy hymn to the life-creating Trinity, now lay aside all earthly cares, that we may receive the King of all, invisibly escorted by hosts of angels, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia."

That place outside of Time in a place not of Earth is indeed where you can trade a nod with his boss.

Oh, and by the way, I enjoyed the wee bit of walking we got to do together. Hope to do it again sometime, in friendlier conditions (externally and internally). It's hard to listen to the boss when the belly is loudly demanding attention.

[Connie]

, Καιρός - kairos - is translated also as 'time', but most New Testaments will translate it as 'season' or 'moment'. When a tree brings forth fruit 'in its season,' or 'now is the time for the coming of the Kingdom.' that's the word that's used. Kairos is God's time. When in prayer or in contemplation - including the walking meditation that you describe - we for a time step outside our time and into Eternity, that is where God's time intersects with ours.

I thought this. I also recalled my feeling of wholeness, hiking, that when I am whole I am experiencing eternity.

That, and contemplative meditation. It seems to me a natural environment puts me in meditation, at times contemplative meditation? I hadn't really thought about it before.

Thanks, Another Kevin. Thanks, Just Bill.

[rocketsocks]

Hey- my first magazine article! Complete with some beautiful illimustrations and fancy artwork too!
http://www.trailgroove.com/issue20.html?autoflip=95

Joined the Mighty Mags and all the fine folks at Trail Groove in Issue 20http://www.trailgroove.com/issue20.html.

If you haven't been to Trail Groove yet, now's a fine time. It's free, no reason not to check it out.:D


Cool, good article Bill. I dig getting lost in the moment, pure magic when that happens. Also gotta give a big shout out to Adrienne Marshall for the art work, very nice!

[Just Bill]

You've heard me say in the past, "never let the truth get in the way of a good story."

You've, in places, taken it to a different level: "never let the facts get in the way of a true story."

That place outside of Time in a place not of Earth is indeed where you can trade a nod with his boss.

Oh, and by the way, I enjoyed the wee bit of walking we got to do together. Hope to do it again sometime, in friendlier conditions (externally and internally). It's hard to listen to the boss when the belly is loudly demanding attention.

Excellent observations as usual fella; though I prefer to keep my time travel on a more terrestrial rather than celestial plane, both are worth a discussion.:)

Yar, I had hoped for a bit of fireside debate and rambin amblin conversation with the encyclopedia "Kevinica". Hell, never even got a chance to hear your thoughts on the book actually. Tough to enjoy a fire though when it's zero and with matching stomach bugs. But the trail's still there, likely we'll get a chance to stroll it in pleasant circumstances at some point.

Teach/Socks- Thankee kindly, glad your copies survived the rigors of the mail.
I really liked the first and last paintings by Adrienne.

[Teacher & Snacktime]

Καιρός - kairos - is translated also as 'time', but most New Testaments will translate it as 'season' or 'moment'. When a tree brings forth fruit 'in its season,' or 'now is the time for the coming of the Kingdom.' that's the word that's used. Kairos is God's time. When in prayer or in contemplation - including the walking meditation that you describe - we for a time step outside our time and into Eternity, that is where God's time intersects with ours.



Kevin, as usual, it's all Greek to me :)

[Another Kevin]

Excellent observations as usual fella; though I prefer to keep my time travel on a more terrestrial rather than celestial plane, both are worth a discussion.:)

Yar, I had hoped for a bit of fireside debate and rambin amblin conversation with the encyclopedia "Kevinica". Hell, never even got a chance to hear your thoughts on the book actually. Tough to enjoy a fire though when it's zero and with matching stomach bugs. But the trail's still there, likely we'll get a chance to stroll it in pleasant circumstances at some point.

