Walter, this was a magical start to my day. I learned the term “seep.” I had no idea of how beautifully you can draw, and wonder how you captured every tiny aspect of the tiny monkey flower. Your essay made me think of the suddenly lucky woman near us who won a million dollars in the state lottery last week. You really should collect these posts in a collection. A book. I’d buy it!
Thanks, Mary Ann. Glad you like my drawings. I have used many of them in my essays. You can find all of them in my Archives (https://waltertschinkel.substack.com/archive). Good to know I already have a customer for a book I haven't written....!
Wonderfully evocative writing once again....I'm off to CA on Tuesday and maybe a desert somewhere, for the soul; it may be the right time of year. But what about the poor flat cat...?
I had to look up Flat Cat Canyon to find it in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Wilderness in California. It is described in part as "best suited for experienced desert hikers who are comfortable with wild terrain and complex route-finding. The payoff is solitude, rugged beauty, and a memorable experience in a desert canyon." Just what I have come to expect of you and your essays! Thanks as always.
My pleasure, Carol. The Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is full of such opportunities, and I have experienced many of them, and written about a number too. But why would you stagger around in the desert if you were not after "solitude, rugged beauty and a memorable experience?" Good for the soul!
Once again, Walter. You’ve done it once again. Flat Cat Canyon and your observant musings, this grateful man’s breakfast of champions. Thank you. And bravo.
Your marvelous botanical drawings (perhaps accompanied by relevant essay extracts) deserve to be collected in an ebook/‘zine publication, Walter. This is very easy to do with programs like Apple “Pages”. Check out my little attempts at
Thanks for the encouragement and link. I tried the book route with my drawing-plus-essays years ago, and none of the publishers were interested. I have used many of the drawings and expanded the essays in my Substack. I keep dithering about a book. For the time being, writing essays is keeping me off the dole, and I like doing it.
BTW, the opening image in The Hero's Journey looks like Strawberry Canyon in Berkeley. Is it?
Walter, this was a magical start to my day. I learned the term “seep.” I had no idea of how beautifully you can draw, and wonder how you captured every tiny aspect of the tiny monkey flower. Your essay made me think of the suddenly lucky woman near us who won a million dollars in the state lottery last week. You really should collect these posts in a collection. A book. I’d buy it!
Thanks, Mary Ann. Glad you like my drawings. I have used many of them in my essays. You can find all of them in my Archives (https://waltertschinkel.substack.com/archive). Good to know I already have a customer for a book I haven't written....!
I wrote my comment before reading yours, Mary Ann. You are right about a book of Walter’s drawings. Now he has 2 fans for that!
A best-seller, for sure!
Wonderfully evocative writing once again....I'm off to CA on Tuesday and maybe a desert somewhere, for the soul; it may be the right time of year. But what about the poor flat cat...?
The desert was very hot in March when we were these last. I never saw a Cat, whether Flat or not on that hike.
I had to look up Flat Cat Canyon to find it in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Wilderness in California. It is described in part as "best suited for experienced desert hikers who are comfortable with wild terrain and complex route-finding. The payoff is solitude, rugged beauty, and a memorable experience in a desert canyon." Just what I have come to expect of you and your essays! Thanks as always.
My pleasure, Carol. The Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is full of such opportunities, and I have experienced many of them, and written about a number too. But why would you stagger around in the desert if you were not after "solitude, rugged beauty and a memorable experience?" Good for the soul!
Once again, Walter. You’ve done it once again. Flat Cat Canyon and your observant musings, this grateful man’s breakfast of champions. Thank you. And bravo.
Happy to keep you company over Wheaties! Or was it Cheerios?
Your marvelous botanical drawings (perhaps accompanied by relevant essay extracts) deserve to be collected in an ebook/‘zine publication, Walter. This is very easy to do with programs like Apple “Pages”. Check out my little attempts at
https://bairdbrightman.substack.com/p/there-is-life-offafter-substack
and then go for it!
Thanks for the encouragement and link. I tried the book route with my drawing-plus-essays years ago, and none of the publishers were interested. I have used many of the drawings and expanded the essays in my Substack. I keep dithering about a book. For the time being, writing essays is keeping me off the dole, and I like doing it.
BTW, the opening image in The Hero's Journey looks like Strawberry Canyon in Berkeley. Is it?
Essays are fine and satisfying. I like ‘em too. Just wanted to collect a few things off-line.
Image is from Harmon Canyon in Ventura CA.