Adventure Awaits Above the Horizon With Peter Egan

Peter Egan’s visit to Speaking of Travel revisits the remarkable journey he and his wife Barbara took in 1987, flying a vintage Piper Cub across a 7,000-mile loop of the United States. Traveling at a gentle 70 miles per hour and carrying only 20 pounds of luggage between them, they wandered from small town to small town, following the landscape like a winding storybook. Peter shares how the slow, low-altitude pace revealed details of America most travelers never see, and how each unplanned landing brought new encounters, unexpected hospitality, and a deeper appreciation for the quiet corners of the country. Peter also reflects on the long path from the adventure itself to the writing of his memoir, Landings in America. From the quirks of their Piper Cub to the magical moments spotted from a thousand feet and the serendipity of choosing the next small airstrip, Peter’s conversation highlights how traveling slowly, and paying close attention, reshaped his understanding of place, community, and the joy of exploration.