July -- traveling around

I was trying to think of something appropriate for the month of July and it hit me that I'm traveling, so maybe it would be interesting to do some reading about other people's travels and journeys.  Actually, I'd picked this category before leaving for Seattle in an effort to get through more of my tbr pile (and some of the new books I'd bought in June).  

Although I prefer to travel in person, there's something to be said about reading about other people's sojourns as well.  A few of the books I have slated (although as always, these are subject to change, depending on my mood) are as follows:

On the Road, by Jack Kerouac
A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering the Appalachian Trail, by Bill Bryson
Going After Cacciato, by Tim O'Brien
Voss, by Patrick White (finally!)
Journey to the West, ascribed to Wu Cheng'en

 and whatever else I have that I've forgotten for the moment.  I'm also planning on finally breaking down and reading The Help, by Kathryn Stockett, which everyone on the planet except me has probably read already. I passed on strawberry picking over the weekend so as not to kill my back and picked up a copy to pass the time while waiting for everyone else.

And speaking of traveling,
 

I spent the 4th of July weekend camping here in Washington State among the tall trees, a beautiful lake and the smell of campfire everywhere.   There's just something about being being bundled up  outside in the crisp, cool air with the sound of the wind and the birds in the background that is very conducive to laying around with a book in my hand and a cup of hot coffee in the cup holder of my chair.

 A great hike down the lake trail and food cooked outside was also part of the bargain, but the best was a rainstorm at night while I was all snug and cozy inside my tent with my book and a booklight, listening to the rain hitting the outside. 

 I took this picture with my iphone, having forgot my camera battery charger at home, so you can't make out the snow-covered mountains in the background, but they're there all the same. Another major bonus of being here.

So that's it...I'm hoping my reading month is a good one.