[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ next_background_color=”#383e59″ admin_label=”Best Selling Book Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_direction=”90deg” background_color_gradient_stops=”rgba(148,166,191,0.34) 40%|#f4f4f4 40%” background_color_gradient_start=”rgba(148,166,191,0.34)” background_color_gradient_start_position=”40%” background_color_gradient_end=”#f4f4f4″ background_color_gradient_end_position=”0%” background_image=”https:\/\/brandonwilsonauthor.com\/pt-wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/paper.jpg” background_blend=”multiply” custom_padding=”3em|0|1px||false|false” bottom_divider_style=”slant” bottom_divider_height=”50px” bottom_divider_flip=”vertical” bottom_divider_height_tablet=”40px” bottom_divider_height_phone=”25px” bottom_divider_height_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#383e59″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”860px” custom_margin=”|712px|40px|0px||” custom_padding=”27px|7%|8px|5%|false|false” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”left” animation_intensity_slide=”2%” border_radii=”||6px|6px|” border_width_right=”30px” border_color_right=”#bdada0″ box_shadow_style=”preset3″ box_shadow_vertical=”35px” box_shadow_blur=”70px” box_shadow_spread=”-35px” box_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.6)” use_custom_width=”on” custom_width_px=”960px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding_tablet=”|||10%” custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}” padding_tablet=”|||10%” padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Title” module_class=”bw-title” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”||||||||” header_font=”Abhaya Libre|700|||||||” header_font_size=”70px” header_line_height=”1.2em” header_4_font=”||||||||” background_layout=”dark” custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”||26px|||” header_font_size_tablet=”40px” header_font_size_phone=”” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Title” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Nunito|600|||||||” text_font_size=”15px” header_font=”Abhaya Libre|700|||||||” header_font_size=”70px” header_line_height=”1.2em” header_4_font=”Nunito|700||on|||||” header_4_text_color=”#bda392″ header_4_letter_spacing=”2px” header_4_line_height=”1.8em” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”right” animation_intensity_slide=”5%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” header_font_size_tablet=”40px” header_font_size_phone=”” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Nunito||||||||” text_text_color=”#660000″ text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em” header_font=”||||||||” header_4_font=”Nunito||||||||” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”right” animation_intensity_slide=”5%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”]SELECT QUOTES FROM \u201cYAK BUTTER BLUES”[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/brandonwilsonauthor.com\/pt-wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Brandon-Wilson-2021e-4-300×214-1.jpg” title_text=”Brandon-Wilson-2021e-4-300×214″ align=”right” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.23.1″ min_height=”311px” height=”333px” max_height=”358px” custom_margin=”10px|0px|||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”|0px|||false|false” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”left” animation_intensity_slide=”5%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” hover_enabled=”0″ border_radii=”on|6px|6px|6px|6px” box_shadow_style=”preset4″ box_shadow_blur=”15px” box_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.6)” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/brandonwilsonauthor.com\/pt-wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/TIBET-J9-scaled-1-300×196.jpg” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”50px||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||||false|false” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”left” animation_intensity_slide=”5%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” border_radii=”on|6px|6px|6px|6px” box_shadow_style=”preset4″ box_shadow_blur=”15px” box_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.6)” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Nunito||||||||” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em” header_font=”||||||||” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”right” animation_intensity_slide=”5%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”]“Suddenly, a soothing magic surrounded and bathed us. It made us ignore the pain, forget our bodies and ourselves. We shuffled in silent meditation, lost in deep circumspection. Trekking turned transcendental. Strangely enough, the wind, the cold, the height didn\u2019t matter any more. For once, I stopped thinking of my needs, my life. They were as transient as the dust. Feet melded into earth. Breath combined with wind. Pace became a mantra. Heartbeat was one with the earth. My spirit soared free\u2026 free as the prayer flags that waved ahead.”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n “<\/span>Often travelers of the road, and of life, are so anxious to get somewhere, that the getting there, the actual journey, takes a back seat to the reward at the end. That wasn\u2019t for us anymore. The ultimate beauty of walking, of \u201ctraveling deliberately\u201d one foot in front of the other, was the opportunity to observe and wallow in the minute details of everyday life surrounding us. There was time to share a moment of peoples\u2019 lives, their hopes, their triumphs, their fears, and to truly live the path leading to the destination. It was a blessing. Our lives were reduced to raw essentials.”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n “Like Henry David Thoreau\u2019s noble quest to \u201clive life deliberately,\u201d deliberate travel forced us to confront each day head-on. By traveling one step at a time, we were exposed and vulnerable. We reveled in the life surrounding us, the gritty beauty others missed by barreling through. And that dogged deliberation made our odyssey across Tibet more special than any we\u2019d ever taken before.”