PLATTSBURGH -- Eleanor "Elle" Garrell Berger's "Stepping Out: A Tenderfoot's Guide to the Principles, Practices and Pleasures of Countryside Walking" is a must-read for the novice, seasoned rambler and armchair traveler.
Berger started her own publishing company, "Tenderfoot Press," and recruited a team of professionals to craft her debut travelogue of personal anecdotes and tips from more than a decade of jaunts along more than 1,000 miles of pathways, mostly in Great Britain.
She is a well-traveled writer and commentator. She has more than three decades of publishing at various enterprises including Sail Magazine, Plattsburgh Alive, Mountain Lake Radio, North Country Public Radio, Good Dog, "Our Best Friends: Wagging Tales to Warm the Heart" and "Angel Dogs: Divine Messengers of Love."
When she gave up jogging in the early '90s, she took up walking for pleasure and to exercise her standard schnauzer and border terrier. On one Point au Roche walk, she said to her partner, Michael DiNunzio, "Wouldn't it be good to go on a vacation on foot?"
"That was the a-ha moment," said Berger, a Plattsburgh resident. "The problem is I'm a tenderfoot. I'm not a person who does well hiking in the wilderness. I have camped out. There was a time when I did that. Now, I like to get to a place in the evening where I can wash up and have a good meal."
In England, walking or "rambling" is a passion only second to gardening. Author Bill Bryson defines rambling as "a stroll of sensible proportions."
"I define it as civilized recreation for UNEXTREME (her emphasis) adventure. What we do is walking for pleasure. We walk on footpaths that have been in use for hundreds and hundreds of years. Although my book is based on our walks in Great Britain, its principles and information and ideas are applicable to any kind of walking, anywhere, anytime."
She wrote the book for people who want to journey on foot.
"Sometimes, it is far away, and sometimes it's close by. It's on paths. You do it for joy and pleasure. In Great Britain, they have thousands of miles of footpaths. This is not hiking in wilderness. Most of the time, we get to a bed and breakfast every evening."
Berger has walked in France and Spain, but England has a centuries-old infrastructure of "public rights of way" suited for pleasant walking.
"Golfers will play golf anywhere in the world, but there are places that are particularly good, and that is true for walking as well."
"Stepping Out" is written for three types of readers.
"I wrote for the armchair traveler, the person who likes to read about the journeys of others. I'm an armchair traveler myself. I love to read about expeditions to Everest, but I will never do that. Tenderfoots don't do that kind of thing."
The engaging and tip-stocked guide encourages the novice or rookie walker.
"It's a book that says, You can do it. Here's how and here's what it's like.' That person will find lots of hints and tips in the book."
Her third audience is the experienced rambler who wants to reminisce a little.
"I combine essays, vignettes and stories and tips. I have people who have read the book from all three categories. They said, It was useful. We went on a walk in Wales. We took everything you said, literally. The older people, they love it. They reminisce. The novices all over Plattsburgh say, I think I can do this.' I'm very happy."
In her journal entry, "Good Enough Offa's Dyke Path: Monmouth to Llanvetherine," Berger writes:
"For me a day is blessed when seven out of ten variables go our way, when my attention remains on the pleasures at hand, rather than the difficulties ahead, and when, placing one foot in front of the other, we arrive at our destination reasonably dry and just about on time. This was such a day."
"We walk at a leisurely pace," Berger said. "I can't emphasize that enough. When we walk, we are on vacation. We are not suffering. We do it for fun."
rcaudell@pressrepublican.com
Local News
Plattsburgh resident writes travelogue for ramblers and armchair travelers
Deck
- Local News
-
-
Governor visits North Country to promote budget package
Delights huge crowd at Plattsburgh State in promising to continue reform in Albany. INCLUDES VIDEO
-
Boundaries may remain as is
Franklin County has started work on redistricting, but legislators say the population probably didn't change enough to warrant a new plan.
-
Marble River Wind Farm work continues
The 72-tower project in the towns of Ellenburg and Clinton is expected to be operational in October.
-
New technology helps history, tourism, arts
Adirondack Architectural Heritage in Keeseville hosted a presentation on using Facebook as part of marketing strategies.
-
Body likely missing Fort Covington man
Dustin Trimm of Winthrop charged with murder.
-
Pipeline work on hold
A natural-gas boom in Pennsylvania increased demand for specialized workers and has doubled the expected construction costs for the 48-mile St. Lawrence Gas line through Franklin County.
-
Many agencies working together on waterway remediation
In Keene Valley on Thursday, officials and citizens visited a cross-weir on John's Brook designed to protect both the environment and the bridge there from future flood damage.
-
Robert Russell to the rescue
The 6-year-old Peru boy was recognized for thinking quickly to call 911 when his mother had a seizure.
-
Powerful savings— for now
National Grid is ending collection of one fee and beginning collection of a smaller one, leaving residential and business customers with lower bills in 2012.
-
Appeal mostly denied for Tupper Lake man
Travis K. Borden was convicted in 2010 of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old.
-
Sharing dough
Students in Ticonderoga learned to make bread from scratch from King Arthur Flour's free Life Skills Baking Program.
-
City approves surcharge for dam repairs
Funds will go toward paying off long-term bond for infrastructure improvements.
-
Car chase nets arrest
Lance D. Lamora allegedly fled police in the City of Plattsburgh on Monday night; he faces numerous misdemeanor charges, including driving while intoxicated.
-
Of Interest: Feb. 3, 2012
DWI crackdown runs today through Sunday; Venue changes for Crown Point meeting; Dannemora Village to work on budget; Saranac School Board to meet Feb. 7.
-
Westport Branch of Latter-day Saints closes
Lack of members cited for closure; Westport members merge with Middlebury, Vt., ward.
- February 2, 2012
-
Pipeline on hold
A natural-gas boom in Pennsylvania increased demand for specialized workers and has doubled the expected construction costs for the 48-mile St. Lawrence Gas line through Franklin County.
-
Strand Theatre fundraising on home stretch
It has about $800,000 left to raise for the $4 million project.
-
Appeal mostly denied for Tupper Lake man
Travis K. Borden was convicted in 2010 of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old.
-
Governor visits North Country to promote budget package
- Recent Article Comments
Killer of Fla. Girl Found in Landfill Gets Life
Army Orders Bradley Manning Court-martial
Cancer Charity Revives Breast-screening Grants
Heavy Snowstorm Hits Colorado On Its Way East
2nd Teacher From LA School Arrested on Sex Claim
Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges
Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy
Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3%
Obama: Still Far Too Many Americans Need Jobs
GOP: Jobs Numbers Welcome, Can Do Better
Fla. Man Adopts Girlfriend in Legal Battle
More Deaths As Egypt Clashes Continue
Raw Video: Prince William in Falklands
Egpyt Protesters Blame Police for Soccer Deaths
'Lucky' 9-Year-Old Receives 6-Organ Transplant
Raw Video: Michelle Vs. Ellen in Pushup Contest
First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy?
Egypt Shaken After Deadly Soccer Riot
New Suits, New Starts for New York's Unemployed
Hall of Famer Dorsett Speaks Out on NFL Injuries
