A Book Review by BPC Librarian, Linder O’Rourke – A Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf by John Muir: Writings compiled by John Bade: John Muir is known as the “father of our national parks” and is one of America’s greatest voices for the preservation of our wilderness. This short narrative about his walk from New England to the southern states in America which he called his “foot-tour” is beautifully chronicled and illustrated.