Time travel on the more terrestrial plane - Can't be done. Well, you can think and speak about it that way, but when you visit Eternity, you're going to meet up with the Folks that live there and work for the Fella that owns the place. You don't have to go all highfalutin and Greek about it. But I wanted to point out that the Greeks have had the idea for millennia. (And their prayer is the better for it. It's harder to rush through things on a perfunctory basis when the whole shebang starts out with a reminder that you're in Eternity and Infinity rather than Time and Space.) Offering tobacco to the seven directions, or treading out a sacred circle, or even just settling down and realizing that the world outside the circle of your firelight isn't real, are all ways to approach the same thing.

I was listening to you and Malto, and marvelling, while I was curled up in that sleeping bag keeping warm. I was running chilly even right by the fire, the first sign that something was going wrong internally. Or maybe the second- with the first being the way I spaced out and left home with the bag of small stuff lying right where I'd packed my pack, rather than IN the pack.

I just didn't say much, because I don't have much to say about the sort of hiking you guys were talking about - other than, "wow, I'm not nearly in your class." I'm not up to that sort of challenge at my current ability and conditioning - and at my age, it's a long road getting any of it back. If I hiked as much at 28 as I do at 58, I'd have been in great shape then. But now it's a struggle.

[Just Bill]

"wow, I'm not nearly in your class."

Well fella, I hope to never hear you say those words again.
We all slung on some packs, walked away from town, hiked up the hill, and braved the cold.
We all shared a piece of earth, a fire, and a bit of food.
By my reckoning that puts us all in the same class.



are all ways to approach the same thing.

And yar, illness and the turn of conversation that evening may not have favored your particular areas of expertise and experience.
One lesson I appreciate from the medicine wheel is that there are many paths to reach the center, none better or worse than another.
That lesson applies to all the various flavors of campers I encounter as well, even the "clueless ones":rolleyes:.

I also apply that lesson in regards to various philosophical, religious, historical, or cultural knowledge. You got quite a bit of that knowledge and wisdom rolling around in that head of yours I would have liked to shake out and examine a bit by the light of a fire. The more I look, the more I find a common path.

Facts, truths, theories, lies, and laws can be hard to pin down. As in science, it makes good sense to look for things that can be repeated in many "labs", by many peoples before accepting them. I'm a skeptic at heart. So when an ancient greek, old injun chief, clueless weekender, and long haired cross dressing hiker can come to similar conclusions; well I find that to be a potentially exciting topic of discussion to say the least.

But I've learned not to push- I have a feeling we're likely to have a bit of that debate at some point.
Fer now though, perhaps simply meeting in person and saying hello was a plenty fine way to start.

[Traffic Jam]

Truthfully? I was surprised that I enjoyed the book as much as I did. Good job, Bill. :)

[Old Hiker]

...........................After fulfilling the first run of orders I've been left with a few spare copies of my book just lying here with smug looks on their faces. So in the interest of cleaning up, and flat out blatant promotion-

The easy one-
First 10 donating members to pop on the book thread-
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/show...ht=i+am+a+liar (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php/107948-I-am-a-Liar?highlight=i+am+a+liar)

Will get a free hard copy sent their way, shipping and all if you live in these here continuous 48 states.
All you have to do is hop on the thread and post something, you can even call me a name or two if you like. I'll PM the losers for your address.......................................

Uh, you "a name or two" ?

Am I one of the chosen disciples?

[Just Bill]

Uh, you "a name or two" ?

Am I one of the chosen disciples?

Good enough for me;)
One down...

[kayak karl]

Good enough for me;)
One down...
Uh, you "a name or two" ?

Am I one of the chosen disciples?

[bendback]

I'll be your #2
look forward to the read, thanks

[Just Bill]

I'll be your #2
look forward to the read, thanks

WHOO- First post too :welcome

You'll remember this moment for the rest of your life!



Or at least until something more memorable happens.

[rhjanes]

I'm confused by all the lies.

[Tuckahoe]

I'm your huckleberry.

[Sarcasm the elf]

This may sound odd, but I don't need a free copy. When I finally get time to do so, I will be getting the kindle edition and reading it on the trail, just like I did with your Long trail writeup a while back. :sun

[2015 Lady Thru-Hiker]

Oooo. Can I be #3??? Every post of yours that I have read makes me smile and /or laugh and that may come in handy on my thru-hike this year.

