Reading on the road

August 29, 2015Thomas

Normally vacation means a fair amount of time to read and hunt for books. This is especially true when we install ourselves for two weeks up in Maine. Not sure there is anything more conducive to reading than Maine in the summer. This summer our vacation was slightly, and by slightly, I mean a whole lot more, active than normal. I’ve already posted some pictures of our 5-day whitewater raft trip down the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho. Normally I take way more books on a trip than I would ever have time for but this time I resisted. The combination of being on the water most of the time and the fact that after the river trip I would be making another pilgrimage to Powell’s City of Books in Portland, Oregon, gave me the confidence to only take TWO books for about 11 days a way from home.

I was right to limit myself. The flight out west was late at night and consisted of more sleeping than reading, and the active and social nature of the river trip made it hard to find time to read. We were just as active in Portland, and despite spending three hours at Powell’s, I didn’t really find much time to read there either.

There were a few choice reading moments, however. One involved a wildly energetic (and hilarious) 12-year old on the river trip who warmed my heart when he joined me one morning as I was reading. I’m not sure I ever inspired any child to read before. He even referred to it later as our reading club.

With a rock as a back rest and a personal flotation device (PFD) as a pillow, this was a pretty comfy spot for reading. And the fact that one of the kids on the trip voluntarily decided to join me was enough to melt the heart of any book lover. He even talked about our reading club. — With a rock as a back rest and a personal flotation device (PFD) as a pillow, this was a pretty comfy spot for reading. And the fact that one of the kids on the trip voluntarily decided to join me was enough to melt the heart of any book lover.

I was a little too sleepy at the Portland Rose Garden to get much reading done (The Burnt-out Case by Graham Greene) but the bird who joined me was awfully cute.

Kim August 29, 2015 / 8:37 pm

I love that this kid wanted a little reading company. And, what a beautiful view.

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Joan Kyler August 30, 2015 / 9:05 am

I think you may have started a whole new blog category: The View from My Book. I love that!
The trip looks wonderful, but too rugged for my taste. I don’t like camping. I much prefer vacations in Maine.

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Cosy Books August 30, 2015 / 9:23 am

That boy melted my heart too. A perfect snapshot of what’s wonderful about summer vacation.

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Frances Evangelista (@nonsuchbook) August 30, 2015 / 11:14 am

That sounds like a 12 year old I would like. It seems funny to think of you on a vacation in which there was not much reading. This makes the furious sweep through Powell’s a little more understandable. It was necessary at that point, I’m sure.

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nerdybookgirl August 30, 2015 / 7:52 pm

This is great! I love it when my kids read with me. Well, the oldest doesn’t like to read, but Atticus will pile all of his books beside me and say it is “weadathon” time. I love that you managed to snag some reading time while adventuring.

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Susan in TX September 2, 2015 / 9:18 pm

Heart melted here. Did you happen to see what he was reading? I’m always on the lookout for new authors for my son. Not having reading time on vacation tends to make me grouchy. Glad you were able to find a little.

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