Customer Reviews

Along the Templar Trail: Seven Million Steps for Peace

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Along the Templar Trail: Seven Million Steps for Peace completes an amazing trilogy. In Yak Butter Blues, Wilson dealt very deftly with lofty themes exemplified by China usurping the independent existence of Tibet. He redeemed a slender, but significant stripe of that tragedy by allowing people with nothing left to lose to sustain him in his spiritual journey. In Dead Men Don't Leave Tips: Adventures X Africa, he repeated the themes, this time for a whole continent, and did so in bolder and more practical terms. The etching of the message became clearer: Ordinary people, however poor, are generous and good, and they want nothing more than they want peace and a wholesome future for their families. Along the Templar Trail writes the message in brilliant, even blazing letters: Peace and shared prosperity are undeniably possible, and they can come in our time... for all time. If only a few more ordinary mortals had the will and fortitude of this author, we would live in a very different world.
Truth be told, Wilson doesn't call the three books a trilogy. That's just how I see the series so far, and you can certainly read the books in any order. Still, if you read one of these nonfiction, trek-adventure thrillers, I'm sure you'll go on to read them all.
The earlier books took us from Lhasa to Katmandu, over the Himalayas on foot, then across "the dark continent" from the Mediterranean to the tip of South Africa by every close-to-the-ground transport, including the ol' feet. Along the Templar Trail is more overtly spiritual, an all-walking, 2,600-mile pilgrimage from France to Jerusalem following in the long-ago footsteps of the Knights Templar.
Take a moment to think about this. What would cause you to undertake a 2,600 mile walk--aches, blisters, blazing sun and all, always hoping to find food and water when you need them--even though perfectly good airplanes are willing to carry you to your destination? Wilson's answer is both simple and profound: He walked for peace.
In the beginning, as Wilson and his friend meet in France to set off on their pilgrimage for peace, it's like watching a train wreck in slow motion. You know the funny Frenchman is not attuned to the purpose, not prepared for the hardships, not "into it." Without overdoing any comparison of the author's trek to Jerusalem and Christ's walk to his crucifixion, the companion became "Brandon's cross to bear," for me as I read. The story enthralls, its high ideals are impressive, but I thought a Higher Power must have decided the experienced trekker-author needed a burden greater than weather and distance--and "blessed" him with a partner who could make crossing Europe appropriately difficult. Sooner or later, you know that "Émile" will turn back... or worse.
For the sake of the peace-purpose of the pilgrimage, the walk had to attract attention, and it did. Starting in Sombor, Serbia, television and newspaper reporters take notice.
The message was possibly endangered by the fact that Wilson was from the U.S.
"Peace" and "U.S." don't fit together in the thinking of much of the world, particularly the parts of the world from Serbia to Israel. So, Wilson tried letting his French pal answer the inevitable question, "Where are you from?" When "France" didn't work, he'd say, "I'm from Hawai`i." That didn't always work either. People knew that Hawai`i is in the U.S. However, over and over, those who listened to the message, overlooked the trekker's nationality.
"What do you hope to accomplish by this trip?" a reporter asked.
"First, we're taking this journey as a personal pilgrimage," Wilson answered. "But more than that, it is a journey for peace. Countries and especially the common people have suffered too much. There have been too many tears shed by mothers for their sons, wives for their husbands and children for their fathers. Yes, it takes courage to face an enemy, but it requires just as much bravery to say `No' and refuse to capitulate to war. The time has come. This is now a global imperative."
Later, speaking to someone else, Wilson said, "...envisioning peace is half the battle. As the world's consciousness changes, the rest is sure to follow." He sticks to his message, demonstrating repeatedly that it is truly what keeps him walking, even when he is confronted with the scars and memorials of war, even when he speaks to warriors.
No doubt, Wilson was on the right path. Even when he was lost for a while or took a detour, the result was totally central to both the personal growth expected from the pilgrimage and to the peace purpose. "Maybe," he mused, "there never was a `wrong' path--just one awaiting a new reason for being."
Christian, Jewish or Islamic; male or female, old or young; Kurdish, Serbian, German or Israeli, everyone who crossed Wilson's path was welcomed and, although he doesn't say so, loved. Learning to walk through our own lives with that same grace would be reason enough to read Along the Templar Trail, even if the reading itself were not a joy. It is.