[Another Kevin]

I already bought the book, so no need to send me another!

But here's a review, in the grand tradition of "better late than never:" Tall Tales Under Tall Trees (http://dftscript.blogspot.com/2015/02/2014-02-14-book-review-lying-on-trail.html).

If you like it, think of it as partial and inadequate repayment for the loan of a spoon back in January! I seem to forget something critical for a hike about once a year. It's embarrassing. It makes me look like a clueless weekender. But, on skimming through the book again to write the review, I realized that the loan of the spoon makes me a small part of the grand chain of trail magic you describe. The first travelogue in the book, your minimalist trek through the Hundred-Mile Wilderness, is bookended by borrowing and returning a spoon from Keith Shaw. I now know I've eaten my chicken and dumplings with Sai Shaw's spoon, in spirit if not in fact. I'm sure that I can manage to spin that into a better lie if I have a mind to. And I'm betting - the World being as strange as it is - that the day will come when I will lend a spoon to someone in need of one, and the tale will continue to grow in the telling.

[Just Bill]

I already bought the book, so no need to send me another!

But here's a review, in the grand tradition of "better late than never:" Tall Tales Under Tall Trees (http://dftscript.blogspot.com/2015/02/2014-02-14-book-review-lying-on-trail.html).

If you like it, think of it as partial and inadequate repayment for the loan of a spoon back in January! I seem to forget something critical for a hike about once a year. It's embarrassing. It makes me look like a clueless weekender. But, on skimming through the book again to write the review, I realized that the loan of the spoon makes me a small part of the grand chain of trail magic you describe. The first travelogue in the book, your minimalist trek through the Hundred-Mile Wilderness, is bookended by borrowing and returning a spoon from Keith Shaw. I now know I've eaten my chicken and dumplings with Sai Shaw's spoon, in spirit if not in fact. I'm sure that I can manage to spin that into a better lie if I have a mind to. And I'm betting - the World being as strange as it is - that the day will come when I will lend a spoon to someone in need of one, and the tale will continue to grow in the telling.

......Ayuh

[Just Bill]

Thus far-
WB give-a-way

1-Old Hiker

2-Kayak Karl

3-Bendback

4-RHJanes

5-Tuckahoe

6-2015 Lady Thru-hiker


Not sure how the sneaky Sinterklass snuck in there, but he clearly slipped his yak into the harbor there.
I'll save a spot for Deacon if'n he wants it and take a few backups too just in case.

But a few slots left fer a bit.

[gillian]

I just asked my library to buy a copy to share with the uninitiated folks of my town, but I'd be interested in skipping the amazon middle man and buying a copy direct from the source next time I'm in Chicago if it's possible. I'll be flying out from there to start my thru in April, but should be there once or twice before then to visit family.

[grumps]

Put me in the mix. Is it for sale on Amazon? Would love to read. Thanks

[kayak karl]

You know it will always be a love/hate relationship. you just need to accept it :p

[Tprunty8]

Posted on the wrong thread. Anyway, if you add me to your list, I'll make a donation to the ATC. Win-win, right?

[Sarcasm the elf]

Not sure how the sneaky Sinterklass snuck in there, but he clearly slipped his yak into the harbor there.


Hmmm, I'm not sure if that's a compliment, an insult, or just an observation. :D

[Just Bill]

You know it will always be a love/hate relationship. you just need to accept it :p

Seriously, are you a computer guy- woulda sworn that your post wasn't there last night, got Bendback to back me up as he thought he was clearly in the two spot. Check in this morning and bam- there you are, lol.

And yar-29966

My old canoe keeps my firewood dry. My new (20 year old) canoe stays in the garage.
The kayak serves as low income housing for a squirrel family this time of year.

Guess you can tell which I like more...

