A National Park Love Story
*
A Travel Memoir—
A National Park Love Story * A Travel Memoir—
A chance meeting. A spontaneous getaway.
A love story written across the landscapes of America.
When two middle-aged divorcees connect online, their first impulsive trip together lands them—unexpectedly—at a national park. What begins as a whimsical escape soon sparks a shared passion for adventure and a heartfelt mission: to visit all 63 national parks in the United States.
Over the course of 15 years, their journey unfolds through breathtaking vistas and life’s most profound moments—blending families, battling cancer, finding love again, getting married, and a near tragedy before embarking on one final, unforgettable trip.
Part travelogue, part love story, this memoir captures the beauty of second chances and the healing power of nature, one park at a time.
anationalparklovestory@gmail.com
63 Parks, 15 Years, One Dream
Chris Truxell
Chris is a debut author whose lifelong passion for books extends to co-leading two spirited book clubs alongside friends, family, and her local library. After a successful 25-year career owning a marketing research firm, she now enjoys semi-retirement, dedicating her love of learning and life coaching skills to the next generation as a substitute teacher. Beyond the classroom and her latest read, Chris embraces an active lifestyle, enjoying workouts, hiking, and biking. She also treasures time with her family and the simple joy of a sunset.
Jeff Crum
Jeff’s lifelong passion for the outdoors blossomed despite an urban upbringing in Pittsburgh’s Greenfield neighborhood. As a boy, he fished the Monongahela River and explored the city’s wooded hills. Cherished family vacations—week-long cabin stays in Pennsylvania’s state parks—further deepened his love for nature as he and his three brothers fished and hiked in Penn’s Woods. In his teenage years, Jeff and his brother Fred developed a shared, self-taught interest in hunting. This ignited Jeff’s obsession with bird dogs, especially English Setters. He went on to excel in field trials, not only as a competitor but also as a respected judge and reporter, with his work featured in The American Field Sportsman’s Journal and Crossbow Magazine. Today, Jeff applies his writing talents as a safety professional for a Fortune 50 company, crafting safety communications and serving as a technical writer for company standards.