Brandon Wilson has outdone himself with "Along the Templar Trail." I'm a fast reader, but I immediately realized this is one of those books you slow down and pace yourself like a pilgrim, because the wonder is in the journey. I found it astounding how, in short time, I found myself feeling as though I was walking with Brandon (and, for a time, his companion, Emile) for the entire 2,620 miles and experiencing with him the many faces of a world which, while at war, yearns for peace at the common level.

Wilson explains to one reporter along the way that, while the route was once followed by Templars and soldiers marching to Jerusalem, he "would like to see it developed as an international trail of peace for all nationalities and religions." Indeed, he seems to find a receptive audience along the new and old roads as he walks, but always among the common people who share food and drink and share his frustration that "it is the politicians who want war, not the people."

Along his journey Wilson talks with people of all leanings and faiths, learning that simple things like water and a gift of food are the universal language they have always been for centuries. With each week, he finds greater recognition and encouragement. A young Muslim sits with him and, as they share commonalities of religions, the youth remarks, "We need to work together to survive."

There is excitement and wonder in the sites visited along the path, but none so moving as when Wilson reaches the Holy Land. He speaks with deep, stirring passion of the cathedrals and shrines, the revered temples of Christians, Jews and Muslims. And, as he concludes his journey, he reflects on how deep his lessons have been on the five month road to Jerusalem--his suffering and hunger making him ever mindful of the suffering and hunger in a world that would rather build weapons to destroy than care for its own people.

Take your time with this book--it should take you weeks. Savor every step. Brandon is at his best ever in Templar Trail, a truly heartwarming story of dedication, hope and love.

by Andy O'Hara, author of The Swan: Tales of the Sacramento Valley

For armchair adventurers who like to read of others travels and travails through distant lands, this is a perfect companion on a cold winter's night by the fire. For those who love to hike or walk long distances, this book can be used as a road map. Pacifists might look at it as a road map for making connections with citizens of other countries on the most basic level.

Brandon Wilson and his 68-year-old companion, Emile, start out on a five-month walking pilgrimage to the Holy Land in the manner of the 11th century Christians. This is conceived as a walk for peace, but it is obvious that hiking through the canyons of the world holds the same thrill for some as climbing mountains does for others. The reader certainly gets a sense of what a journey on foot entails. Each day's walk must cover a certain amount of territory and the companions trudge through rain, sleet and broiling sun. Wilson's legs and feet swell up and Emile seems to get weaker as they approach the longer stretches. In Istanbul, the Frenchman must part ways with the American. Wilson continues through Turkey, Cyprus and finally Israel when the original trek through Syria and Lebanon is derailed by the 2006 flare-up of hostilities.

There are bits of history strewn throughout the book like breadcrumbs thrown along the trail. Although there are references to the Crusades, the Knights Templar who guarded the Christian pilgrims, the Arabs and the Ottoman Turks, it is the Roman Empire that really fascinated me. There are so many roads and traces of that once far-flung empire that managed to control such a polyglot group of tribes. France, Germany, Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia, Turkey, all fragmented now by different religions and national loyalties were once part of a single empire.

