Back in college, Bill Weir always figured he'd settle down in a career and live happily ever after. Then he discovered traveling. He dreamed of exploring the world, saved up some money, and then quit his job. It was the best decision he ever made. In 1976 he took off on his trusty bicycle, Bessie, and rode across the United States from Virginia to Oregon with Bikecentennial '76. The following year he pieced together an even longer bicycle trip-from Alaska to Baja California. Then came the ultimate journey-a bicycle expedition around the world. Bill pedaled the globe from 1980 to 1984, spending most of his time in the South Pacific and Asia.

Naturally he used the excellent Moon Handbooks South Pacific and Moon Handbooks Indonesia. Correspondence with the authors led to the idea of writing a guidebook of his own. But which place to write about? Bill realized that the best destination lay underfoot: his home state of Arizona. He began work on what has now become the 9th edition of Moon Handbooks Arizona. The world's grandest chasm also beckoned, resulting in Moon Handbooks Grand Canyon. So what does Bill do between editions? He travels of course, always discovering new places and learning more about the old. He particularly enjoys the Himalaya and its people, and returns often for a trek or a bicycle ride. He has also cycled the length and breadth of Europe, most recently on a ride from Denmark to Russia and back.

You can read about Bill's latest adventures on the Favorite Links section of his website, www.arizonahandbook.com.