Booklist: Amazing Odysseys on Two Wheels
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- Becktastic
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Booklist: Amazing Odysseys on Two Wheels
My thirst for adventure has been acting up again...I really want to do some epic trip on a scooter.
Alix (quite the adventuress herself) pointed me towards www.loisontheloose.com
This woman rode her motorcycle from Alaska to the tip of South America!
She has a new book about going through Africa too! So I added both of these to my cart and Amazon pops up with other suggested titles.
Including: Two Wheels Through Terror by Glenn Heggstad
Glen Heggstad is an adventure motorcyclist who seeks out and rides the most rugged places on the planet. He has been a Hell's Angel and a martial arts competitor, but no amount of training or experience was able to prepare him for what he became while riding to the southern tip of South America: a prisoner. This book is the shocking travelogue of Heggstad's journey through Central and South America, including his capture by Colombia's rebel ELN army, and the eventual realization of a dream. Follow along on his exciting, round-trip to the tip of the world, made all the more amazing by its intermission at the hands of terrorists. Heggstad was ripped from his motorcycle, robbed of everything, and forced to march through strange jungles with assault rifles in his back. He was fed only small amounts of rice and water and forced to carry heavy equipment, heavy packs, and heavy doubts about his future. Even with all the hand-to-hand and sophisticated combat training Heggstad possessed, it was his shrewd thinking, precise planning, and a "do-or-die" last act of desperation that eventually secured his freedom.
The next book had a much nicer tone at least. This guy holds the world record for longest motorcycle ride.
The Longest Ride: My Ten-Year 500,000 Mile Motorcycle Journey
by Emilio Scotto
For his eighth birthday, Emilio Scotto received a World Atlas. Promptly he announced his plan to make a route that would pass through all the countries of the world, a route he named BLUE ROAD ONE. When, some years later, he found himself astride a black 1100 Honda Gold Wing motorcycle, Blue Road One beckoned, and Scotto set off on a journey that would last more than a decade, take him virtually everywhere in the world, and land him in the Guinness Book of World Records. This is his story, a thrill ride that begins in his native Argentina, crosses Panama in the tumultuous time of Noriega, Mexico in the midst of an earthquake, and finds him broke in L.A. where, in a chance meeting, Muhammad Ali gives him fifty dollars and a signed book. Breaching the Iron Curtain, crossing the Berlin Wall at Checkpoint Charlie, being blessed by the Pope, set upon by cannibals in Sierra Leone, fleeing Somalia on a freighter, Scotto’s adventures would be unbelievable if they weren’t true. His tale of touring the world from Tunisia to Turkey, Petra to Afghanistan, Yugoslavia to Singapore, traveling miles enough to take him to the moon and back, is unlike any ever told. Come along, for the ride of a lifetime.
There a bunch more on there too...
Gosh people are crazy! At least I'm not alone
Alix (quite the adventuress herself) pointed me towards www.loisontheloose.com
This woman rode her motorcycle from Alaska to the tip of South America!
She has a new book about going through Africa too! So I added both of these to my cart and Amazon pops up with other suggested titles.
Including: Two Wheels Through Terror by Glenn Heggstad
Glen Heggstad is an adventure motorcyclist who seeks out and rides the most rugged places on the planet. He has been a Hell's Angel and a martial arts competitor, but no amount of training or experience was able to prepare him for what he became while riding to the southern tip of South America: a prisoner. This book is the shocking travelogue of Heggstad's journey through Central and South America, including his capture by Colombia's rebel ELN army, and the eventual realization of a dream. Follow along on his exciting, round-trip to the tip of the world, made all the more amazing by its intermission at the hands of terrorists. Heggstad was ripped from his motorcycle, robbed of everything, and forced to march through strange jungles with assault rifles in his back. He was fed only small amounts of rice and water and forced to carry heavy equipment, heavy packs, and heavy doubts about his future. Even with all the hand-to-hand and sophisticated combat training Heggstad possessed, it was his shrewd thinking, precise planning, and a "do-or-die" last act of desperation that eventually secured his freedom.