There aren't many descriptions of the castles, museums, cathedrals and mosques the travelers pass; although once the author gets to Jerusalem he does go into details of the holy places. What you do get is minute descriptions of small villages, small rooms in hotels, inns and monasteries, local people and local food. There are breakfast rolls of every kind in each country and coffee that becomes blacker and thicker as they move eastward. Sweet tea and watermelons, beef stew and lamb kabobs and an incredible variety of beer--the menu changes as the men trudge on as does the language and the friendliness of the natives. Local people are moved to help these men and often give them free food and drink just because of their quest.
As a walker, the author is highly aware of the various roads he must traverse. There are forest trails and dirt roads, asphalt sections that melt into tar in the broiling sun, and highways with no shoulders where the trucks whiz by the pilgrims. Small towns offer sidewalks and in one place there is even a section of the old Roman stone road built hundreds of years before. When Wilson hits Asia Minor the walking becomes more difficult. In Turkey, "I trudged across the desert landscape like a snail across a block of salt," he says.

Personally, I found the few political discussions to be interesting. The Greek Cypriot who refuses to visit the Turkish section of the island once the barriers are removed because she won't touch foot on occupied soil. The views of the Israelis and Palestinians Brian encounters once he crosses to Haifa are more realistic about the politics of the world although they all hold out the hope that politicians will listen to the people.
This is an idealistic journey. But it is the colorful details of the trek, the little rooms in small hotels, the roadside stands in war-torn landscapes, the various Hungarians and Turks and tourists and policemen that make this book a worthwhile read.

Along the Templar Trail: Seven Million Steps for Peace is the fascinating journey of two men who set out to travel on foot the legendary road once used by the Knights Templar to reach Jerusalem -- a staggering pilgrimage encompassing 2,620 miles. More than the mere adventure of two brave men, it is a grand and noble quest for peace, as well as a spiritual voyage that will leave readers emotionally and intellectually replenished.

The travelers are the author, American Brandon Wilson, and his 68-year-old French companion, Emile. The starting point: France. Destination: Jerusalem. In between these two points are Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Syria, and Jordan. Indeed, it is a daunting challenge, to say the least, and Wilson and Emile suffer all sorts of inconveniences along the way -- insufferable heat, painful foot blisters, uncertainty as to where they will spend each night. Not to mention the possible dangers they might face, from thieves to anti-Americanism in the Muslim countries. Simple things like taking a shower, clean clothes, and comfortable sleep become a luxury.

Fortunately, they often encounter what the author refers to as `angels', good souls beyond the boundaries of accepted conventions who are willing to offer the pilgrims food, drink, and a place to spend the night. Who would do that in America, where people are so conscious of danger at all times? But in the context of this journey for peace, it's as if human beings are transformed and the best of their nature comes through. Also, for Wilson and Emile traveling together becomes difficult at times, as they differ in age and stamina. Will they finally reach their destination?

I immensely enjoyed reading this book. Besides being a skillful traveler, the author is also a skillful writer and this shows in his beautiful flowing prose, keen observations and wit. His writing combines a marvelous sense of Zen with good humor, and his personal style makes you feel as if you were there taking part in it all. This book is about a journey both physical and spiritual in nature, and its essential message is one all peoples of the world should be aware of. Though I had the pleasure of reviewing Wilson's two previous travel books, both fascinating, engrossing reads, I have to confess Along the Templar Trail is my favorite.

Brandon Wilson has explored nearly one hundred countries. No stranger to walking meditations he has also walked some of the world's most famous pilgrimage trails. He has walked the Camino de Santiago across Spain and the St. Olva's Way across Norway.

In "Along the Templar Trail" he writes a travel diary of his experience walking the 2620 mile Templar Trail. As he walks from France to Jerusalem he immerses himself in each culture and brings a message of hope and peace to everyone he meets.

The vivid prose and passion for adventure makes this book an exciting read. It is also fun to see how he survives each day. While on the trail he also gives TV interviews and explains his philosophy of life.

As with any journey, this odyssey is fraught with uncertainty. While the details of survival are interesting, Brandon Wilson also weaves in tidbits and historical facts. As he deals with life's annoyances he also retains his sense of humor.

