Up the Lake - A True Adventure Book Giveaway
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When you want to escape but can’t afford the airfare, what do you do? I pick up a book. Recently, my family did manage to escape for a week and take a beautiful vacation in the Northern woods. With all the books I review, I had a hard time figuring out what book would accompany me - at first. But what better way to thoroughly enjoy the wooded setting than to take a book about a spot that made our bit of forest look like a happening metropolis? I chose Up the Lake by Wayne J. Lutz.
At first I wasn’t sure which blog of mine was best suited for this book. While carp(e) libris reviews does have a lot of memoir and true stories featured (such as this one), here at dkMommy Spot we like to talk about living naturally. I knew you’d be just the right audience.
Wayne Lutz and his wife are actually pilots from Los Angeles. Not exactly the place one goes to discover wild life. Well, not that kind of wild life. So when in their travels they stumbled across the float cabins of Coastal British Columbia, they knew they’d found their perfect getaway. Up the Lake shares the adventures and challenges they have had learning to live off the grid on a cabin that literally floats on the river. These unusual cabins are built upon cedar logs and are anchored to the shore in the middle of the wilderness. If you want to get to your house, you have to take a boat. If you want to have running water, you’d better stand outside and watch the river go by - or learn to harness it for yourself.
I found Up the Lake to be rather inspirational. That’s because I’ve always dreamed of ditching it all and becoming totally self-sufficient. But I’m a suburb girl, no matter how I try not to be, and any decent local of a wilderness town would certainly laugh me out of the woods. Or would they? In Lutz’ case, he openly admits to his shortcomings and his inability to hide his citified roots. But where he falls short, the locals step in, in particular one helpful neighbor named John who seems to know everything about everything, and is more than happy to lend a hand.
Whether you want to get lost in another world or you want to remember your dreams of leaving it all for the wilderness, give Up the Lake a shot. You may just find yourself once again dreaming of a slower paced lifestyle; who knows? Maybe you’ll follow through after you remember it can be done.
Also check out Wayne Lutz’s blog. Amazing photography!
3 Ways to Enter:
1.) Tell me what your “dream life” is. Do you want to pack it all up and move into the wilderness? Or are you dreaming of the bright lights of the city? Maybe you already live the dream! Tell us about it. Remember, leave an interesting comment. If I cannot contact the winner, you might be chosen instead based on your comment.
2.) Email subscribers are entered into this and all future giveaways, for as long as their subscription is active. Just click here: Subscribe to dkMommy Spot by Email (Please make sure to verify your Feedburner subscription by responding to the email they send you. If you do not receive it, check your junk mail. Only verified subscriptions are entered for all the giveaways.)
3.) Blog about this giveaway on your blog with a link back to this post. Come back and leave me a Comment with a link to your blog post. (If your comment doesn’t show up right away, don’t worry - I may have to approve it first. My blog might think it’s spam but gosh darn, I certainly don’t!)
Feel free to do all three, and you have three entries to win! You have until midnight EST on Thursday, September 11, 2008, to enter.
Check here for other current giveaways at dkMommy Spot.
September 8th, 2008 at 9:47 am
My ultimate dream life would be to move into the Rockies around Colorado. I would love to live around Garden of the Gods and Pike’s Peak. It would be awesome to live in a log cabin.
September 8th, 2008 at 10:00 am
you know I had a dream of what my perfect life would be as a teen, then I grew up and it didn’t happen, people were not happy with my choices or style or the way I have a liad back attiude but really its all pretty good for the mostpart…if I could move deeper away from people and live where there is fresh air, it would be so cool
September 8th, 2008 at 11:48 am
I am living my dream in the Sun Valley Idaho area. I just wish that I didn’t have to work so hard to afford to live here.
September 8th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
My dream life is to go and live in Rome for a little while so I can enjoy life there and see everything at a slow pace.
September 8th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
I wish to visit a new country every year. So far, we have visited places in USA and I am immigrant, every couple of years I have to spend my money and vacation to visit home country which lately I am not much happy about:(.
herry123_us@live.com
September 8th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
In my much younger years I dreamed of homesteading in Alaska. I would live off the land. It was a wonderful dream, but now that I’m a great deal older I can see how impractical it was. We all need our dreams and when one doesn’t work we need a new one.
September 8th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Anywhere with the man of my dreams
September 8th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
My dream life is living anywhere where my kids can excel.
gkstratos@yahoo.com
September 8th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
My dream life would be moving to somewhere in Africa and holding, hugging, comforting abandoned, sick babies; oh, how I’d love to do this !
Thanks
September 8th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
I fantasize about travel to exotic natural areas to see wildlife but I have to admit I hate outhouses, squat toilets, and being too far away from my bookstores and coffee shops.