But no reason not feel a little love for the kayak too. ;)

[Just Bill]

I just asked my library to buy a copy to share with the uninitiated folks of my town, but I'd be interested in skipping the amazon middle man and buying a copy direct from the source next time I'm in Chicago if it's possible. I'll be flying out from there to start my thru in April, but should be there once or twice before then to visit family.

I'm not sure if you can...
Officially- The book is available to library buyers through Baker and Taylor distribution and the ISBN-13 # is 978-1503193871.
I think they are legally supposed to obtain books this way- kinda like a video store has to have a special copy of a DVD (non-retail) for rental.

Un-Officially- As far as I know if you donate a book to a library they can put it on the shelf. Course I don't think the library police are likely to get involved, but if you wanted to donate a book to a library I can get one for you at cost.

[Just Bill]

Hmmm, I'm not sure if that's a compliment, an insult, or just an observation. :D

Your last post was too sincerely kind- glad to see you're back on track.

[Gonecampn]

Awesome! Going to check it out!

[Sarcasm the elf]

Your last post was too sincerely kind- glad to see you're back on track.

Always happy to help. Sorry I missed meeting you on the Harriman trip. I try to go every year but I was on the other side of the country.

[Just Bill]

PM's sent-
WB give-a-way
1-Old Hiker
2-Kayak Karl
3-Bendback
4-RHJanes
5-Tuckahoe
6-2015 Lady Thru-hiker
7-Deacon
8-Grumps
9-Tprunty8
10-Sailing Faith

The link to my book is in my signature- or just search for Lying on the trail on Amazon an it'll pop up.

It might even be on the first page- and if you missed it- Kevin's review is pretty durn nice and helpful-
http://dftscript.blogspot.com/2015/02/2014-02-14-book-review-lying-on-trail.html

[Another Kevin]

I'm not sure if you can...
Officially- The book is available to library buyers through Baker and Taylor distribution and the ISBN-13 # is 978-1503193871.
I think they are legally supposed to obtain books this way- kinda like a video store has to have a special copy of a DVD (non-retail) for rental.

There is no such law. If you own a book, you're free to lend it out, give it away, rent it, destroy it, slice it up and hang it on the wall, resell it, and so on. What you're not free to do is copy it. (That's why it's called "copyright".) There are a few other rights governed by copyright, like public performance of musical and dramatic works, preparation of derivative works, right of attribution, and so on. But lending is not one of them! (The key case establishing the principle is Bobbs-Merrill Co. v. Straus, 210 U.S. 339 (1908)). Public display is another right that travels with ownership of a copy. If you own a legal copy of a piece of art, you are allowed to hang it and let others look, or else museums would all be in trouble! (17 USC 109 (c))

The reason that things are different for DVD's is an anomaly arising from how digital media work. In order to play a DVD, the player has to copy the bits off the disk into its memory. This, the courts have held, is copying, so the owner of a copy actually has no right to play it other than the one granted by the license at time of purchase - which for consumer-grade DVD's is usually, "private showing within the home to family members and guests."

So feel free to donate books to libraries to your heart's content, irrespective of where they bought them. (That will often be Baker and Taylor, or McNaughton, simply because those outfits negotiate a pretty good price for quantity buys.)

[HeartFire]

The book is fantastic, what a joyful read!
Thank you for my copy.

[kayak karl]

Hmmm, I'm not sure if that's a compliment, an insult, or just an observation. :D it's a compliment. "Sinterklass" in Norwegian for great woodsman. Sneaky just implies stealth ;)

[Sarcasm the elf]

it's a compliment. "Sinterklass" in Norwegian for great woodsman. Sneaky just implies stealth ;)

I'll be honest, I didn't realize that Bill was directing the Sinterklass line towards Santa Karl, I thought he was referring to a Christmas Elf. :datz

[kayak karl]

I'll be honest, I didn't realize that Bill was directing the Sinterklass line towards Santa Karl, I thought he was referring to a Christmas Elf. :datz the yak reference was a dead give away :D

[Farr Away]

Thanks Bill! I read and enjoyed the copy you sent. I found it a fast read.