<\/span><\/span>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”#d6d6d6″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_enable_color=”off” width=”80%” module_alignment=”center” border_color_all=”#000000″ border_style_all=”none” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Nunito||||||||” text_text_color=”#660000″ text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em” header_font=”||||||||” header_4_font=”Nunito||||||||” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”right” animation_intensity_slide=”5%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”]SELECT QUOTES FROM \u201cDEAD MEN DON\u2019T LEAVE TIPS”[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/brandonwilsonauthor.com\/pt-wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Burundi-Drummers-300×196.jpg” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”10px||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||||false|false” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”left” animation_intensity_slide=”5%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” border_radii=”on|6px|6px|6px|6px” box_shadow_style=”preset4″ box_shadow_blur=”15px” box_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.6)” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/brandonwilsonauthor.com\/pt-wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/AF-DD10-300×196.jpg” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”50px||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||||false|false” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”left” animation_intensity_slide=”5%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” border_radii=”on|6px|6px|6px|6px” box_shadow_style=”preset4″ box_shadow_blur=”15px” box_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.6)” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Nunito||||||||” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em” header_font=”||||||||” min_height=”0px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”right” animation_intensity_slide=”5%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”]“Travel is like a mirror held up against the world. It gives us a different perspective on life. And if we hold it just right, we might catch a glimmer of our own soul.”<\/span><\/p>\n “\u2026So much of the joy of travel is due to the sense of discovery, the adventure, the sense of accomplishment at the end of each day. It isn\u2019t where you\u2019re going. It\u2019s the process of getting there, the journey. It\u2019s knowing that by your own skill, luck or cunning you successfully travelled from point A to B, ate local food without getting poisoned, found a clean room with running water. More importantly, you learned a little more about life. You chatted with locals, shared drinks, swapped stories and lies. And because of all that, in some miniscule way, the size of our planet shrank a little bit more. You learned that our similarities outweigh our differences.”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n “Humor was always our best defense in Africa. If we made people see the absurdity of a situation, or if we poked fun at ourselves, they\u2019d lower their guard. Comedy made us more than just “mzungus”. Like Africans, we were all in this drama of life together, living, struggling and laughing against all odds.”<\/span>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”#d6d6d6″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_enable_color=”off” width=”80%” module_alignment=”center” border_color_all=”#000000″ border_style_all=”none” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Nunito||||||||” text_text_color=”#660000″ text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em” header_font=”||||||||” header_4_font=”Nunito||||||||” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”right” animation_intensity_slide=”5%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”]SELECT QUOTES FROM \u201cALONG THE TEMPLAR TRAIL”[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/brandonwilsonauthor.com\/pt-wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/P9040482-300×196.jpg” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”10px||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||||false|false” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”left” animation_intensity_slide=”5%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” border_radii=”on|6px|6px|6px|6px” box_shadow_style=”preset4″ box_shadow_blur=”15px” box_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.6)” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/brandonwilsonauthor.com\/pt-wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/P8240399-300×196.jpg” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”50px||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||||false|false” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”left” animation_intensity_slide=”5%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” border_radii=”on|6px|6px|6px|6px” box_shadow_style=”preset4″ box_shadow_blur=”15px” box_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.6)” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/brandonwilsonauthor.com\/pt-wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/PA010694_1_2-300×196.jpg” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”50px||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||||false|false” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”left” animation_intensity_slide=”5%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” border_radii=”on|6px|6px|6px|6px” box_shadow_style=”preset4″ box_shadow_blur=”15px” box_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.6)” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Nunito||||||||” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em” header_font=”||||||||” min_height=”1190px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”right” animation_intensity_slide=”5%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n \u201cThis pathway was once followed by Templars and soldiers on their way to Jerusalem. Now, I would like to see it developed as an international trail of peace for people of all nationalities and religions. I believe once you walk, eat, drink and share dreams with each other, you realize how much we have in common \u2014 how much we are truly \u201cbrothers.\u201d And once you realize that, it becomes so much harder to pick up arms and kill each other.