1. In the aftermath of a near-fatal stroke and 11 months of trials and tribulations, I embarked on a transcontinental odyssey for a new lease on life. Pausing on my way to Big Bend National Park on a chilly Texas morning in May, I snapped what eventually became the cover of my book. There appears to be little ahead or behind, but looks can be deceiving! What follows is a collection of favourite photos from the trip as my gift to you. Thank you for purchasing Rode to Recovery. James McCullough Rode to Recovery (Meta) Physical Meanderings In PowerPoint, click once, relax, and enjoy the ride! Slideshow runs for 5 minutes.

2. “Mount Luggage” at the outset of the trip in New Jersey

3. Wrinkles - My erstwhile companion while waiting out 3 days of rain in Manassas Virginia

4. Big Bend National Park, Texas After freezing for most of the morning under threatening skies, the clouds peeled away to reveal Big Bend in all its glory.

5. Big Bend National Park Postcard views everywhere

6. Big Bend National Park

8. Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico Mother Nature has decorated every square inch with elaborate works of art …

9. Carlsbad Caverns … and her work is never done

10. Carlsbad Caverns

11. Sword of Damocles

12. Carlsbad Caverns Lion’s Tail

13. Carlsbad Caverns Entrance to the Bat Cave.

14. Aztec Ruins National Monument, New Mexico is an extensive pre-Columbian building complex, steeped in ritual significance that is now lost in time.

15. Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado, features a series of canyons that cleave the top of an 8,000 foot mesa.

16. Mesa Verde National Park contains the ruins of over 600 ancient cliff dwellings.

17. One of three natural bridges in Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah

18. Utah

20. Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

21. Capitol Reef National Park

22. My first tantalizing glimpse of Lake Tahoe

23. All-American pastime in Orinda, California

24. Redwood National & State Parks, California Stately giants dwarf all else

25. Crater Lake National Park, Oregon The deepest lake in the USA, but found at 7000’ elevation in the cauldron of an extinct volcano

26. Crater Lake National Park Overwhelming peace and serenity

27. Oregon Great roads & magnificent scenery

28. Glacier-fed lake in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia

29. Iron-rich river in southern British Columbia

30. Ghost Riders in southwestern Alberta

31. Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta

32. Spring runoff in Waterton Lakes National Park

33. Chilly author in Waterton Lakes National Park

34. The End