September 8th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Love to live in Alaska
September 8th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Jamaica, reggae sunsplash, Ocho Rios, climb the waterfall.
Hang out on the beach by a campfire and dance the night away!
Go for a swim everyday….yep that’s it :o)
September 8th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
My dream life would be that I would not have a designated home. If I had endless funds I would travel the world, just moving place to place after a few months.
September 8th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
What a wonderful book giveaway. My dream come true would be to live part time in Italy and where I live now is the best place on earth. SUnshine, blue skies, high desert climate with a beautiful vista that is unforgettable and unique.
September 8th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
retiring
September 8th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
My dream would be to live in an apt. in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya, close to the orphans and vulnerable children our nonprofit helps to support there. I would spend my days assisting at the school and children’s home, seeing that the children had food to eat, clothes to wear and medical attention as needed.
September 8th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
I grew up in the country where our nearest neighbors were 1/4 mile away, and most of our neighbors were relatives. It was very isolated, and I loved it for my childhood, but I prefer to be around people more now. I would love to, at some point in my life, live on a golf course and play to my heart’s content.
Alyces last blog post..Weekly Contest Roundup
September 8th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
Life in a house on the beach would be my dream.
September 8th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
living on a beach in south america
September 8th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
To live at the beach would be my idea of bliss… I just came back from a (much needed) weekend at Carolina Beach, and it’s amazing to me how sitting on the sand, watching the sun rise, can put your whole life into perspective. In all of life, I am but a tiny speck of sand in the grand scheme of things… when you look at things that way, and wonder at the miracle of things… it really is transforming… I have “solved” many of the worlds’ problems sipping a cup of tea, watching the waves roll in….. peace, tranquility, harmony… simplicity… it’s all at the beach….
September 8th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
We would love to live somewhere on a little bit of land. I would like to have enough solar panels to supply our own needs and give a little back into the grid to help other people. I’d like to have our own garden so we know from where and how our vegetables came into existence. And while I’m at it, might as well throw in ruby slippers and a diamond-encrusted house.
September 8th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
We added this to our “Free Stuff” page at http://www.ForMyKidsOnline.com/free_stuff.htm
September 8th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
I think I am living my dream. As much as it is nice to fantasize about I would HATE being famous and having a lack of privacy. I always wanted a family and three children which is what I have. I would love to write a book. I do like to dream about residing in the country and renovating an old farm house or living in a high rise in the city with the fabu lifestyle that comes with or selling all of my possessions and moving to Europe or Southeast Asia. truth is I cannot truly imagine myself out side of the burbs. Kind of a harsh reality
marybeth is last blog post..My weekend project with the girls
September 8th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
my dream life will begin when the kids move out of the house and i have my husband to myself again. and we will travel and visit the boys when possible nd enjoy our grandkids.
September 8th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Hello, When I was growing up, I fell in love with the boy and the movie called “My Side of the
Mountain!” He had a Peregrine falcon and he lived in the wild. I am too afraid of bugs to live in the wilderness. I do want a log home, though!!!!! My home is decorated very rustic and primitive.
We camp in our backyard with our sons. The book sounds lovely and interesting. Please enter me in your drawing. Many thanks, Cindi
September 8th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
My dream life since I was about 6 has been to live in that tin mans house in the middle of the forest with the birds and wildlife.
Throughout my life, we have both 3 homes and each time, I have searched for that shack in the woods; hubby does NOT agree.
The books sounds very interesting. VERY interesting.
Thanks dkMommy!
I’m going to search for this in the library as I ‘m sure I won’t win but thanks for the review!
mannequins last blog post..Custom Silhouette Pendant
September 8th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
I live in a very large city and my dream would be to move and live on the east coast of Canada to one of the smaller provinces like Prince Edward Island. We visited the east coast a few years ago and I fell in love with the people,the ocean and landscape and the slower pace of life.
Also, I am already a subscriber.
September 8th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
I wish my husband could retire so we can just take off and travel
September 8th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
My dream life would be to have all my bills paid, have a house with an art studio and be able to work from home. I would be able to spend more time with my three daughters and my husband. I already live in the perfect spot, on a lake in the woods with a pond on the other side, I just need to have my dream house built here.
September 8th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
My dream life WOULD be to pack it up and move to some remote place in the country. Except that I would still have all the latest technology and I’d get my food trucked in
High speed interet with a lovely view of moutains and silence 
September 9th, 2008 at 12:30 am
I would be teaching ESL in a third world country.