Reading Brandon Wilson's book is a journey in itself as you feel that you are walking the trail with him. He experiences every nuance of each culture and is also blessed by random acts of kindness. At times it is amazing how he survives some of the most difficult segments of his journey. While he must deal with snow, rain, blisters and injury, his very life hangs in the balance as he must survive each leg of the journey.

I love how Brandon Wilson captures the essence of any time or place and how he weaves together the story of his journey. I can also highly recommend YAK BUTTER BLUES: A Tibetan Trek of Faith and Dead Men Don't Leave Tips: Adventures X Africa. Through reading his books you can live vicariously, although I must say I am more inspired than ever to walk each day.

~The Rebecca Review

For those of us who are avid world news junkies, a look at the planned route on pages X and XI of Brandon Wilson's book "Along the Templar Trail" reveals that Brandon's journey was a discovery of the complex realities of our present time, as much as it was a replication of journeys that occured centuries ago. Starting in France, the journey would proceed into historic Austria, then through former Soviet satellite nations and the former Yugoslavia, followed by Islamic Turkey and Syria, then Jordan, and finally Israel. If a common ground could be found among all these peoples, wouldn't our world immediately breathe a sigh of relief?

"Along the Templar Trail" describes the effort of two men to begin the finding of this common ground, through walking "seven million steps for peace." I wish I could have been there. But, at least I have the book to tell me what happened. Brandon tells us what happened at many different levels. He describes "a gentle unravelling of life" as the layers of the limitations of our own personal insecurities, our "walls," are stripped away as we confront the unpredictable succession of present moments that the journey brings.

For example, in Bulgaria, Brandon and his co-walker Emile (in his sixties!), came upon "two pitiful, brown eyes staring back at us." A newborn bull calf was stuck around a group of saplings, slowly strangling itself as it struggled to pull away from danger when really it needed to go in the opposite direction to unwind its chain. I like the symbolism of this scene. It seems to me that unwinding the struggles and pain, the losses, both past and present, that are encompassed in this seven million step France-to-Jerusalem slice of our world, is a fundamental reason why Brandon and Emile took this journey.

Brandon poured water from his canteen onto the young bull's head, while Emile sought its owner. A woman came running in tears. The young bull was freed from its choking snare, but it laid down motionless. The woman ran back to her farm and returned, dousing the bull with a full bucket of crisp, cold water, and the youngster sprang to life!

It's the kind of scene I've become accustomed to reading in Brandon Wilson's books. Full of life, adventure, and meaning. "Along the Templar Trail" is a great read for those of us who wish we could be world travellers -- not of the casual sightseer sort, but travellers who want to rediscover history and obtain a vision of how that history resonates with today.

Brandon Wilson's journey "along the Templar Trail" from Dijon, France to Jerusalem is, in many ways, something we can all identify with. I would even go as far as to say that his experiences can actually resonate with us deeply, although initially we might not realize it. That in part, is the nature of this fascinating book, and this unique travel adventure.

Brandon's journey was a pilgrimage for peace on a trail that historians generally recognize was not about peace, but was in fact about power and religious and cultural hegemony. However Brandon's pilgrimage was intended to right those wrongs.

A pilgrimage is a long, often difficult, and even perilous journey. Pilgrimages usually suggest a journey to a sacred place. They are also symbolic acts and gestures that confirm a particular belief or belief system. In a very deep sense, a pilgrimage is also a quest -- for a greater truth -- or to pay homage to that truth.

But for Brandon, it was also a very long and very real journey on foot across Europe to the Middle East.

After reading Along the Templar Trail: Seven Million Steps for Peace, I came to a greater understanding of the quest that Brandon pursued, and then I had the opportunity to find out more about the man and the impact that quest had on his life.

To hear an audio interview with Brandon, visit Travelosophy ([...]) and click on Travelosophy Talks.

