R. Pitcher (Robert Pitcher) Woodward

R. Pitcher Woodward, also listed as Robertson Pitcher Woodward, was an American writer born in 1866 and associated today mainly with On a Donkey's Hurricane Deck. That book, published in 1902, tells the story of his 4,096-mile trip from New York to San Francisco on a burro, a journey he says took 340 days and 2 hours while he earned his way along the route.

What makes Woodward memorable is the tone of that account. Rather than presenting himself as a grand explorer, he writes with wit and a sense of everyday absurdity, turning a long overland trek into a humorous travel narrative full of encounters, setbacks, and persistence.

Published records also connect him with Trains That Met in the Blizzard, but detailed biographical information about his life appears to be scarce. He died in 1940, and his surviving reputation rests largely on the charm and originality of his travel writing.