Hitting the Road Without A Map

by Fred Rutter, Caryn Pine (Editor)

The story of a trip with a goal - but virtually no plan
There was a time way back in their past when the two intrepid travelers may well have walked out of a bar and commenced upon an unscripted journey, with or without the permission of the RV owner. Those adventures, fueled by the inhibition lowering properties of alcohol and mind-altering substances, plus the character defects of selfishness and self-centeredness, typically ended in shame and remorse, or in the worst cases, tragically. That is no longer the sort of life either one of them lives today.
The whole trip was blessed by God, and that I truly believe. Who I traveled with, where we found ourselves on the journey, and which roads we took, reached far beyond the mere fortuitous. Nothing besides the destination had been planned. Everything else was just made up as we went, and at the end of each day we felt as if there had been some guiding hand in it all.
A travel memoir and a photo essay of a journey from Ohio to Oregon as well as a personal meditation on the nature of relationships, facing fears, and becoming mindful of living in the moment.

286 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2021

About the author

Non-fiction writer living in rural Ohio, in a 180 year old house, with a wife and three cats.

Hobbies include landscape photography and collecting old marked paving bricks.

First published book is "Hitting the Road Without a Map", a travel and personal journey memoir.

www.hittingtheroadwithoutamap.com

ISBN 9781948256391

Reviews

[Mrs Rj · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who loves a travel adventure, this was a perfect book for me. I have always fancied a road trip and as someone based in the UK, the idea of an RV travelling in America has always been a bit of a dream. I really appreciated the honesty and vulnerability that the author has, painting a realistic picture of the highs and the lows, of the fears alongside the excitement.

Fred Rutter has a real way with words and the descriptions of the places visited and background details were a joy to me. As another reviewer has commented, Fred steers away from being 'preachy', however, given that and for which I was grateful, I did appreciate that the spiritual side had to shine through as is is an essential element to Fred's experience.

The sign of a great book was as I turned the last page, I reached for my laptop to investigate my own possibilities for a travel adventure, not on the same scale as Fred for sure and with a little more planning (I am not as brave ... yet!), but one which I hope will lead to the same life lessons and revelations of what is truly important in life.

[Jordan Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hitting the Road Without a Map by Fred Rutter is a great story for those hankering to get a sense of traveling the open road in an oversized RV. You will take in the sights and feel like you are along for the ride as the author describes the routes and fun facts about places they see and shares his own photos that bring the story alive. The drive through ‘Free Range’ country was my favorite as the oversized RV shares the road with a few free-range bison. Readers will enjoy visiting natural wonders like Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone National Park, sunrises and sunsets in campgrounds and The Badlands, and context photos like the RV next to a gas pump proving its bigger-than-Texas size. No wonder the co-drivers were tentatively taking it from Ohio to Oregon. The tenuous thread holding the pair together added to the angst of driving the land yacht cross country. At the start of the ten-day trip, the mere casual acquaintances only had Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) in common. AA teachings caution ‘fear is the chief activator of all our character defects’ which naturally sends the wives of Fred and Todd into distress. Will their husbands fall off a cliff and not return from this Pee Wee’s Big Adventure? There are several laugh-out-loud moments like on their first night, trying to sleep parked next to a refrigerated semi that hums all night. The setting off without a map proves entertaining with zigzags added to the route west. And of course, no RV trip would be complete without the how many ways not to cook a frozen pizza story.

Hitting the Road Without a Map by Fred Rutter is dedicated to those recovering from addiction. The author gently encourages those wondering about sobriety to try it. The book does not preach about drinking, not drinking, or AA, but it does share the author’s journey in his new sober life. This deeper story makes the reader's experience of the trip different and special. I’m not a smoker, nor an early riser, but waited in anticipation as the author performed his morning rituals and mindfully let each day unfold. A pensive and spiritual man, Fred's writing gives a sense you are sitting with him on the back porch with a glass of lemonade on a rocking chair listening to him tell you what happens next. Hitting the Road Without a Map is a feel-good read with adventure, funny mishaps, and what it means to live connected to yourself and a Higher Power.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hitting the Road Without a Map is a relatable memoir by Fred Rutter. Even though there was no true direction of the road trip, this book follows the map nicely.

There are adventures, many characters to meet, heartfelt moments, life lessons, and never a dull moment. This is the type of story you'd read if you need a different outlook on life. Plus, the beautiful photos complete the book allowing you to feel like you went on this trip with the author.

It's certainly a top-notch debut book and definitely worth the read.

[A.G. Fleury · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Excellent non-fiction with every mile traveled! Rutter's detailed road trip is every bit as interesting as it is humorous. Hitting The Road Without A Map is an important book that teaches us the feeling of freedom one can have on such a long trip...and that is 'live for today'. " A. G. Fleury, author of Kill Per View