2. Setbacks

Without graduating from the University of Wisconsin, Muir left school and journeyed to Canada in 1864. He spent most of his time there backpacking across the swamps and woods at Lake Huron in addition to gathering certain plants. However, with tight finances, Muir was left with no choice but to seek the help from his brother, Daniel who was in Ontario. Both of them then found a job at a sawmill.

In the year 1866, Muir went back to the U.S, working at a wagon wheel factory in Indianapolis. His knack for inventing proved his worth as they improved many of the machinery there. Unfortunately, in the year 1867, Muir suffered a serious eye injury as he slipped and a work-tool hit his eye. This resulted in Muir suffering from temporary blindness. This drastic incident changed his life as he vowed that once he regained his sight, he would dedicate his entire life and efforts into nature, as quoted “This affliction has driven me to the sweet fields. God has to nearly kill us sometimes, to teach us lessons.”

From then onwards, he began traveling to many countries just for the absolute thrill of adventure. He walked from Indianapolis to Florida as recounted in his book “A Thousand-Mile Walk to The Gulf”, sailed from Cuba, and later to Panama, crossing the Isthmus and sailing to West Coast, which landed him in San Francisco in the year 1868. With that, California became his home.