September 9th, 2008 at 1:16 am
My dream life life started out living in Savannah GA, then I realized the weather was too hot for me (that was when I was 16-22) then I decided I wanted to live in Colorado, but then I soon realized that you couldn’t travel by car to get anywhere else very easily, not chicago, Nashville, Milwaukee, Cincinnati etc. I can here in Indy. So I have figured out my dream life is to marry the man I am with, stay here in Indiana and live the life we are living. Maybe one day own a farm and raise Alpacas and have a HUGE garden. And the next door neighbors will have a great farm with cows and chickens and all that, and of course the wind will blow in the right direction so we don’t have to smell it, but I can go play with the furry little biscuits.
September 9th, 2008 at 1:20 am
My dream life would be a life with no rent! Haha. Something comfortable with income. Not too rich, but without hassle of having to worry about the bills and cutting it for the next month or so on a budget. A decent sized house. A good sized yard for my family and their kids to lounge around in for bbq’s, and a big yard for my dogs to roam around.
September 9th, 2008 at 1:30 am
I wanted to say my dream life would be my kids happy future, but then I realized it was MY dream life, so realizing that, I would love a self-cleaning house with a island back yard.
September 9th, 2008 at 8:36 am
My dream life is living in a beautiful country setting, with flower and vegetable gardens surrounding my log cabin!
September 9th, 2008 at 8:56 am
My dream would be to live July/August of one year in a cabin in Banff, Alberta.
September 9th, 2008 at 11:47 am
I would love to live in Manhattan for a year!
September 9th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Thank you for having this. My dream life would be to have my husband retire early and we live on a large farm with lots of wooded acres. We would raise our children and try to be as self sufficient as possible. this would be wonderful. thank you!
tatertot374@sbcglobal.net
September 9th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
I ideal life would be in a cabin somewhere in the north woods of Maine or Canada. For my husband’s 40th birthday we rented a cabin in northern Ontario which was 75 miles from the nearest human being. You had to fly in — there were no roads, no phones. It was heaven. Watching the aurora borealis at night. Sitting on the dock as a thunder storm gradually crept up the lake. But it wasn’t just the peacefulness that appealed to me, it was the intensity and reality of the time, too. Most of us live our lives like children. We know that if something goes wrong, we can call the “right person” and they’ll come fix the problem. The plumber. The police. 911. Mommy. Daddy. Out there, we only had ourselves to rely upon. So when I lost part of a tooth, I had to figure out how to deal with it. Mid-way through the stay, our pilot flew in and asked if we’d be willing to stay three more days (he wanted to combine two trips out here). We agreed — but I hadn’t packed that much food, and so for the first time in my life I realized that if I didn’t catch fish, I wasn’t going to eat. It wasn’t frightening — you can’t starve to death in three days, and there was enough ketchup and Kool Aid left over from previous campers that we’d have managed. But fishing to eat — not for sport, not because it’s fun — was one of the most intense, authentic things I’ve ever done.
September 9th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Spending time with my family anywhere!
September 9th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
My dream life would be living in a log cabin on a private lake.
September 9th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
I would love to live at the lake!
Thanks for this great contest and prize!
September 9th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
My dream life would have us living right on a lake with no one else around. Lots of trees and animals too.
September 9th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
I was born and raised in the country but I currently live in the ‘burbs of NYC. I’m so NOT a “city” person. We currently live in a teeny tiny one bedroom condo on the third floor (no elevators - just lots of stairs) with my husband, two children, four cats, dog and hamster.
My dream is to live some place nice and peaceful like North Carolina. I would love to have a farm and grow my own veggies and fruits and be as self sufficient and possible. I would love to have a lake or a pond on our property too. I would love to have cows, horses and chickens.
Right now I have neighbors across from us, next to us, diagnol to us and beneath us. My dream would be to have have NO neighbors too close to us. I’m not anti-social… I just like my space. I’m tired of listening to people partying all night long with blasting music. I enjoy peace and quiet and clear night skies to star gaze.
This novel sounds ideal. I would LOVE to win it.
Thank you for a great giveaway.
September 9th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
I would love to own a beach house for getaways!! It would be perfect!
kristi blackstones last blog post..Custom Initialed Box
September 9th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
In my dream life, I would be able to travel, never worry about bills, and see my children & grandchildren whenever I got the urge. In other words, my dream life means having money.
September 9th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
I am living my dream life. I have a wonderful husband with whom I have a one-in-a-million relationship with, wonderful children, really no worries, and we get to go different places and do different things.
