Beyond the Book

Hover over the boxes to take a look at interesting facts about Michael, beyond the pages of An Uncertain Life

Charles Michael Brill was born in Mobile, Alabama and lived in the city until age 5 and again from age 11 to 21.

Interesting facts about the port city of Mobile:
Founded in 1702, it is one of the oldest cities in the United States and Home of the Original Mardi Gras.

The Battle of Mobile, saw the last major port in the confederacy fall in
another battle of Ironclads.

Born in...

His early elementary school years were spent on Monte Sano Mountain, overlooking Huntsville, Alabama home to Redstone Arsenal, where the Saturn Rockets were developed that put man on the moon.

Michael also lived in Shawnee, Oklahoma, an area made infamous by the novel The Grapes of Wrath as the bankers took the farms away during the dust bowl years.

Another stop was Ft. Worth, Texas home to both Billy Bob’s Honky-Tonk and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Go figure…

On the Move...

He visited his first National Parks in the west after his roommate in
Seminary was electrocuted in an accident: Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Parks. These amazing places started his wonder and love for beauty found in nature and deepened his love and respect for ALL of God’s creation including Bears, Wolves, Fox, Big Horn Sheep, etc.

He is an avid walker/hiker. Do you know the difference between a walk and a hike? One is done in a city environment and the other is done in a nature setting.

He also considers himself to be a citizen of the world, having visited diverse countries such as Egypt, Nicaragua, Canada, St. Lucia, Germany (lived there), France, Argentina, Panama, Turkey, etc. He believes God loves all of creation. Travel gives him an understanding and appreciation for thegreat diversity that makes up our big, beautiful world.

Another interesting fact: he walks/hikes over 16,000 steps per day.

Citizen of the World

Top City walks: Positano, Italy…simply amazingly beautiful landscape and
warm people. Budapest, Hungry: history fills you with every step. It is
among the most beautiful, especially at night. Paris, France is unmatched
in the world. Walk the streets at night and it glows with the streetlights and
lit up historical structures such as Notre Dame Cathedral, Eiffel Tower and
The Arc de Triomphe.

Top City Walks

Positano, Italy: simply amazingly beautiful landscape and warm people.

Budapest, Hungry: history fills you with every step. It is among the most beautiful, especially at night.

Paris, France: unmatched in the world. Walk the streets at night and it glows with the streetlights and lit up historical structures such as Notre Dame Cathedral, Eiffel Tower and The Arc de Triomphe.

Opabin Plateau Hike at Lake O'Hara in Yoho National Park, British Columbia: An amazingly beautiful hike from the lake up to Opabin Plateau. It is 4.5 miles up, making it about 9 miles round trip. Getting to Lake O’Hara is tough as they only offer 90 seats by bus a day except for people staying at the lodge or those hiking in. From the parking lot to the Lake O’Hara campground is
about 11km (6.8 miles), gaining 500 meters (1,650 feet) in elevation. So there are not many takers.

Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg, a 2.8 mile one way hike near Wengen, Switzerland.

Angel’s Landing, Zion National Park, Utah, is 5.4 miles, known for its breathtaking views, and the thrilling chain-assisted climb.

While Michael has gone on longer and shorter hikes, these were the most memorable.

Top Three Hikes

Michael is also amateur photographer of both landscapes and wildlife. Below are some additional pictures of wildlife and scenic shots. Click on the images for more information.

An Uncertain Life