Robert Twigger is a British author and explorer who is often referred to as, ‘a 19th Century adventurer trapped in the body of a 21st Century writer’. He was educted at Oxford University and later underwent training at Martial Arts alongside the Tokyo Riot Police. He was awarded the Newdigate prize for poetry, the Somerset Maugham award for literature and the William Hill Sports Book of the Year award. In 1997, while he was on an expedition in Northern Borneo, he discovered a line of menhirs crossing into Kalimantan. In 1998 He was a member of the team that captured the longest snake in the world- documented in the Channel 4/National Geographic film and book Big Snake; after that Robert became the head of the expedition that was the first to cross Western Canada in a birchbark canoe since 1793. Most recently, in 2009-2010, he led an expedition that became the first to cross the 700 kilometer Great Sand Sea of the Egyptian Sahara totally by foot. His articles have been published in newspapers and magazines including The Daily Telegraph, Maxim and Esquire. He has also published several poetry collections, the most recent being in 2003, with Nobel Prize winner Doris Lessing. One of his books, entitled Real Men Eat Puffer Fish (2008) is a humorous but comprehensive guide to repeatedly overlooked but not exclusively masculine pastimes.

I could go on, but if your interested in learning more about this adventurous customer, you can visit his blog at RobertTwigger.com. I hope to keep in touch and find out if the trimaran trip leads to another noteworthy adventure.

When last we met, The Traveling Man and John were visiting home. While there, they were pulled to visit the river where they first met a mermaid. The mermaid was there waiting for them. Let’s rejoin them and see what happens next.

I hadn’t seen her in many years, but I knew it was her. She had the same beautiful flowing hair and the same caring eyes, but something was different. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but it was there.

“I wasn’t sure you two would hear my call. My powers aren’t as strong as they used to be.”

“You called us here?” John asked. “Why?”

I called you here because my time on this earth grows short. I wanted to see you two before I left.”

“You wanted to see us? Why us?” I couldn’t believe this magical creature wanted to see us before her time ended.

“Do you doubt my words?”

“No ma’am. I am just surprised that we would be the ones you wanted to see last.”

“Well, I have heard many good things about the two of you from many of my kind. I know that not letting you drown that day was a good decision. I just wanted to see for myself the men you two had become.”

As she was talking, her voice grew weaker. I could tell she didn’t have much time left. I was right.

“My time is almost upon me. Before I go, I would give you a quest.”

John and I both shook our heads. We were too sad to speak.

“I want you both to continue your travels and to tell the stories of your adventures to all you meet. However, I want you to seek out those of my kind. Learn their stories. Share them with the world. Soon there will be none of my world left…Only yours. I do not wish for those of my world to be forgotten.”

Her voice had continued to weaken as she spoke. John looked at me with tears in his eyes. I have to admit I was crying as well.  We looked back at the mermaid…but she was no longer there.

The next day, John and I headed back out on the road. Our mission: to seek out other creatures like the one who was no more. Our purpose: to tell their story to all so that they would never be forgotten. We never forgot that night at the river, but that is just one of the many stories we have to tell.

Come back next month and join us as we see what mischief The Traveling Man and John get into while trying to fulfill their quest.

The author, Candace Clayton, lives in Granbury, Texas with her Husband and family, spending as much time in the outdoors as she can.

(New Chapters of “The Traveling Man” series are published on a monthly basis here in the Inflatable Kayak Blog. Check back soon for another chapter or set your computer to receive our RSS feed and you’ll be informed automatically when the next part of the story will be posted.)

When last we met, The Traveling Man and his friend, John, had returned home to visit their families. Late the first night, The Traveling Man felt pulled to the river. As he was walking down the path, he saw a shadowy figure. Let’s rejoin him and see what happens next…

Although the moon was full, it was hiding behind the clouds, making it difficult to make out what was ahead of me. I could see it was the shape of a person, but that was all I could see. I kept walking. Whatever it was, stopped as if to wait for me.

Then…I heard a voice.

“Hey, what are you doing out here this time of night?

It was John. I bout fell over in relief.

“Man, you pert near scared the life out of me.”

“Sorry, I figured you knew it was me. Where ya going?”

“Same place as you, I reckon.”

We started walking again. The pull I felt was getting stronger. Seemed the closer we got to the river, the more I felt it. I could tell by the look on John’s face that he was feeling it too. In the shadowy light of the moon, I could see the first bend in the river. We were there. We started looking around, trying to figure out why we were being called to the river.

“I knew you two would come for me.”

John screamed and jumped in my arms as the voice came out of nowhere. I dropped him back on the ground.

“Man, grow up!”

The voice started to laugh, a soft melodious giggle. It was beautiful.

“Who are you?” I asked.

“You don’t remember me? I saved your life when you were just a young man.” (Editor’s Note: In case you’re new to the Traveling Man’s adventures, click here to read this episode … The Traveling Man (The Swimming Hole – Part 1 & Part 2))

I stood there in shock. Was it true? Could it be that the mermaid in my dreams really did exist and she was talking to me?

Join us next month as we learn why the mermaid has called The Traveling Man and John back home.

The author, Candace Clayton, lives in Granbury, Texas with her Husband and family, spending as much time in the outdoors as she can.

(New Chapters of “The Traveling Man” series are published on a monthly basis here in the Inflatable Kayak Blog. Check back soon for another chapter or set your computer to receive our RSS feed and you’ll be informed automatically when the next part of the story will be posted.)

