Click Here To Purchase Along The Templar Trail

Today, Jessica Roberts, one of Bookpleasures.com's reviewers interviews Brandon Wilson author of Along the Templar Trail?

Jessica:

Hello Brandon,

Thank you for taking part in this interview and thank you for your good wishes!

J. When did you first of all get the idea for your latest book, Along the Templar Trail?

B. Since first trekking the Camino de Santiago across Spain, I’ve dreamed of walking to Jerusalem. My French Camino friend, Emile, and I often shared that dream, however he planned on making the journey with his wife once she retired. Imagine my surprise seven years later when I heard from him and learned she was unable to join him.

This journey appealed to me on several levels. It would be a personal pilgrimage. Then again, I saw it as a walk for peace in the tradition of Peace Pilgrim. I wanted to talk to folks along the way about the need to choose non-violent methods of solving our problems. Lastly, I hoped to open this trail to future walkers as another path of peace. We’d re-blaze this historic route from the First Crusades to help others who’d follow in our footsteps.

So deciding to chronicle this journey and create a book with stages, distances, rough maps, photos and a gear list was only natural.

J. Did you and your friend have any disagreements along the trail or was it all harmonious?

B. As with any 6-month journey, there are always moments of uncertainty and frazzled nerves. It’s human nature. As you might suspect, our trek was a little more challenging than most: crossing eleven countries in temperatures ranging from freezing to nearly 100 degrees (F), walking thirty km. a day, never knowing where you might find food, water or a place to sleep, and dealing with unexpected moments of danger.

Then again, my friend and I were of different cultures and ages. He spoke little English and his diabetes often affected his stamina and temperament. Still, I grew to admire his courage and perseverance.

Similar to my books about crossing Tibet (Yak Butter Blues) and Africa (Dead Men Don’t Leave Tips), I scribbled in my diary each day, trying to capture the challenges, gnarly moments and small victories to give readers a real sense of walking alongside us.

J. If you didn’t already live on the slopes of a volcano, which is amazing, where would you most like to live in the world?

B.After travelling through nearly 100 countries, I’ve seen some beautifully appealing places on this planet. These days, I feel at home quickly after arriving in many places. On the other hand, it’s a bit of a curse. I’m a constant nomad and the concept of “settling down” holds little appeal to me.

J. Have you any ideas for further books?

B.Oh, many adventures are percolating. It’s a matter of finding the time. Already this year, Along the Templar Trail was published. Then I collaborated with Marcus Wilder on a book about walking Spain’s Via de la Plata from Seville to Santiago. I contributed an essay and fifty photos to his book, Naïve & Abroad: Spain: Limping 600 Miles Through History. I’ve also written the introduction to On a Donkey’s Back, a poignant book of poetry and paintings by Nepalese porters.

J. How do you see the world achieving world peace?

B. Ah, that notion is central to my walk to Jerusalem and personal philosophy. I believe there is a terrific transformation that occurs when we slow our lives and simplify them. Walking a trail similar to the Camino de Santiago provides the perfect portal to change. We “travel outside while travelling within.” The simple act of putting one foot in front of the other provides the vehicle for reflection and the time to process pent-up feelings, thoughts and emotions harboured in our busy lives. This is the first step.

Later, at the end of the day, all walkers rub sore muscles, tend to blisters, and share talk and wine around communal tables. Soon we realize that these strangers’ lives, hopes and dreams are so similar to our own. We gradually let go of fears and prejudices and cloak ourselves in camaraderie and fellowship. We actualize that cliché that we are all brothers and it becomes ever more difficult to consider rushing to war. Afterwards, we return home to our families, job and communities with an inner peace.

So to put it simply, peace is attained, one person, one step at a time.

J. Have you always enjoyed travelling?

B. Travel has fascinated me, ever since I first made my trip across North America at the age of six with my father behind the wheel. It was pure magic. The freedom and discovery was addictive. Later, I made my own circumnavigation of the continent over several months in an old station wagon, a la Kerouac. Travel became my sweet obsession.

After living for a year in an Arctic Inupiat village, I took off for a year circling the globe with a backpack and checked must-sees and must-dos off a mental checklist. Soon after, seven months crossing Africa from London to Cape Town gave me the confidence to tackle a 1000 km trek across Tibet, an odyssey the Chinese officials called “impossible.” Quite by accident, I discovered the beauty of walking—slow travel. This ultimately led to my journeys along traditional pilgrimage paths: the Camino de Santiago, the Via Francigena from Canterbury to Rome, St. Olav’s Way across Norway and the Via de la Plata—which led to what I call the Templar Trail from France to Jerusalem.

J.It must have taken a lot of mental strength to walk 2,600 miles. Did it?

B.Every day presented challenges. There was no guidebook to follow, though our path roughly traced that of the 1000-year-old First Crusades (fitting irony for a path of peace). At first, the largest challenge was wrapping my mind around the concept of walking six months and 2,600 miles! Yes, I was used to walking 1,000 km. each fall, but it’s a huge leap from pacing yourself for one month vs. five or six.

Besides the logistics, there was the political climate. By the time we reached Belgrade, Serbia, we heard shocking news. Israel and Hezbollah were trading missiles and there was talk that this might be the beginning of World War III. Also en route, our embassy was attacked in Damascus, travellers were gunned down in Amman, and there was a deadly Ebola-like virus raging across eastern Turkey. Any of these would give one pause to reconsider…

My friend and I decided to continue walking to Istanbul and make the tough decisions there. Would we continue? Change our routing? Or return home? Again, I strived to create a path that others could follow—and getting shot at (as I did in Tibet) could certainly ruin your day.

Throughout our journey, ordinary people we called “angels” came to our aid. This occurred time and time again and their generosity was universal, not bound by nationality, culture, or religion. I came to feel that a bit of them walked with us, if not in body but in spirit.

In the end, I learned to have faith that I was meant to be doing what I was doing. That gave me the courage to continue on days even my body cried, “No more!”

J.What were your thoughts as you finished your 2,600-mile trek?

B.I had mixed emotions. Arriving in the Holy City during Ramadan and Yom Kippur, Jerusalem was flooded with pilgrims from across the vast Middle East. Yet I was alone, small and insignificant, swimming through a sea of pilgrims.

I was elated, yet saddened that my trek had ended. Sure, I was relieved to arrive safely, yet I sensed this was only the first part of my journey. It would continue long after as I wrote my book from daily journal entries, then worked to bring its message to the world’s attention.

Perhaps more than ever, the end of war is a global imperative. Yet, in the final analysis, it’s comforting to know that peace is within everyone’s grasp—one person, one step at a time.

Click Here To Purchase Along The Templar Trail

The above interview was conducted by: Jessica Roberts:  Jessica is a book reviewer for a local newspaper and has reviewed for a national women's magazine too. She has had various articles published in magazines and has now completed her novel. Jessica currently lives in West Yorkshire and enjoys walking in the dales and woodlands as part of her hobby as well as, of course, reviewing books. To read more of Jessica's reviews  CLICK HERE