Ben Jacklet Follows the Sun

I remember a few years ago my friend Ben Jacklet telling me that he and his wife, Christina, were about to embark on a trip around the world. Literally.

Christina had earned a year-long sabbatical, and Ben’s gig selling solar panels wasn’t something that needed to tie him down. So they’d planned a roughly 12-month adventure: a few months overseas, then a return to Portland, followed by a few more months overseas, and so on and so on. The itinerary would take them to Costa Rica, Peru, Mexico, Chile, India, Italy, Greece, Australia, New Zealand and beyond.

But it wasn’t all just travel and exploration, fine food, coffee, wine, scuba diving, swimming and hiking. An award-winning journalist who I first met in 2004 at the Portland Tribune – and who later created the Mt. Hood site Shred Hood – Ben also had big plans for a book. One that would explore how all these countries were harnessing the sun for clean energy.

Well, he pulled it off. Not only did Ben and Christina have the global adventure they’d envisioned, but along the way, Ben interviewed at least 50 solar experts and toured countless solar installations around the world – then had the discipline and literary chops to bring the book to fruition.

It’s called “Follow the Sun: Around the World in Search of Solar Solutions.” It’s got the endorsement of renowned author, environmentalist and activist Bill McKibben. And it’s available now.

The book is a fantastic read for anyone who loves a good travel story and who believes in the promise of solar energy. Find “Follow the Sun” here, and learn more about Ben and his endeavors here.

And for a look at some of the adventures that I’ve shared with Ben over the years, check out the pics below.