My favorite parts were the 'karma' trail stories - true or not. "Never let the facts get in the way of a good story". Pleased to see that you didn't. :)

-FA

[DLP]

I will bring a Sharpie if we ever meet in person and you can sign my Kindle. :)

I do a good amount of Lying on the Trail... or maybe I lay on the trail? Mostly with my feet uphill, if possible. And not too soon after eating.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/debrainbrs/14080735329/

[mcgrabo]

The last book I read was the Godfather, around 1970. It was out before the movie. Me and 3 other guys drove to Vegas in a '62 Nova. Carried a case of oil in the trunk. Drank beer and played pool to earn our living. If we get the 'band ' back together and head back to Vegas, I will read your book.

[Just Bill]

DLP- that's fine form. Methinks you mighta read a little Jardine. :)
McGrabo- 44 years is an impressive stretch- good luck with the band.

[Just Bill]

And in other news....

The greatest trail show on the planet reviewed the greatest book on the planet. (At least that's how I heard it)

Another excellent show from Mags, Disco, POD and D-Low. Featuring- Snorkel and Allgood too.

http://thetrailshow.com/show-34-the-chin-chinny-chint/

I'm not sure why you would skip ahead, but if you wanted to hear the book review specifically it is about 2:03:40 into the show, but then you'd be skipping 2:03:40 of the show and that's not right.

PS- DLow almost read it! More importantly- POD liked it, that's severely impressive:D

[gsingjane]

Looks like 4chan finally discovered Whiteblaze... guess it had to happen someday...

[Just Bill]

A very fine day! Snorkel reviewed my book.
Horribly proud to have such a fine hiker read between the lies.

http://www.eathomas.com/2015/06/08/lyingonthetrail/
(http://www.eathomas.com/2015/06/08/lyingonthetrail/)

[hooshr]

Just Bill,

Enjoy your frequent posts. Would love to receive a copy of your book

[Kenai]

Just got it on kindle. Send me a pm on how I can get a signed copy please.

[Just Bill]

Just got back from a trip... nice thing to come back to!
I'll send each of you a PM, but for any interested you can contact me at [email protected]
I have copies available directly that can be signed at your request, the cost is $15 with free shipping.

[egilbe]

I like your writing style, Just Bill. Very enjoyable read. Thank you. I can relate to a lot of your lies...er, stories from my time hiking. My GF and I can get this connection when we hike quietly, lost in our own thoughts, and one of us will say something out loud that mirrors what the other person is thinking. Hiking bonds us closer together as a couple. Maybe it's the Great Spirit helping us communicate?

[Kenai]

I like your writing style, Just Bill. Very enjoyable read. Thank you. I can relate to a lot of your lies...er, stories from my time hiking. My GF and I can get this connection when we hike quietly, lost in our own thoughts, and one of us will say something out loud that mirrors what the other person is thinking. Hiking bonds us closer together as a couple. Maybe it's the Great Spirit helping us communicate?

+1 egilbe.
To be able to take your significant other out on the trail, gives you the opportunity to free yourselves of all of those town related encumbrances, that suck the life out of us. To be able to free yourselves from those mundane shackles, it truly a gift.

[imscotty]

I always keep a stack of magazines and such of reading material at the side of my bed. When I am busy with work the stack grows ponderously tall. When I have some free time I chip away at it a bit. For you computer programmers it is a FILO system (or is that LIFO?). At the bottom of the pile are some National Geographic magazines going back to the 1980’s that I am afraid I am not going to get to until I retire someday

So last summer as I was packing up for a John Muir Trail thru-hike, I went to pick out some reading material from the pile for when I bed down for the night on the trail. What do you think was sitting at the top of my FILO stack? Why it was “Lying on the Trail” by our own Just Bill. Whether this was a message from the God’s or some strange coincidence, I do not know. But there it was, top of the pile, a trail hiking book begging to be brought on the trail.

