2083 Miles/4 stories

Just like Antonio Pigafetta on Ferdinand Magellan's expedition, my friend and co-road tripper Terry kept detailed records of our travels.  Happily, there were no mutinies on this voyage, and here is the link to one cool map that shows our travel route of just over 2,000 miles:  Arkansas Road Trip

One of the things Terry and I discussed along the way was how listening to books on tape can fix a place in your mind as you travel.  Or even provide a much-needed distraction from a less-than-stellar drive (Illinois, I'm talking to you).  One of my favorites from years past was Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon, which incidentally Terry loaned to me. He has lots of audiobooks.  That is also an understatement.

On this trip soundtrack, we listened to:
  • Double Indemnity by James M. Cain.  Terry and I agreed this was the winner of the trip.  Now I want to see the movie (staring Fred MacMurray!) too. Here is the description from Audible:
When smalltime insurance salesman Walter Huff meets seductive Phyllis Nirdlinger, the wife of one of his wealthy clients, it takes him only minutes to determine that she wants to get rid of her husband--and not much longer to decide to help her do it. Walter knows that accident insurance pays double indemnity on railroad mishaps, so he and Phyllis plot frantically to get Nirdlinger on--and off--a train without arousing the suspicions of the police, the insurance company, Nirdlinger's dishy daughter, her mysterious boyfriend, or Nirdlinger himself. This brief but complex novel is a perfect example of the ordinary-guy-gone-disastrously-wrong story that Cain always pulls off brilliantly.

And a close second place was:
  • Over the Edge of the World by Laurence Bergreen.  This was a detailed, extremely interesting account of Ferdinand Magellan's circumnavigation of the globe.  I will likely never complain about travel ever again, after hearing what he and his crew had to endure.  Human beings are amazing, and crazy. Loved it.
My contributions were:
  • The Freakanomics podcast episode "The up side of quitting," one of my all-time favorites.  
  • Installment #1 in the Serial podcast.  Even though Jeff and I listened to it all last year, it was just as riveting the second time.  Terry made me tell him how it 'ends.'
What do you like to listen to when traveling?  What literary/musical moment will forever be tied to a place or a journey?  Do tell.



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