Peace: some pray for it, some dream of it, these pilgrims walk for it. Our pilgrims are Brandon and Emile. They met on the Camino de Santiago, a trail of 500 miles that crosses Spain. Both were on their own inward journeys while becoming in the lingo of pilgrims around the world, peregrinos. During their month together Brandon learned of Emile's desire to walk from France to Jerusalem. Emile and his wife Sophie were planning to do this journey of between 2,700 to 3,500 miles when she retired. Then as all pilgrims eventually must they parted and returned home to work and family and their respective lives, until one day an email arrived. Emile to Brandon: Sophie can't go, could he?

Their journey would be a retracing of the historical steps of those in the First Crusades, as well as some early pilgrims. They would cover territory once trod by the Knights Templar, an order created in 1118, pledged to protect pilgrims on their journey through the Holy Lands. With this historical background enticing them Brandon agreed and the plans for their journey began to take shape. Along with those plans was the desire for this also to be a walk for peace, an almost extinct commodity in today's world, and especially in many of the countries they would cross. Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia, Turkey, and Cyprus to name just a few, had all been or were being ravaged by one element or another. Would they welcome the likes of our two pilgrims walking through their midst carrying their ideas of peace? They could only hope and wonder.

Brandon, the award-winning author of YAK BUTTER BLUES, is our storyteller. He supplies us with a recipe of two parts history, one part humor, a large dose of concern for his fellow peregrino, and a dash of "what is meant to be will be". We, the armchair travelers, get to revel in descriptions that roll off the tongue like fine wine and cheese and exhilarating views from a mountaintop. But it's the "angels" along the way and the many conversations in many languages that are the spices of this trip. They show us there is hope out there, whether in a fancy upscale plaza, a small dusty café or merely in the shade of a tree on the side of the road they, like our pilgrims, are praying and dreaming of peace.

I loved reading this book. At times I felt as if I were there walking with him--and I can barely walk within my own home...but I felt transported and I know my spirit was walking that trail. I will never travel again in body, but through his writings I have traveled to the Himalayas, Africa, and now through eleven countries along the Templar Trail.

I was overwhelmed with his ability to recognize the great value of accepting the small and large gifts he received from so many along the trail. By accepting with grace and humility, he gave back the greater gift--allowing the givers to feel good and become a small part of their pilgrimage. Those people shared what they had with a pilgrim who was no stranger, but a fellow human being who carried his love of humanity in his heart for each of the 7 million steps.

The last part of his book showed how people all over this world share the same hopes and dreams for shelter, food, and safety. They want to feel joy and love and be able to express it to others without fear. People aren't so very different in this respect. Only with peace will it be possible for each of us to really see others as they are and not as our fears drive us to see others with blinders of bias and prejudices.

I thank the author for walking the Templar Trail and sharing it with all who will read and ponder; who will feel that spark of hope that the goodness inherent in mankind is alive and well...just at times obscured.

Linda Delgado
Author and Publisher
www.widad-lld.com

Brandon Wilson allows my eyes to become my passport to the world. When I read his books, which I've read all three, I am transported to a new place and culture through his masterful use of language. His latest book, "Along the Templar Trail, Seven Million Steps for Peace", Brandon retraces the footsteps of the legendary Knights Templar from France to Jerusalem in a pilgrimage trek for peace. Along the way he experiences and then writes about the world in a way only few talented writers' can. I learned about the history, culture and traditions without feeling overwhelmed with volumes of text. Brandon's writing was consider, yet descriptive, bold yet passionate.

It's adventure the old fashion way through exploration. In a world where there aren't many new adventures/exploits that are new and enriching, Brandon pushed the envelope to a new level by taking a step back and exploring a time in history that many would rather forget. Kudos to Brandon and his travel companion Emile' for bringing a historical journey to the armchair adventures of the world. I learned more about the Crusades and Templar Knights by reading this book than I did in a college class I audited a few years ago. I'm already looking forward to Brandon's next adventure and of course subsequent book.