This is perfect, I thought, a book of lies and tall-tales to bring on the trail. I imagined myself tearing out the chapters night by night as I read them on my way towards Mount Whitney. A book of lies to toss in the campfire and scatter as smoke in the wind. I gleefully anticipated the load in my backpack growing lighter with every day. Thinking I had found the perfect choice of reading material, I placed the book away in my backpack and began my journey.

Bill is a liar all right. He lies about lying. As I read the book I soon realized that I had become trapped in some kind of literary Escher drawing. Wrapped in all those lies were fundamental kernels of truth. Weighty truths about life, wry observations on the human condition, life lessons passed on from the children of Wakan Tanka. I cannot burn a book of truths. Only bad medicine will flow from that. So, ‘Lying on the Trail’ remained intact, I kept every page, as I walked the 210 miles from Yosemite to Mount Whitney.

It was when I got my resupply at the Muir Trail Ranch that this began to get to me. Ten days of food and supplies crammed into my bear can. Thirty-eight pounds weighing my out-of-shape body down as I made the final push towards Whitney. No item seemed heavier than the weighty truths in that damn book. This book was suppose to be gone by now, just a bit of light-hearted entertaining fluff dissolved in a campfire like so much cotton candy. There it was every time I opened my pack, the mask on the cover seemed to be mocking me. The title a constant reminder of Bill’s lies about lying. Yet each new chapter begged me on to the next. More weighty truths to be carried in my thoughts as I marched towards Whitney.

I began to think Bill was the playful trickster Sinkalip himself. I thought of the glee it would give him at the great joke of me carrying that thing over 200 miles. Every time I heaved that heavy pack onto my burdened shoulders I thought of the weight of that book. At night by the campfire I even thought I heard Bills laughter in the distant darkness (OK, perhaps, this was the yipping of an actual coyote). Either way, I began to curse Bill and his truths wrapped in lies and his book that I was unable to burn.

Finally, there I was on the last night of my journey. I had decided to camp out on the summit of Whitney itself and wait for the sunrise. There I was in the cold thin air enjoying the celestial display and thinking about the meaning of my hike. More than anything else this journey was a celebration of the interconnection between all things. The words of John Muir played over in my mind, "When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe."

Tired and satisfied I reached one last time for “Lying on the Trail” I had reached the last chapter of the book. I was hoping for a tall tail, a light-hearted bit of wordy popcorn to chew on as I closed my eyes. Instead I was offered a tiny ember, a spark of fire medicine, one last nugget of truth to be considered.

Mitakuye Oyasin. I’ll say no more about this truth, Bill is a better storyteller than I, but it provided a perfect end to a perfect journey. I could not fall asleep that night; once again the trickster had his day. Instead I thought of these words of Bill, and the words of John Muir. I thought of the spirit that moves through all things, of my interconnection with the world and all its people. I lay there and gave thanks for all that I had received.

And that morning I enjoyed a beautiful sunrise at the top of Mount Whitney.

I give thanks for the good medicine that brought this book to the top of my pile that day. I still have every page of this damn book. But after reading the last chapter of “Lying on the Trail”, somehow my pack grew lighter. My curses for Just Bill turned to a bit of a chuckle on the long hike down to Whitney Portal. Bill had fooled me. But just as Sinkalip often taught a lesson with his tricks, somehow old Bill had managed to do the same.

[imscotty]

34373

'Lying on the Trail' at the summit of Whitney!

[Studlintsean]

Thanks. I enjoyed your review and still need to pick up the book. I will see if it is available on Kindle and perhaps I will read it on a trip this summer (too much school reading nowadays). Where is Bill anyways?


And it's LIFO....

[Another Kevin]

Thanks. I enjoyed your review and still need to pick up the book. I will see if it is available on Kindle and perhaps I will read it on a trip this summer (too much school reading nowadays). Where is Bill anyways?


I hear from him every so often. He's busy being Daddy, trying to start some business ventures, and generally doing things other than hiking and posting here.

