It’s hard to find great travel writing, but it’s out there. Part of the reason for this is that so much travel writing is also considered nature writing or narrative non-fiction. Part of the reason is that the field is so competitive because of a lot of good authors competing for a relatively small market space. But there is a wide array of great travel fiction out there, and here is my list of the best ten travel novels I’ve read over the past couple years.10) Through Painted Deserts, by Donald Miller. This is one I actually found in the “Christian Non-Fiction” section, which can be unfair. There’s no question Miller is a Christian, but he’s a writer first and foremost, he’s not preachy, and his questioning of his own faith, of reasons for existence, of who and what he is or is becoming is reminiscent of the fantastic soul searching that came from the travel writing of the Beat generation. Miller’s account of his trip is great, going through the moments of beauty, the necessity of good road trip music, and admitting his moments of embarrassment and fear as freely as any other part of his journey.9) Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure by Sarah MacDonald. The early reading of this book can be hard, because after the first few chapters there’s a lot of the Western perspective, the whining of living conditions and poverty, the type of scorn you don’t care to read from travel writing. I’m glad I read the rest, because like “Through Painted Deserts,” “Holy Cow” is about the author’s journey. Sarah evolves and changes chapter to chapter in front of you as she sheds the scornful nature of an atheist “too smart” to fall for superstition, and she opens up, traveling through India and sampling all the different religious beliefs and practices as she becomes a humble Theist who learns happiness, learns to grow, and learns that alien cultures can have a lot to offer the open traveler.8) Into the Wild by John Krakauer. I first caught sight of this book at a Barnes and Noble on one of the feature tables. I was on winter break from Alaska and visiting family in Iowa. I picked up the book, sat down, and read the entire work in one sitting. Travel book, journalistic book, nature book, adventure book-whatever you call it, this is one heck of a read, and the debate this book causes is deep and passionate. As a wanderlust traveler, I understand the drive the main character feels, as an Alaskan, I understand the native perspective of irritation, of the lack of understanding that nature is brutal and especially Alaska needs to be respected as such.7) Dark Star Safari: Overland from Cairo to Cape Town, by Paul Theroux. Paul Theroux is at his best in “Dark Star Safar,” where his skills of observation and his dry wit are on full display. Paul takes readers the length of Africa via overcrowded rattletrap bus, dugout canoe, cattle truck, armed convoy, ferry, and train in a journey that is hard to forget. There are moments of beauty, but there are also many moments of misery and danger. This is a narration of Africa that goes beyond the skin deep to dare to look at the deeper core of what is often referred to as “The Dark Continent.”6) Blue Highways: A Journey Into America, by William Least Heat-Moon. This is an auto-biographical travel journey taken by Heat-Mean in 1978. After separating from his wife and losing his job, Heat-Moon decided to take an extended road trip around the United States, sticking to “Blue Highways,” a term to refer to small out of the way roads connecting rural America (which were drawn in blue in the old Rand McNally atlases). So Heat-Moon outfits his van, named “Ghost Dancing” and takes off on a 3-month soul-searching tour of the United States. The book chronicles the 13,000 mile journey and the people he meets along the way, as he steers clear of cities and interstates, avoiding fast food and exploring local American culture on a journey that is just as amazing today as when he first took the journey.5) The Lost Continent, by Bill Bryson. There are tons of fantastic Bill Bryson books out there, and any one of them could hold this spot here. “The Lost Continent” is Bryson’s trip across America, visiting some common places (the grand canyon), but also exploring the back roads and looking for that familiarity that helps him remember home.4) Wanderlust: Real-Life Tales of Adventures and Romance by Pico Iyer. Probably one of the best travel writing collections released in recent memory, this collection is under the name Pico Iyer, who helped to edit this collection. These stories come from the “Wanderlust” section of Salon.com and create a varied tapestry of travel writing that will keep the reader flipping from one writer to another.3) A Walk Across America by Peter Jenkins. This is one of the all time modern classics in travel literature, as Peter Jenkins recalls the story of his 1973-1975 walk from New York to New Orleans. For many readers, this remains a rare travel book that grips you and keeps you. Known as a travel writer who will walk anywhere, including Alaska and China, Peter Jenkins says, “I started out searching for myself and my country and found both.” That sums up what travel writing should be all about.2) Travels w/ Charlie by John Steinbeck. This was a novel that helped John Steinbeck win a Nobel Prize in Literature. “Travels with Charlie” is a fantastic travel narrative that gets to the heart of travel, the point of the trip, and the strange confrontation and realization that the places and people you remember are gone once you are. As he revisits the places of his youth that many of his books are based on, he realizes on seeing old friends that they’re as uncomfortable with him being back as he is with being there. A great story about travel, about home, about mourning lost history, about aging, and about America-this should be required reading for every high school student.1) The Dharma Bums, by Jack Kerouac. The beat generation was full of great travel narratives, and Jack Kerouac was the master of powerful, moving, passionate language that unfolded stories like few people have ever managed. While “On the Road” is the most often pointed to travel narrative by Kerouac, “The Dharma Bums” is a better book. Full of passion, interesting characters and stories, and the kind of passionate language and powerful prose that made the beat generation writers popular, this Kerouac book is extraordinary and deserving of its number one spot.
