This book was one of the most important references my wife and I used on our passage from Seattle to Skagway. Not only did it give us ideas on where to go the next day, but where to hide in case the weather didn't cooperate. A must have reference for every boater cruising the Inside Passage.

Boaters around here know the Douglasses as the king and queen of cruisers, and their handbooks are our bibles. They've been everywhere, done everything, and they take *really* good notes. This guide is one result; it includes details on every anchorage, waypoint and description in the area. If you plan to spend any time in Pacific Northwest waters, this book is a must have.

I am one of those people who grew up in the city and until about seven years ago, hardly ever placed my feet on unpaved ground. I recieved a copy of Jenkins' book as a gift and began taking some of the easier trips in this beautiful country. The book is full of descriptive detail, well thought out hikes,and enjoyable car tours. The original author, J.C. Jenkins, actually travelled every inch of the territory described in the book with a mileage wheel.After his untimely death, his mother,Ruby Johnson Jenkins,set about the task of rewalking every trip in order to keep the book up to date. There is no second-hand information in either of the books(the companion book is called "Exploring the Southern Sierra,East Side"). I have been of many of the longer trips now and find the books to be reliable, interesting, and informative.

If you've seen enough of the standard guides on Hawaii, try this one out as an alternative to the regularity of the norm. We discovered lots of amazing "locals only" secrets from this book. You will too if you are going to HI for outdoor activity.

Reading this book, along with my other guide book to California, I discovered far more interesting things to do in "Extreme Adventures" during my visit to California. The "Extreme" doesn't always apply -- there are mellow hikes, bike rides, raft trips, etc. -- but if you're looking for some fun off the beaten trail, this is it! I liked Brad Olsen's other books "World Stompers" and "Sacred Places" too. He writes (and illustrates) in a way that I think I'm hanging out with the guy!

I have not actually read the whole thing but I have spent heaps of time at the book shop looking through it I am hoping to get it for my birthday! It's great if u r plaing on going to California!!!

The stories are so well told, I found it hard to put down the book. They are full of warmth and are rich with authentic detail. This book is hard to categorize because it works equally well as interesting stories of the islands and as a cultural insight into two cultures meeting. Would recommend it to anyone interested in Pacific life, cross-cultural themes, or just warm stories of human sensitivity in a foreign setting.

I was trying to get a subscription to a magazine. It is at the checkout line at K-mart and other stores, it is one of those "tacky" tabloids which "no-one" buys, its called The Sun and if anyone knows where the web sight for this magazine or other globe web sight u can e mail me ar rizzo@feist.com

This is a worthwhile read. It details the effect of European expansion on Pacific cultures, and the southern hemisphere in general. It is divided into three parts-
1) Tahiti, which chronicles the successive voyages of Captain Cook and later explorers, and their effects on the supposed 'Noble Savage' existance (not altogether noble when Captain Cook attended a human sacrifice, for example). A detailed discussion is made of the way of life of the Tahitians before the arrival of Europeans, which is revealing and refreshing. It wasn't altogether noble, but there were many aspects of societal and family arrangements, which was envied by the Europeans.
2) Australia, and the effect on the aborigines-especially the Tasmanians. A good discussion is made of aboriginal culture here also, and finally
3) the Antarctic, and the effect Cooks' search for the elusive southern continent had on the abundance of whales and wildlife which he saw, decimated from 1790 onwards.

The title sums it up-the effects of exploration and expansion was devastating. Introduced diseases, misguided missionaries, imposition of inappropriate culture, alcohol-without the attendant level of acquired tolerance, one-sided treaties, indiscriminate slaughter of wildlife such as whales and seals, and so on. Painters such as Ganguin try to capture the loss of spirit of the Tahitians for example, after having their life and culture withered away, and the arguments for and against the 'noble savage' existance are revealing. This was the time of Rouseau, Diderot, and the French Revolution, and there were many myths propagated in Europe about the southern seas. Island paradise, or voyage of the damned?

It is *very well written*, balanced and refreshing-something often lacking in similar texts. (Never under-estimate what a good writer can do with a good story, and what a bad writer can do to a good story). Also, the best edition is definitely the illustrated version-with a number of paintings from Ganguin and others, and original sketches from those who travelled on the voyages of exploration themselves etc-these add much to the text, and it is recommended one search around to get the colour illustrated edition.

It is suprisingly and refreshingly good.

If you want to read detailed information about Union Pacific locomotives and trains, then this book is not for you.

If on the other hand you want to see some magnificent photographs of Union Pacific trains running down California's Feather River Canyon (surely one of the most beautiful stretches of railroad in the USA), then this book is a "must read". Photo captions indicate where and when the photographs were taken, but do not go in to details of the locomotives or the "technical side" of railroading.

This is undoubtedly one of the best railroad books I own.