[Just Bill]

"Tis no finer compliment that a backpacker can give than to add an item to a kit.
Nor no higher honor than to continue to carry it once the long miles have decided it's true worth."

Ol' Man Willy



I always keep a stack of magazines and such of reading material at the side of my bed. When I am busy with work the stack grows ponderously tall. When I have some free time I chip away at it a bit. For you computer programmers it is a FILO system (or is that LIFO?). At the bottom of the pile are some National Geographic magazines going back to the 1980’s that I am afraid I am not going to get to until I retire someday

So last summer as I was packing up for a John Muir Trail thru-hike, I went to pick out some reading material from the pile for when I bed down for the night on the trail. What do you think was sitting at the top of my FILO stack? Why it was “Lying on the Trail” by our own Just Bill. Whether this was a message from the God’s or some strange coincidence, I do not know. But there it was, top of the pile, a trail hiking book begging to be brought on the trail.

This is perfect, I thought, a book of lies and tall-tales to bring on the trail. I imagined myself tearing out the chapters night by night as I read them on my way towards Mount Whitney. A book of lies to toss in the campfire and scatter as smoke in the wind. I gleefully anticipated the load in my backpack growing lighter with every day. Thinking I had found the perfect choice of reading material, I placed the book away in my backpack and began my journey.

Bill is a liar all right. He lies about lying. As I read the book I soon realized that I had become trapped in some kind of literary Escher drawing. Wrapped in all those lies were fundamental kernels of truth. Weighty truths about life, wry observations on the human condition, life lessons passed on from the children of Wakan Tanka. I cannot burn a book of truths. Only bad medicine will flow from that. So, ‘Lying on the Trail’ remained intact, I kept every page, as I walked the 210 miles from Yosemite to Mount Whitney.

It was when I got my resupply at the Muir Trail Ranch that this began to get to me. Ten days of food and supplies crammed into my bear can. Thirty-eight pounds weighing my out-of-shape body down as I made the final push towards Whitney. No item seemed heavier than the weighty truths in that damn book. This book was suppose to be gone by now, just a bit of light-hearted entertaining fluff dissolved in a campfire like so much cotton candy. There it was every time I opened my pack, the mask on the cover seemed to be mocking me. The title a constant reminder of Bill’s lies about lying. Yet each new chapter begged me on to the next. More weighty truths to be carried in my thoughts as I marched towards Whitney.

I began to think Bill was the playful trickster Sinkalip himself. I thought of the glee it would give him at the great joke of me carrying that thing over 200 miles. Every time I heaved that heavy pack onto my burdened shoulders I thought of the weight of that book. At night by the campfire I even thought I heard Bills laughter in the distant darkness (OK, perhaps, this was the yipping of an actual coyote). Either way, I began to curse Bill and his truths wrapped in lies and his book that I was unable to burn.

Finally, there I was on the last night of my journey. I had decided to camp out on the summit of Whitney itself and wait for the sunrise. There I was in the cold thin air enjoying the celestial display and thinking about the meaning of my hike. More than anything else this journey was a celebration of the interconnection between all things. The words of John Muir played over in my mind, "When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe."

Tired and satisfied I reached one last time for “Lying on the Trail” I had reached the last chapter of the book. I was hoping for a tall tail, a light-hearted bit of wordy popcorn to chew on as I closed my eyes. Instead I was offered a tiny ember, a spark of fire medicine, one last nugget of truth to be considered.

Mitakuye Oyasin. I’ll say no more about this truth, Bill is a better storyteller than I, but it provided a perfect end to a perfect journey. I could not fall asleep that night; once again the trickster had his day. Instead I thought of these words of Bill, and the words of John Muir. I thought of the spirit that moves through all things, of my interconnection with the world and all its people. I lay there and gave thanks for all that I had received.

And that morning I enjoyed a beautiful sunrise at the top of Mount Whitney.

