The Seventy-Thousand-Dollar Outhouse

This second book by Donald D. Yackel continues the format and organization of his first, The Idling Bulldozer and Other Paddling Adventures. However, unlike that offering, this one starts with a personal reflection on the author’s connection to boats and the water. Subsequent chapters describe paddling trips in Canada, Costa Rica, Florida, and Mexico. While each chapter provides a glimpse into part of the world most readers will never visit, the author’s vivid descriptions will take you there. As one reviewer put it: “I am an armchair adventurer. I loved the descriptions of the various areas in the U.S. and Canada…the terrain, the wildlife…places I will never see…places most people will never see or experience. The challenges of paddling in various places and conditions, the hardships, the challenges and the rewards make for a great and interesting read.” A second reviewer writes: “Even if you are not a paddling enthusiast, the stories are fun! Don writes in a conversational tone…it's like you’re sitting next to him while he tells his stories.” Each tale is a memoir of what the author experienced on the adventure: what he saw, what he did, how it felt, whom he traveled with, and the dangers and rewards experienced. Whether you are a veteran kayaker, a rank beginner, or have never been in a boat before, you can find something to relate to in this book.