Today, I'd like to feature Dr. David W. Powers, author of a fascinating book about his travels. Not only does he chronicle his literal paths, but he also offers his straight forward thoughts and observations with no sugar coating attached.
The following is my book review and a special interview with Dr. Powers:
Becoming
a Turtle
If someone asked you what animal most closely represents
your personality and approach to life, what would it be? Would you choose the
intimidating tiger, stalking its prey? Would the vision of a tiny, adorable
Yorkie with a pink bow in her hair, hopping around on miniature legs and
waiting for someone to pat her on the head be your choice? How about a graceful
dolphin, skimming along the open ocean waters on a brilliantly sunny day?
Interestingly, Dr. David W. Powers opted for the turtle as
his symbol of personal likeness. In his book, Becoming a Turtle: My Journey Across North America, he not only
explains his similarities to the turtle, but also takes us on an amazing
journey. He was engaged in a solo automobile trip from South Carolina to Alaska
commencing May 26, 1999 in his 1991 Ford Explorer named Betsy, otherwise known
as his "turtle shell." With 168,903 miles already logged on Betsy, it was
intriguing to see exactly how far the shell would actually be transporting this
turtle.
His extensive journey was not merely a wanderlust-induced
road trip, but was also fueled by the ultimate purpose of participating in an
Alaskan marathon that would benefit The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. There
would be may miles to cover before reaching intended objective.
Complete with “Event Stops,” which were special breaks in
the trip that were pre-planned for visiting friends, family, parks and
important landmarks, Dr. Powers provided a day by day diary of his adventures,
informing us of many fascinating facts and opinions about a wide variety of
locations along his path. His sidebars
offer information about different types of turtles, as well as key data about
“must see” stops that he had encountered.
As a passionate travel lover, I could truly appreciate that
he had taken the time to include details and helpful information as seen
through the eyes of an enthusiastic and curiosity-driven turtle. Part of the
adventure, as he points out in the book, is in the numerous characters one
meets during the journey.
Don’t think for a moment that this turtle was living it up
in the shell of luxury. He actually opted to spend most nights sleeping (or
not) in his shell, Betsy, having parked in truck stops and campgrounds. So much
for the thrill of the open road!! He even offers valuable tips of hygiene rules
for travelers.
One would expect that his story would end on Day 46, which
was July 12, 1999; however, he surprises the reader with an Epilogue bonus
accounting of an ambitious climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in
Africa.
I enjoyed the vivid descriptions, factual information and
personal observations during his travels, as well as his habit of displaying
his Christian flag to commemorate special moments. If you’ve ever had a desire
to pack up your vehicle and head out on the open roads, you will absolutely
devour this book! Visit http://www.drdavidpowers.com
for additional information. LINK to purchase Becoming a Turtle is:
http://stores.ebay.com/Museum-of-Unnatural-History/_i.html?_nkw=becoming&_sid=10428586
Interview with Dr. David W. Powers
Q. From reading your Web site, it appears that you
are all of these:
Author, mountain climber, professional scuba diver, founder/Pastor of
The Pilgrimage Church, martial art black belt, civilian and military combat
paramedic, veteran of two branches of military service-Marines & Army,
founding member of the Department of Homeland Security, trained improv actor,
long distance marathon runner, bicyclist, husband, dad to three feral boys.You speak to groups on Teamwork, goal
setting, perseverance and inspiration with a “get off your butt and do
something” theme. Is there anything you’d like to add to these? You sound like
someone with some amazing stories to write!
A. I'm definitely not a 'motivational' speaker,
but I do love inspiring people to do something more, bigger, or better.
Q. I read that you are Founder/Pastor of The Pilgrimage Church-Could
you elaborate more about this? A little bit of history of the church and its
statement of faith?
A. We
started on January 1, 2012, the first day of the year that the Mayans told us
the world would end. We're non-denominational, more of a community church
model, and very non-traditional in how we do things. Our focus is on social
justice efforts, living out our faith in action. Our philosophy is that we're
not a church, but a movement where church happens.
Q. I saw Becoming
a Turtle—My Journey Across North America being offered on your Web site.
Can you elaborate about the book? What message are you conveying in the book?
A. The
book was written after I set off on a three month solo journey by automobile
across North America. I drove from Myrtle Beach to Anchorage Alaska to run a
marathon. Three months by myself, sleeping out of my car like a vagabond. It
was an awesome adventure, and the book tells about it.
4
Q. Have you written other books that are available?
A. I
have written several other books. One is on my Africa trip when I summited Mt.
Kilimanjaro. In your line of work, another of my books is the collected stories
and illustrations of my grandfather, a World War II Marine Corps veteran.
5 Q. What is the main message that you would like to
convey to people through your business?
A. My
main message that I try to convey through everything is that you have to find
life balance before you can really enjoy life.
6 Q. You certainly are an action kind of guy—briefly,
what journey has led you to where you are today?
A. I
was inspired early on by my heritage. My people were Vikings, always exploring
and seeking new lands. After all, it was the Vikings that first discovered the
New World. That's in my blood and comes out as a wanderlust that keeps me
wanting to travel and try new things.
Q. What makes Dr. David Powers smile?
I smile so much when my kids do silly things. They'll draw pics of me
fighting zombies or these big huge superhero parties. Or they'll say the
funniest things.
8 Q. After such a diversified background, what would
surprise us about you?
A. I'm a
softie and love romantic comedies.
Thank you for visiting today! May God richly bless you and keep you safe in His loving arms.
Mary Anne
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