I give thanks for the good medicine that brought this book to the top of my pile that day. I still have every page of this damn book. But after reading the last chapter of “Lying on the Trail”, somehow my pack grew lighter. My curses for Just Bill turned to a bit of a chuckle on the long hike down to Whitney Portal. Bill had fooled me. But just as Sinkalip often taught a lesson with his tricks, somehow old Bill had managed to do the same.

[BonBon]

I love books about hiking- looking forward to reading yours!

[Just Bill]

Just a heads up for all those looking for cheaper lies:
Due to the impending Mueller report release, all those who have lied on the trail are seeking immediate cash for legal defense funds.

So for a limited time and until such publications are involuntarily relinquished in expected court ordered asset forfeitures:

Lying on the Trail (https://www.amazon.com/Lying-Trail-William-Townsend-III/dp/150319387X/ref=olp_product_details?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=1550757532&sr=8-1) is discounted to $9.99 for paperback and $7.49 for kindle copies.

[coach lou]

I have a dog eared copy, SIGNED by the author!!!!!!

[Tipi Walter]

https://photos.smugmug.com/Backpack-2015-Trips-161/17-Days-In-Rattlerville/i-QSNgh7f/0/841df355/XL/Trip%20165%20004-XL.jpg

I received my copy sometime in 2015 so I took it out on a backpacking trip in May 2015 and wrote of short review of the thing which can be found here---

http://www.trailjournals.com/journal/entry/501063

[Just Bill]

I have a dog eared copy, SIGNED by the author!!!!!!

Sounds like its holding up much better than my signed slice of cheesecake!

[Just Bill]

https://photos.smugmug.com/Backpack-2015-Trips-161/17-Days-In-Rattlerville/i-QSNgh7f/0/841df355/XL/Trip%20165%20004-XL.jpg
I received my copy sometime in 2015 so I took it out on a backpacking trip in May 2015 and wrote of short review of the thing which can be found here---

http://www.trailjournals.com/journal/entry/501063

And a very Walter review it is...
Oddly the Mags quote you took some issue with is a sentiment you agree with and oft express.
https://pmags.com/thru-hikers-specialized-outdoors-knowledge

It fit that chapter well and is proving more true every year... especially as more folks adopt the 'Long Distance Hiking' moniker rather than backpacker or even general outdoors person.
Though having approached the subject from the direct opposite of Paul I have a slightly different take on the topic.

Nessmuk and Kephart (and even Fletcher) are mainly relegated to the memories of older hikers... though the bushcraft folks have rediscovered them a bit... their idea is mainly one for older souls, grumpy turtle birthers and one more Kevin. Muir and the poets are the more often admired as few of the hard practical skills are much needed these days.

[Sarcasm the elf]

Just a heads up for all those looking for cheaper lies:
Due to the impending Mueller report release, all those who have lied on the trail are seeking immediate cash for legal defense funds.

So for a limited time and until such publications are involuntarily relinquished in expected court ordered asset forfeitures:

Lying on the Trail (https://www.amazon.com/Lying-Trail-William-Townsend-III/dp/150319387X/ref=olp_product_details?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=1550757532&sr=8-1) is discounted to $9.99 for paperback and $7.49 for kindle copies.


Does this latest offer include complementary page numbers? ;)

[For those of you who haven’t read it yet, I bought Bill’s book when it came out and thoroughly enjoyed it.]

[Just Bill]

Does this latest offer include complementary page numbers? ;)

[For those of you who haven’t read it yet, I bought Bill’s book when it came out and thoroughly enjoyed it.]

Well... truth be told I need to unload these asap. Guthook is releasing an app for L.O.T with page numbers and a bare bones summary of the critical information along the way. So no need to even own the book at all let alone read it even. It does have very accurate page, paragraph, and even word count progress you can share to social media though...

While I do like rambling along and simply taking in the trail as a whole with no particular care for your exact location at any given second... one must recognize that is an antiquated point of view. So hoping some suckers come along and scoop this up.