Travels with Wally Chapstick and Company

The Westward Excursion of 1988

The author, with the nom de guerre Wally Chapstick, surveys Lake Mead in Nevada in 1988. Photo by Susan Bowne.

Dearest Mother,

I thought it was about time I gave you a copy of this journal. And seeing that it’s Christmas, what better gift to give? Anyway. I read over parts during the last few days — (and damn if they’re not good.) What an incredible experience! That’s something — special. You know what that something is: the…