Best Travel Writing – Top 10 Travel Novels
5 Things to Consider When Choosing Engine Oil
When it comes to buying the right type of engine oil, you need to consider several important things. In this article, we have discussed 5 important things that can help you go for the right type of oil for your car engine. Choosing the wrong type of oil can have a negative impact on the performance of your car. Apart from this, it can also reduce the life of the engine. Therefore, it is extremely important to always use the right type of oil. Read on to find out more.
1. Car series and manufacturer
First of all, you should consider the make and model of your car. Today’s high-performance engines are designed for high efficiency. If you read your car manual, you will come to know about the right type of oil recommended by the manufacturer.
2. Driving environment
You should also consider your driving environment when making a choice. For instance, you may have a hot or cold climate. Similarly, road conditions may vary. You may have to drive on paved or unpaved roads on a regular basis.
Based on these factors, your car engine will have to tolerate different levels of strain. If you drive on unpaved roads, you will have to change engine oil more frequently. Some types of oils are designed to reduce the strain on your engine.
3. Types of oil
After you have considered the make and model of your car engine, you can go for either a mineral or synthetic oil. Each type has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. For example, synthetic oils cost more money but may last longer.
4. Viscosity grade
If you compare different products, you will find different codes and letters written on the labels. These numbers tell you about the viscosity grade and the resistance of the oil to flow. Now, this is an extremely important factor to consider after driving and climate conditions.
The letter W refers to winter. In other words, it tells you how the oil will perform in cold weather. The second number tells you about the flow of the oil at normal operating temperatures.
Normally, low viscosity oils are thinner and provide greater protection for your engine in cold weather. On the other hand, high viscosity oils offer greater protection in hot weather. Therefore, it is important to get familiar with the viscosity grade of the oil before making a purchase.
5. Oil standards
If you read the label closely, you will find letters and abbreviations, such as ILSAC, ACEA, and API. These acronyms tell you that the product can meet the requirements established by relevant authorities. You need to consider these specifications as they tell you a lot about the quality and performance of the oil.
If you take a closer look at the label, you will also find engine oil standards indicated by different acronyms, such as API, ACEA, ILSAC. This means that the product meets or exceeds the requirements set by these organizations. Specifications are important as they indicate the performance and quality of the oil.
Long story short, choosing the right type of engine oil is important if you want your car engine to work efficiently. Therefore, you may want to consider these important factors when looking for the right type of oil for your vehicle.
How Does a Garbage Compacting Truck Work?
If you want to know how a garbage truck works, you are on the right page. In this article, we are going to take a look at the history of these vehicles. Without further ado, let’s get to the point.
Garwin Industries introduced the Load Packer for the first time in 1938. This vehicle became so popular that it brought a revolution in the industry of sanitation. As a matter of fact, it was the first compact garbage truck of its kind.
During those days, the carrying capacity of the vehicle was twice as much as before. The reason is that these trucks were able to compact the trash at high speed while driving across the city. In 15 years, there were a lot of garbage compactor trucks across many countries.
Due to the high demand for these vehicles, many manufacturers started the production of these vehicles. By the end of the 1960s, the world saw a lot of industrial standard compacting trucks. As the name suggests, these vehicles were designed to handle big projects as these trucks could compact trash a lot better than previous vehicles. In other words, they were able to handle 25% more load.
How does the Compactor Work?
Sanitation engineers load these trucks. The trash is put on a hopper, which is located at the back of the vehicle. The compacting mechanism works based on hydraulic cylinders. They transfer trash from the hopper to the body of the truck. This is the area where trash is compacted to save space. Once the trash is compacted, it is easy to handle for workers.
Since the trash compacting unit is located outside the vehicle body, trash does not fall out of the truck even if there is a lot of it. As soon as the truck is full, it is the responsibility of the driver to drive it to the dump.
The backside of the vehicle can be tilted up and the hydraulic cylinders can be used to move the panels. Afterward, the trash is dumped out.
Other Types of Garbage compacting Trucks
After the invention of garbage trucks, manufacturers introduced many variations of the vehicle. For example, they introduced a front loading truck. In these vehicles, the hopper was located in the front. The working principle of these vehicles is not different from conventional garbage compacting drugs.
Apart from this, you can find a lot of variations of recycling trucks. Some of these are side loaders while others have robotic arms that collect trash from streets. You can choose any type of garbage compacting truck based on your personal preferences. You may also want to discuss the matter with your employees to find out which vehicle suits them the best.
Long story short, this was a brief introduction to garbage compact trucks and the way they work. If you are looking for one or more of the units, we suggest that you consider the types described in this article. Apart from this, you may also want to do your research and ask around in order to make the best choice.