Where the Waves Turn Back

A Forty-Day Pilgrimage Along the California Coast

By: Tyson Motsenbocker

Narrated by: Tyson Motsenbocker

In this powerful memoir, following the death of his mother, Tyson Motsenbocker retraces the journey an 18th-century priest took in this harrowing story of one man’s pilgrimage of healing and finding beauty and hope in tragedy.

After years on the road performing at sold-out venues, Tyson Motsenbocker returned home to the impending death of his 57-year-old hero and mother. He begged God to heal her, but she died anyway. When they buried her body, Tyson also buried the childhood version of his faith.

Shortly before her death, however, Tyson became intrigued by the complicated legacy of Father Junipero Serra, the 18th-century Franciscan monk and canonized saint who dedicated his life to the idea that tragedy and suffering are portals to renewal. Father Serra built Missions up and down the California coast, spreading Christianity, as well as enabling and aiding in the oppression and colonization of the native Californians. Tyson discovered Serra’s “El Camino Real,” a 600-mile pilgrimage route up the California coast that had been largely forgotten for more than 200 years.

Two days after they buried his mother, Tyson set out on a pilgrimage of sorts, intending to walk from San Diego to San Francisco along the El Camino, following in the footsteps of the saint. Tyson’s journey takes him down smog-choked highways, across fog-laden beaches, past multi-million-dollar coastal estates, and along the towering cliffs of Big Sur. And as he walks, Tyson also wrestles with his faith, questioning the pat answers and easy prayers he once readily accepted, trying to understand how hope and tragedy can all be wrapped up in the same God. The people he meets along the way challenge his understanding of the meaning of security, of what it means to live a meaningful life, and of the legacies we all leave behind.

Where the Waves Turn Back is both part journal and part spiritual memoir, and ultimately, a thrilling and deeply satisfying story that asks questions that will resonate with listeners seeking meaning in an utterly disorienting age.

©2023 Tyson Motsenbocker (P)2023 Worthy Books

The whale story

There’s a time in everyone’s life that this book will be invaluable. I’m not going to suggest that you’re going to love it or even enjoy it, depends on where you’re at in your journey to understand things past the superficial answers we’re fed the majority of the time. But if you are ready to wrestle with uncomfortable topics, give it a try. To the author, there’s a few people I’d like to meet after death: Corrie Ten Boom, Freddy Steinmark, Tyson Motsenbocker, and his mom. Thank you for sharing.

thank you so much. Must read.

Tyson’s book takes the reader on an unreal journey through grief, resilience, pain, anger, love, forgiveness, God, and the California coast. His writing is descriptive and beautifully illustrated in a way that makes you feel like you know him and what this journey felt like. This book reveals what it means to be a human and experience life and death. Thank you, Tyson. I will never forget this one and will always come back to it.

Great Listen

Tyson has a lovely way of telling a story. His voice and words draw you in to this story of his journey.

Masterful storytelling

This book is a treasure of layered storytelling about so much of the human experience all at once. It’s all the emotion of being a person on this earth wrapped up into one book. A must-read.

For the adventurer, the griever, or the one who’s in between

From his song writing to the marketing emails that don’t market, I have enjoyed consuming the words Tyson has chosen to put out into the world. The words in this book moved more than what I have ever read or listened to from him - not that any other words were less important.

The journey of a man from his perspective and the stories of so many others makes this book the perfect getaway for someone who is in the in between and needs inspiration to take their next step in life.

This book reminded me the faith I long to have (Tysons moms faith - Chapter 7, 11:20) and how not alone I am in this world even on my solo trips. A beautiful reminder. I would love to write out all my takeaways, but I will just list my favorite parts:

Chapter 7 - 11:20
Chapter 9 - 08:57
Chapter 12 - 15:37
Chapter 17 - 10:47
Chapter 25 - 09:14
Chapter 29 - 00:07
Chapter 33 - 09:20

Ps. I’d give 7 more stars for the thoughtfulness of having and audiobook available (with the authors voice) for those of us who have ADHD, need to multitask, don’t like to read, or aren’t able to read at all.

Tale of loss and moving forward

As a native to the central coast in CA I loved how I could relate to Tyson's story as he walked from San Diego through my hometown and all the way up to San Francisco. I could also relate to his position in life over loss and how it's ok to move on and be OK even if it's not the same as things used to be. Your old ok is not the same as your new ok. Maybe your new ok isn't as good as the old one but you are still ok. I've broken a few bones on my motorcycle, recently separated my should mt. biking, and I have a list of other injuries but that hasn't stopped me. I keep moving forward like Tyson even when the road ahead is hard and painful. You learn to adapt and grow, and there is great beauty in the struggle and growth. You learn about yourself and find what matters in your life and spirituality. Thank you Tyson for sharing your story. I'm going to visit that sandwich shop in Slo once I figure out which one you were talking about. When I run along the central coast I'll enjoy it even more now and maybe one day will take my own pilgrimage.