Walking with Rocks: An English Woman Loose in the Woods

by Esther Parry

Determined to have an original mid-life crisis to celebrate her 50th birthday, Esther Parry sold her house, quit her jobs, and flew to America with nothing but a backpack and plans to walk the Appalachian Trail.After finishing a successful undergraduate degree - and a not so successful second marriage - the journey she embarks upon turns out to be as much spiritual and emotional as it is physical. It’s a journey of discovery…mostly discovering that she really, REALLY, hates rocks.It quickly becomes obvious that the trail’s description as “a bit rocky” is a ludicrous understatement. Relentless boulder fields take her mental and physical endurance to the limit and become the pivotal feature of her journey.The challenging situations she encounters with complete naivety are both amusing and sobering, but it’s her faith and the amazing kindness, hospitality, and encouragement of complete strangers that carry her through.Honest and often funny, it will inspire you to find the courage to do ‘that thing’ that you never thought you could, but that you always dreamt you might.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel

185 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 6, 2020

About the author

Esther Parry is just an ordinary middle aged English woman who has always suspected that there’s more to life than money and the comforts of, let’s say, a roof over your head and food on the table.
Despite achieving a first-class honours degree in Biological Anthropology at the age of 49, she refuses to be drawn into the rat race, or let her life be defined by it. This is baffling to many people…particularly to her mother!

If you asked her for advice, she’d say three things:
Always find something to be thankful for – but sometimes you have to look REALLY hard.
Always find something to laugh at – even if it's yourself!
Buy a houseplant – every life needs a houseplant.

Reviews

[Cindy Dyson Eitelman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this...until I didn't. She's a fun, lively writer and a pretty interesting person. Her travel on the AT seemed to suffer from lack of advance planning, but then, doesn't every ones? The only way to find out if you're up for long distance hiking is to do long distance hiking. And I must say, she makes a valiant effort at it.

One of the things that put me off was her tendency to take a good bit of time away from trail. She goes to New York City--a fun adventure and I heartily agree with it--but right in the middle of the hike of a lifetime? I think she did herself a disservice there. And she does a lot of Ubering to motels. That interruption throws a wrench into the whole routine of a walk, it seems to me--rather than a thru-hike, it seemed more like a series of day hikes.

But that's my own quibble. When she was on trail, she put forth a valiant effort and seemed to enjoy the journey. Though she's not quite as "deep" on paper as I would prefer in a travel writer, she's interested in the world around her and interesting to read.

So I'll give this journey a big "maybe."

[Lisa in AZ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mary Popping hits the AT trail

The author is personable, but... every line is delivered in a too-precious quippy style that quickly becomes stale. I wanted a vicarious adventure on the AT I could delve into. What I got were snippets of pee adventures in the night peppered with anecdotes on human nature. If you prefer light comedy that smacks of Mary Poppins page after page, you may be content with this book. But don't expect an Appalachian trail immersive experience. Intending to do a through hike flip-flop, she barely logged 500 miles before calling the trail quits (for good reasons). I will give her this, however: she's a God-fearing woman, and this is an honest tale of her sustaining faith amid the struggles of her journey. I respect her for that.

[LL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely told adventure,

Interesting description of hiking the AT. Another point of view of a difficult terrain. I have read many hiking books of hikers journeys along many trails in different countries, all tell a unique story totally there own. This book is no exception. If the author was on the Pilgrims trail El Camino Dr Santiago she would have completed it in 500 miles. Anyway it was a great accomplishment and interesting hike, great description of flora and fauna, people met.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Esther is turning 50. She decides to hike the Appalachian Trail to celebrate. She is not prepared for the sheer magnitude of the difficulty of hiking, climbing over rock scrambles and how taxing physically and mentally the trail will prove to be. This book is an honest look at the joys and pains of hiking.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot. Although the author didn't end up completing the Appalachian Trail because of an injury, she hiked 450 miles on it and then 50 more miles to make "500 for 50" -- 500 miles for her 50th birthday. The way she tells the story of her journey is very engaging and readable. It made me feel as if I was out in nature also.

[Catherine J. Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very entertaining - and I think she's nuts to take on such a big goal without having any idea of what she was going to be facing. I mean, even as well-traveled as the AT is, it's still the wilderness and with all the wild critters and falling trees that wilderness camping is at risk of encountering.

[Tom Zimmerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. I would recommend this book to anyone, hiker or not.

Very enjoyable, and so true to life. I couldn't put it down. I hope there will be a sequel, weather it be on the AT it not.
Thanks so much!
Tom Zimmerman

[Joan Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book. I have always wanted to hike the AT and by reading this book I felt I was there with her... before, during snd after her journey. I chuckled at some of her “English version” of “American” words.

[Mamareads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brave and adventurous woman

This was a well written and very detailed account of a woman from England who was brave enough to walk on the A T trail. She was courageous and realistic and ultimately felt justifiably proud of her adventure

[Margaret Agard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure why I liked it

But I did. This is the seventh AT story I've read. Esther's description of the portions she hiked, the people she met, and the emotions she felt match up with the others. There is no great enlightenment but enough to make it worth the read.

[Jessie Sandlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Walking right beside her!

I chose this rating because ,I felt like I was walking right along with her!
I hope she will finish the trail, and share the rest of the story;

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and real

A well written tale of one woman’s journey. I enjoyed sharing the funny, sometimes brutal and occasionally touching hike with a strong woman!

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

very real

I like the realty of this book. Life isn’t easy, make out of it what you can. That’s what I got from this book and inspiration to start hiking my own hike

[Wayne Wyar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

As an AT section hiker, I appreciated the honesty of how difficult the trail really is, and I loved the simple non-pushy thoughts re the author’s faith.

[Karen Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot!

This lady is so amazing! I admire her courage to try something new! I hated for the story to end. I hope we hear from her again in the future!

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun Read

The authors comparisons of English/American nomenclature was fun. Having read a zillion AT books, I liked this one a lot.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoughtful and insightful

What I liked was that she didn't do a itinerary based book. A lot of it was thoughtful and full of insights both about her self and the trail. I also loved that she didn't spend time bashing Americans or on politics. Its just about the trail and the people she meets. I hope she writes mores about her adventures.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the more humorous and realistic versions of hiking the AT - especially for us older, not so nimble ladies. Loved it!