Interview with Tom Courtney author of Walkabout Northern California

As part of  Burlingame Library's Summer Reading program - A Literary Picnic - we have invited Tom Courtney to present his program "Walkabout Northern California: Hiking Inn to Inn" on Monday, July 22nd, 2013 at 7:00 PM in the Lane Community Room.  Free and Open to all.

In his presentation, Tom describes twelve "walkabouts" along the wild Pacific Coast, through the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains, in the Cascades, and through the parklands around the San Francisco Bay.  Each "walkabout" ends with a comfortable bed, a glass of wine, a good meal, and maybe even a hot tub in one of the area's great local Inns.

LIBRARY: What inspired you most to start your walkabouts? Did you travel much before "keeping it local?"

TOM COURTNEY: I’ve always hiked and backpacked, but my first hike from inn-to-inn was in the Cotswalds. Rambling through the English countryside with only a daypack, I stopped each night at a village inn and enjoyed good food and company at a local pub.

Years later I stood on Wolf Ridge in the Marin Headland. Looking north, I saw the vast Pacific, Mt. Tam, and green hills. I wondered, could I hike all the way to Pt. Reyes? Could I stay at inns along the way? A month later my wife, Heidi, and I were on the trail, hiking 38 miles from the Headlands to Pt. Reyes along some of the most beautiful coastline in the world, staying in delightful inns and B&Bs in interesting coastal towns, dining on fresh seafood and local produce. I was hooked. Before that adventure ended, I was planning other inn-to-inn hikes in Northern California.

LIBRARY: Of all the places you mention in your book, which one is your personal favorite and why? Is there a special Inn or location that you love to visit?

TOM COURTNEY: There are a dozen self-guided inn-to-inn hikes in Walkabout Northern California – Hiking Inn to Inn along the coast and through the Sierra and Southern Cascades. I can’t pick one favorite, but here are few very special inns.

The Albion River Inn on the Mendocino Coast – perched on bluffs overlooking the ocean and river, it has simple and elegant rooms, lush gardens, and a fantastic restaurant.

Drakesbad Guest Ranch in Lassen Volcanic Nation Park – after a hearty dinner, you can float in the pool fed by hot springs and gaze at the star filled sky.

Pt. Reyes Hostel – stay in a dorm or a private room and explore the beautiful coast and estuaries along Drakes Bay.

LIBRARY: What would you say are the biggest benefits to your choice of routes? Any obstacles we should watch out for?

TOM COURTNEY: Northern Californians are fortunate to have so much preserved wilderness and open space with hiking trails. A hike from inn-to-inn is an opportunity to leave the car behind and take a multi-day, multi-destination vacation carrying only a light daypack, stopping each evening for a delicious meal, a hot shower, and a comfortable bed.

I managed to get a bit lost on many of these walkabouts, but the book gives detailed directions, so I hope that will not be a problem for others.

LIBRARY: You have quite an impressive website to support the walkabout community - are there any stories that stand out from people who have posted on your site?

TOM COURTNEY: We started WalkaboutCalifornia.com in 2009. It has become a destination for people to share stories of their inn-to-inn hiking adventures and to ask questions. After the book was published, I gave myself a present and hiked the Camino de Santiago, the ancient pilgrimage route through Northern Spain, and I blogged along the way. This brought people to the site from all over the world who love hiking from inn-to-inn.

LIBRARY: What areas are you currently exploring? What new guides can we look forward to reading?

TOM COURTNEY: I am just finishing up a new book, Walkabout - Malibu to Mexico: Hiking Inn to Inn on the Southern California Coast. It hikes 200 miles of sunny shoreline from North Los Angeles County to the Mexico border, ending each day at an inn or B&B. This is a land of expansive swimming beaches, rugged rocky coastline, fun seaside towns, delightful inns, and surprisingly abundant wildlife. The book is divided into seven chapters, each a one to five day inn-to-inn hike. It is scheduled to be published by Wilderness Press in 2014. A guide to the first hike in the book along the Malibu Coast is available on our website, WalkaboutCalifornia.com.