If I could have just one book to help me discover my innermost strengths and weaknesses as both a hiker and a painter—while also deepening my love for the outdoors and fostering gratitude for the simple gift of sight—it would be Travel Write Paint: A Footpath from Mexico to Canada by Robert and Susie Riedel.
I stumbled upon Robert and Susie’s YouTube channel (Travel Write Paint) by accident while searching for information on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). My wife and I were born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and had crisscrossed sections of the PCT in our younger years. Their enthusiasm and chemistry were immediately captivating—I told my wife, “These are kindred spirits, and this is a real story.” So, we began following their adventure as they hiked the PCT, painted, and created content for their channel.
The essence of their story is a “through-hike” documented with authentic, heartfelt words and stunning artwork. Within this hardcover book, you’ll find a powerful and personal struggle against the best (and toughest) that Mother Nature can throw at you. If you’ve ever experienced the personal growth and hardships that come with a six-month trail journey, you’ll relate to the raw emotions within these pages. In other words, everything you need to understand the grueling, yet transformative nature of long-distance hiking is here.
This book is so much more than just a documentary. It’s a truthful, exciting, and at times frightening narrative, all told with care. Robert’s breathtaking watercolor paintings capture some of the most difficult and awe-inspiring wilderness trails on Earth, and that alone is worth the price of admission.
I’m so grateful to have experienced this adventure through Susie’s uniquely personal writing and Robert’s talented artistic eye. When my copy of the book arrived, I was thrilled to find a matted, limited-edition print of the painting on page 23 tucked inside the packaging. This beautiful reproduction has become a treasured piece of art, now framed and hanging in a special place in our home.

After meeting Bossbae and Birdcall, as their host at Creek House in 2024, I just had to order their book and I'm so glad I did. Their PCT and AZT trail paintings and journaling are inspirational. The footbridge print they so kindly included is framed and hanging on our wall, the book is in our "hiker bar" for all future hikers to see. Many have already been inspired by it to journal and sketch their own trail adventures.

I am honored to own "Redwoods" an original watercolor painting by Robert N. Riedel and featured in "Travel Write Paint" by Suzie Riedel. It is so perfectly detailed from the bark of the tree to the sunlit forest in the background. The matting and frame chosen by the artist (which is different than the one shown)is stunning & showcases the beauty of nature beautifully painted. Buying this piece is worth the investment.

A wonderful book! Whether reading after watching the journey on You Tube or just stand-a-lone, the consistent, unwavering creativity of this work is amazing! Especially since most of the work was done while on trail after a hard day of hiking. The videos and the book together make for a lasting, exciting experience! Using the treks as a means to extend and test your physical and mental beings provides a basis to enhance your wonderful creativity.

We watched Suzie (BossBae) and Robert (Birdcall) hike the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and enjoyed their trip vlog through all the moments: awesome, good, bad, emotional, and exhausted. This book encompasses all of these moments in a wonderful tale of ultra distance hiking. Robert's artwork coupled with Suzie's writing brings the reader into the backcountry of California, Oregon, and Washington as nature throws everything into the way of their continuous footpath from the Mexican to the Canadian border. The reader can feel and envision the path textually and pictorially. An excellent read! Separately, Robert is a gifted artist. Many of the YouTube vlogs showcase his process from concept to completion, and the transformation from sketch to completed painting is like watching magic happen. I have 3 of his prints on the wall of my office.