September 9th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
My dream life is somewhat crazy. Ever since I can remember, I’ve wanted to live on a farm. I love NY since I’ve lived here all my life, so it would probably be somewhere in upstate NY. My parents think I’m crazy, but if I had the money I would pack up and leave tomorrow. I like having neighbors, but not right on top of me. I want to own cows, horses, pigs, goats, sheep, chickens…I want them all! Not the typical dream for a 20 year old, I think lol. But I also want to be able to travel, and especially go to Europe! So my dream is two totally different things, but that’s how I like it! =)
September 9th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
My dream life is getting closer everyday. To live in a comfortable home with an indoor pool. Spend lots of time with my guy, swim, walk, read and awwww. I would love to win the book. I love reading.
September 9th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
A beach house right on the ocean in Northern New England….a bit of heaven in a beautiful part of our country,…that’s my dream
Sharon Joness last blog post..High School, Middle School-First Day is Always Emotional
September 9th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
A cabin in the jungle just off the white sand beach of a cove in Costa Rica… Hey, anywhere you can order 5 tequilas and a beer for under $5 is the dream for me!
Ron Millers last blog post..They Live Among Us Sweepstakes Codes
September 9th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
I’ve blogged it!
It’s what we do.
http://fracturedtoy.blogspot.com/2008/09/giveaways-and-raves.html
mannequins last blog post..Custom Silhouette Pendant
September 10th, 2008 at 3:56 am
Well, I wouldn’t want to live anywhere other than California, but there are lots of places I would like to spend some extended time at: Kona in the winter. Maine in the summer.
September 10th, 2008 at 5:05 am
My dream would be to move back to Chicago. I’d love to live in the city and not have to worry about a car. I love the feeling of anonymity city life brings with it and the hustle bustle makes me feel alive.
September 10th, 2008 at 5:12 am
I’d love to live on the beach somewhere but in the north like Cape cod or Nova Scotia so there are no hurricanes!
September 10th, 2008 at 5:36 am
My dream would be for science to find a cure for the chronic pain condition that has left me 100% permanently disabled, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. I would LOVE to return to the career I had before I got hurt on the job which was my passion….teaching. That is my dream!!!
Thanks so much!!
Michele R.(CA)
luvkittysmeowmail@gmail.com
September 10th, 2008 at 7:58 am
I would love to live anywhere that has a lake and a home.
September 10th, 2008 at 8:32 am
My husband and I have been to Santorini, Greece twice–once on our honeymoon and once on our 5th anniversary. We’d love to retire or live there someday. No place is closer to Heaven.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Our dream is to have a small farm. We both came from farming families and it just seems like the perfect life for us. We are part way to our dream, but we’re still young, so I’m sure we’ll get there one day
September 10th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
I’ve always wanted to live on the water and be able to take a boat out and stay for the weekend and since I’m able to do that I guess guess you could say that I’m sort of living it. Although to make it really ideal I’d already be retired.
September 10th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Life in a house on the beach would be my dream.
September 10th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
My dream life would be on a tropical island.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
I dream of fields of green in Ireland.
September 11th, 2008 at 3:43 am
My ultimate dream would be a house along the beach with the mountains within an hour’s drive. I love both almost equally and my current home in the center of the US has neither. Considering how crowded most coastal areas are I’m sure I will never have the opportunity to live exactly where I want to be but a girl can dream.
September 11th, 2008 at 9:02 am
The beach,WA, or Sicily.But i change my mind a lot so maybe a house in each area
September 11th, 2008 at 11:47 am
i so wished we had moved into a rural area with no neighbors for miles..just woods..we have the neighbors from hell and i sure wish i had looked for a better location
September 11th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
My dream is to spend a long long time just traveling with my husband - like take a year off. Don’t know if it’ll ever happen but its so fun to plan! Thanks for the chance!
September 11th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
To live in the mountains near Yellowstone or in Alaska.
September 11th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
A place on Kauai, where everyone comes to visit, who doesn’t live on the island.
September 11th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Life in a house on the beach would be my dream.
September 11th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
My dream is to live in LA-Hollywood.
September 11th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
To live at the beach
September 11th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
I want to move to the county.
September 11th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
I subscribed.
September 12th, 2008 at 12:01 am
I would love to sail around in the world in a luxury yacht!
September 12th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
I would love to live a less busy life — by living somewhere closer to nature. It would be lovely to wake up in the morning by birds singing, and being able to be in the mountains on a beautiful lake that has beach!!!
September 13th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
I just went on a cruise to Mexico and would love to live there. Just give it all up to live simply by the beach. Great giveaway, thanks!
Mary @ Adventures in Mommylands last blog post..Hi!
September 13th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Blogged ya:
http://mommyland512.blogspot.com/2008/09/up-lake-book-giveaway-at-dkmommy-spot.html
Thanks again!
Mary @ Adventures in Mommylands last blog post..Hi!