Publisher's Synopsis
This book is not solely about the Appalachian Trail nor is it a guide to long distance hiking. There are many such guides, and some of them are excellent. It is rather an account of my fascination with the US, seen through my experience of hiking 2160 miles from Georgia to Maine. I write about hiking, politics, work and culture in a manner which will be challenging for some readers but is also, I hope, respectful. In one short section, I write in my Scots accent - it is no more difficult to understand than it is for me to understand a Tarantino script or a James Ellroy novel. I try to explain why the US fascinated me as a boy growing up in Scotland and why the fascination continued on the Trail. I also write about the challenges of reintegrating back into day-to-day life after the Trail.