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOddly enough, the simple act of slowing down forced me to quiet my mind and body, as each step had to be carefully placed, so as not to bruise a blister or cause another one. The Zen-like method of \u2018deliberate walking\u2019 also unveiled a beautifully complex and tranquil world with every step.”<\/span><\/p>\n “All afternoon, I passed hushed fields and harvested trees twisted by the wind. I was alone, except for one moment when a gaunt, wild dog crossed the road. Pausing mid-stride, we examined one another. He was so close I could see the outline of his ribs beneath his short, gray-wheat colored coat. For an instant, he appeared torn between a domestic urge to join me and the more primitive instinct to avoid human contact. In a primal sense, I felt connected to him; a Steppenwolf torn the same way in my own life \u2014 between buying into society\u2019s domestication \u2014 or trusting in the freedom of the road.”<\/span><\/p>\n “Alone on a trail, you have time to deal with your thoughts, to listen to them, and then to accept, validate, reject, or re-think your reasoning objectively from a distance. So walking becomes \u201ca trampoline for the mind,\u201d allowing it to bounce unfettered from thought to feeling. It also enables a psycho-logical cleansing and healing \u2014 and promotes an inner peace.”<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cFirst, we\u2019re taking this journey as a personal pilgrimage. But more than that, it is a journey of peace. Countries and especially the common people have suffered too much. There have been too many tears shed by mothers for their sons, wives for their husbands and children for their fathers. Yes, it takes courage to face an enemy\u2014but it requires just as much bravery to say \u2018No\u2019 and refuse to capitulate to war. The time has come. This is now a global imperative.\u201d “Envisioning peace is half the battle. As the world\u2019s conscious-ness changes, the rest is sure to follow.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n “Our greatest obstacles are created in our own minds.”<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”#d6d6d6″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_enable_color=”off” width=”80%” module_alignment=”center” border_color_all=”#000000″ border_style_all=”none” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Nunito||||||||” text_text_color=”#660000″ text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em” header_font=”||||||||” header_4_font=”Nunito||||||||” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”right” animation_intensity_slide=”5%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”]SELECT QUOTES FROM \u201cOver the Top & Back Again”[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/brandonwilsonauthor.com\/pt-wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/clif3-260×300.png” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” 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global_colors_info=”{}”]“While crossing the first particularly steep ice-field, I heard [Cheryl] cry out, \u201cI\u2019m really scared.\u201d It was the first time in all our adventures, including climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and trekking across Tibet, I\u2019d heard those words from her mouth. But no matter what others might have you believe, trekking is a solitary challenge. We each face our own demons.”\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n “The Alps are like love. You can have sun, rain and snow all in the same day.”<\/span><\/p>\n “Mountains know no nationality. They\u2019re simply mountains; they salute no flag, march to no anthem, answer to no president or potentate. And they\u2019ll remain long after all of us and our so-called \u201ccountries\u201d disappear.”<\/span><\/p>\n “Even though we have different nationalities, languages, culture, politics, and sometimes-odd cuisine, the simple act of sharing food at the end of a tiring day creates bridges and allows us to see each other simply as fellow travelers walking this path called life.” \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n “More than anything, long thru-treks are much more than climbing another mountain. They\u2019re an exercise in concentration, focus, and a chance to re-affirm your own worth and sense of self. They\u2019re empowering. Each day is a challenge. Some days, every step is one. As in life, it\u2019s important to celebrate the triumphs of the little steps \u2013 and not to hold ourselves back waiting for the big victories.”\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n “The deafening silence at that altitude always surprises me, yet it\u2019s comforting in its own way. As you trek in solitude, your ears are serenaded by the most wonderful symphony. It starts with blood rhythmically coursing through your body, joined by exaggerated breaths, which keep the human machine humming. That\u2019s punctuated by irrepressible chirping barks from chubby marmots who inundate meadows with their condo burrows. Then there\u2019s the heady serenade of grass-hoppers, more closely resembling the raucous rattling of snakes than any insect. But the most unusual sound and vision was one that Cheryl and I would mention to each other several days afterward. As we trekked, a huge raven flew past in exaggerated cinematic slow motion. The sound of its swooshing wings long reverberated in our ears. To me, its odd appearance was almost symbolic, and I only wished I could read the hidden message in its wake.”<\/p>\n “We\u2019d discovered the Alps, one-step-at-a-time. It\u2019s a land of much more than mountains, cheese and gnomes. It\u2019s a revival of the senses. It\u2019s the crisp freshness of the air, the scent of pine, the riotous splash of wildflowers, and the taste of sweet milk straight from the cow. It\u2019s history ever-changing, culture ever-evolving. It\u2019s the chance to free yourself and seize the most from life, day after challenging day. It\u2019s the humbling realization that we can never tame nature\u2014only cooperate and hope to mutually survive. It\u2019s more than bagging peaks; it\u2019s the folks and experiences along the way. It\u2019s a land of legends, towering giants, well-hidden gnomes, and an independent frame of mind. It\u2019s the ultimate in tranquility. It\u2019s the closest you can come to touching the stars.”