Ray Ordorica has done what most men would only dream of doing; he escaped the rush, noise, and complications of civilization for several years. As a result, he still lives alone in a remote area of mountainous, forested Idaho some 30 miles from the nearest small town. And that’s a bit too crowded.
Ray is one of us; a Two-Cylinder fan. That’s where the similarity ends. Those who have met him — the guy who has lived alone in Alaska, been on safari in Africa, lived on a shoestring or less in the wilderness, written and edited firearms books and articles, and rebuilt an airplane in his living room — regard him to be one of a kind. Perhaps a century off at the time of his birth; at least half a century.
I just finished reading his latest work, The Alaskan Retreater’s Notebook, and found myself having to pause and reflect again and again on things he wrote. He has a great skill at bringing reality to pages, and a great capacity for telling the absolute truth. I found myself searching for answers of which there were no questions. Let Ray’s book take you on a journey into your own conscience, and see if you’re up to the trip.
It’s the perfect gift to give yourself, or for a friend who has had just a bit too much of society. Plenty of black-and-white photos help the reader to picture all of the wonderful descriptions. It’s a darn good book, and I recommend it because so much of what is written these days is phony. This one isn’t. Jack Cherry
Format: Softbound, 229 pages, 8-1/4″ (h) x 5-1/2″ (w).