When last we met, we read the touching tale of how The Traveling Man and his buddy John saved Christmas for a group of very deserving orphans. Let’s rejoin them and see where their next adventure takes us…

Welcome back, my friends. I hope you had a wonderful Holiday. Can you believe it’s already a new year? I tell ya, the years just fly by. I do love the excitement of a new year. It’s full of new beginnings, new friends, and new adventures. I always look forward to seeing what the New Year will bring.

I usually spend a little time looking back reminiscing over the years, remembering the times I have had. I always think back to when I was a child. The time I spent with my family always makes me a little homesick.

I remember one year, John and I decided we should head home and visit the folks for a bit. We felt it was time to revisit our roots, go back to the place where all of our adventures had started. So, we packed up and headed back home to Texas.

The closer we got to our home state, the more anxious we were to get there. Kind of like a horse who can tell he is close to his stable. It was like we were being pulled home for some reason. I thought it was just homesickness and it would pass once we had reached our goal.

Once we made it to our hometown, John and I parted ways with each of us headed to visit our families. It was so good to be back home again. My momma made my favorite meal, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and homemade gravy. Oh yeah, I ate till I nearly burst. We stayed up late just talking and catching up. Finally, I couldn’t keep my eyes open anymore and I climbed the stairs to my room. I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.

I woke up a couple of hours later… That feeling of being pulled was back and it was stronger than before. I had no choice but to get dressed and follow that feeling. I left the house and headed towards the river. I could see a shadowy figure in front of me. I kept walking…

Come back next time and see why The Traveling Man is being pulled to the Brazos River.

The author, Candace Clayton, lives in Granbury, Texas with her Husband and family, spending as much time in the outdoors as she can.

(New Chapters of “The Traveling Man” series are published on a monthly basis here in the Inflatable Kayak Blog. Check back soon for another chapter or set your computer to receive our RSS feed and you’ll be informed automatically when the next part of the story will be posted.)

When we left our heroes, the river was freezing as a storm approached and the small town where they had stopped to rest was in a quandary as to how to get a load of presents to children at the orphanage on the other side of a large hill. John volunteered to load the canoe with the gifts and manually pull it up the hill. The Traveling Man had just reluctantly agreed with his friend to help out ….

Before you could of said, “Jack Frost bit the end of my nose,” those townsfolk had us bundled up from head to toe, the canoe loaded and sitting on a homemade snow shoe, and were handing us a couple of sandwiches and thermoses of boiling hot coffee to take along. They even had us shoed with football cleats, for better traction going up the hill!

So, we said our goodbyes, harnessed ourselves to the canoe and headed out. The first half of the trip weren’t too difficult. We were young and full of energy.  We’d stopped a few times to tighten the ropes holding the cargo in the canoe, but didn’t have any major disasters.  When we figured we had gone halfway up the mountain, we stopped for some hot coffee and near frozen sandwiches.

“You see those clouds?” I says to John.

“Yep, figure we can make it a few more miles afore the next storm hits.”

“Yeah, I reckon so. Best get going.”

We got back into the harnesses. The going wasn’t as easy now. We were getting tired. The sky continued to darken as the storm built up its fury. Then, it hit. Sheets of ice rained down on us as we struggled with our precious cargo. We couldn’t see more than a few feet in front of us and the cold was getting worse. I signaled to John that we needed to stop. He shook his head and refused. We struggled on fighting for every foot we gained.  Then, we could see only what was right in front of our faces. I knew it was too dangerous to go on, but where would we find shelter in this raging fury of ice and snow.

I reached out and grabbed John’s arm, determined to make him stop. He just shook me off. He was determined to get those presents to the children that were waiting. I moved forward a few more feet. I was exhausted. I fell to the icy ground. John reached down and pulled me up to my feet and pushed me on. “Just squint yer eyes to keep out the ice and snow and focus on that there little red light in the distance. That’s gotta be a reflection of the light from the orphanage.”

As usual, I obliged John’s ‘suggestion’ and squinted. I could see a red light, but how could that be from the orphanage?

This went on for several hours. One of us would falter; the other would help him up. Despite ole man winter’s obvious rage, our focus on that tiny red light became the inspirational reminder of our noble quest.  At this point, there was no thought of stopping, only of reaching our destination. Finally, in the distance, we saw the warm amber glow of candles comin’ from the windows of the orphanage. Our bodies numb, we kept moving and finished our heroic trek. In no time, the orphanage was in front of us. We had done it.

Well, those little ones were sure happy to see us. They had plum given up on Christmas reaching them in this weather. I have to say, that was one of the best Christmas’s I have ever spent. While I watched the young ones opening up their packages, I glanced out the window to see if the storm had let up any. I turned my head away from the window, but out of the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of a tiny red light. I did a quick double take and when I peered back into the stormy night, I saw the white tail of a deer jumping into the woods. Wait a minute! A deer? A tiny red light that glows through the stormy weather! Naw…  could’na been.

Merry Christmas from The Traveling Man and John. Join us next time for another of their perilous adventures.

The author, Candace Clayton, lives in Granbury, Texas with her Husband and family, spending as much time in the outdoors as she can.

(New Chapters of “The Traveling Man” series are published on a monthly basis here in the Inflatable Kayak Blog. Check back soon for another chapter or set your computer to receive our RSS feed and you’ll be informed automatically when the next part of the story will be posted.)