<\/span>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ next_background_color=”#22262d” admin_label=”Quote Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#383e59″ background_enable_image=”off” background_size=”contain” background_position=”top_center” max_height=”1000px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”2px||3px||false|false” top_divider_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.3)” bottom_divider_style=”slant” bottom_divider_height=”50px” bottom_divider_flip=”vertical” bottom_divider_height_tablet=”40px” bottom_divider_height_phone=”25px” bottom_divider_height_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}” bottom_divider_height__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” bottom_divider_height__hover=”50px”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”12px|auto||auto|false|false” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_blurb use_icon=”on” font_icon=”{||divi||400″ icon_color=”#ffffff” content_max_width=”800px” _builder_version=”4.16″ body_font=”Abhaya Libre|700|on||||||” body_font_size=”26px” body_line_height=”1.4em” text_orientation=”center” background_layout=”dark” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Our ways of life might be different, but underneath the surface, we are not so dissimilar after all \u2014 more alike than politicians dare to admit. To a person, we all desire (and deserve) peace in our lives.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”||||||||” header_font=”||||||||” header_4_font=”Nunito|700||on|||||” header_4_letter_spacing=”2px” text_orientation=”center” background_layout=”dark” min_height=”121px” custom_padding=”16px||0px|||” animation_style=”fade” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n \u00a0Along the Templar Trail<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Footer Section” _builder_version=”4.0.9″ background_color=”#22262d” min_height=”390px” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||5px||false|false” global_module=”1466″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”40px|0px|11px|0px||” locked=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_social_media_follow _builder_version=”4.16″ background_enable_color=”off” text_orientation=”center” min_height=”61px” custom_margin=”-17px||-5px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”||-5px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”top” animation_intensity_slide=”10%” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”facebook” url=”https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BrandonWilsonauthorexplorer\/” icon_color=”#ffffff” use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”30px” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#383e59″ background_enable_color=”on” custom_margin=”4px|4px|40px|4px|false|false” custom_padding=”10px|10px|10px|10px|false|false” border_radii=”on|15px|15px|15px|15px” box_shadow_style=”preset6″ global_colors_info=”{}” follow_button=”off” url_new_window=”on”]facebook[\/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][\/et_pb_social_media_follow][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”||||||||” header_font=”||||||||” header_4_font=”Nunito|700||on|||||” header_4_letter_spacing=”2px” text_orientation=”center” background_layout=”dark” min_height=”82px” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||20px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” animation_style=”fade” link_option_url=”https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BrandonWilsonauthorexplorer\/” link_option_url_new_window=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Open Sans Condensed|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#d5d6e5″ text_font_size=”12px” text_letter_spacing=”2px” text_line_height=”16px” header_font=”||||||||” header_4_font=”Nunito|700||on|||||” header_4_letter_spacing=”2px” text_orientation=”center” background_layout=”dark” min_height=”82px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”15px|15px|15px|15px|false|false” animation_style=”fade” link_option_url=”https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BrandonWilsonauthorexplorer\/” link_option_url_new_window=”on” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”12px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” text_letter_spacing_tablet=”” text_letter_spacing_phone=”2px” text_letter_spacing_last_edited=”on|phone” border_radii=”on|5px|5px|5px|5px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#494951″ box_shadow_style=”preset1″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Legal Disclaimer<\/b> [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23.1″ text_font=”Arial||||||||” text_text_color=”#b0c5e3″ text_letter_spacing=”5px” text_orientation=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n \u00a9 2020-2024 Brandon Wilson, all rights reserved.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Quotable Quotes “The body walks while the mind wanders.” – BashoSELECT QUOTES FROM \u201cYAK BUTTER BLUES””Suddenly, a soothing magic surrounded and bathed us. It made us ignore the pain, forget our bodies and ourselves. We shuffled in silent meditation, lost in deep circumspection. Trekking turned transcendental. Strangely enough, the wind, the cold, the height didn\u2019t […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1034","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/brandonwilsonauthor.com\/pt-wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1034","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/brandonwilsonauthor.com\/pt-wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/brandonwilsonauthor.com\/pt-wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brandonwilsonauthor.com\/pt-wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brandonwilsonauthor.com\/pt-wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1034"}],"version-history":[{"count":55,"href":"https:\/\/brandonwilsonauthor.com\/pt-wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1034\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2762,"href":"https:\/\/brandonwilsonauthor.com\/pt-wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1034\/revisions\/2762"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/brandonwilsonauthor.com\/pt-wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1034"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\nBrandon Wilson<\/span><\/h4>\n
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