The next book had a much nicer tone at least. This guy holds the world record for longest motorcycle ride.
The Longest Ride: My Ten-Year 500,000 Mile Motorcycle Journey
by Emilio Scotto
For his eighth birthday, Emilio Scotto received a World Atlas. Promptly he announced his plan to make a route that would pass through all the countries of the world, a route he named BLUE ROAD ONE. When, some years later, he found himself astride a black 1100 Honda Gold Wing motorcycle, Blue Road One beckoned, and Scotto set off on a journey that would last more than a decade, take him virtually everywhere in the world, and land him in the Guinness Book of World Records. This is his story, a thrill ride that begins in his native Argentina, crosses Panama in the tumultuous time of Noriega, Mexico in the midst of an earthquake, and finds him broke in L.A. where, in a chance meeting, Muhammad Ali gives him fifty dollars and a signed book. Breaching the Iron Curtain, crossing the Berlin Wall at Checkpoint Charlie, being blessed by the Pope, set upon by cannibals in Sierra Leone, fleeing Somalia on a freighter, Scotto’s adventures would be unbelievable if they weren’t true. His tale of touring the world from Tunisia to Turkey, Petra to Afghanistan, Yugoslavia to Singapore, traveling miles enough to take him to the moon and back, is unlike any ever told. Come along, for the ride of a lifetime.
There a bunch more on there too...
Gosh people are crazy! At least I'm not alone
Lift heavy eat clean!
- chloefpuff
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- Becktastic
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It sounds incredible I ordered it today and I can't wait to get it!chloefpuff wrote:I read LoisontheLoose summer of '07 before I started riding. Might have to re-read it.
Check out these routes!
The Americas
Africa
The Africa one is only out in the UK...so it will take a little longer to ship to me. I'm so excited ^_^
Lift heavy eat clean!
- siobhan
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If you haven't seen Long Way 'Round (http://www.longwayround.com/lwr.php - from London to New York via the east) or Long Way Down (http://www.longwaydown.com/ -- Scotland to South Africa), you may want to check them out. Sure it's not quite the same when you're on some really lovely bikes with kick-ass gear, fixers and several Land Rovers and Toyotas following you, but I found both really interesting and well-shot.
There's a new one with just Charley called Ireland to Sydney by Any Means that I haven't downloaded yet as it's not finished airing (I like to watch in marathon sessions).
There's a new one with just Charley called Ireland to Sydney by Any Means that I haven't downloaded yet as it's not finished airing (I like to watch in marathon sessions).
Fahr mit mir!
http://scootcommute.wordpress.com/
http://scootcommute.wordpress.com/
- Becktastic
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I hadn't seen those. Pretty neat, but I do think it takes away from the adventure of it all to have a crew to carry your stuff and film every moment. I'd much rather read about what Lois was thinking when she was crossing African borders alone. There needs to be an element of danger for it to be excitingsiobhan wrote:If you haven't seen Long Way 'Round (http://www.longwayround.com/lwr.php - from London to New York via the east) or Long Way Down (http://www.longwaydown.com/ -- Scotland to South Africa), you may want to check them out. Sure it's not quite the same when you're on some really lovely bikes with kick-ass gear, fixers and several Land Rovers and Toyotas following you, but I found both really interesting and well-shot.
There's a new one with just Charley called Ireland to Sydney by Any Means that I haven't downloaded yet as it's not finished airing (I like to watch in marathon sessions).
Lift heavy eat clean!
- Becktastic
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- PeterC
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Booklist
Have you read Peter Moore's Vroom with a View?" The mileage isn't spectacular ... only from Milan to Rome, but Moore accomplishes it on a vintage 1961 Vespa fixer-upper (ongoing), and manages to get in many great meals and consume mass quantities of alcohol. Definitely more fun than being kidnapped by guerillas or banditos.
- Becktastic
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Re: Booklist
Oh Italy is delectable! A ride around Europe would definitely be fun, it's just that I have been to most of those countries already by rail and if I did a scooter adventure, I'd want to see some completely new places I still haven't seen most of America I will have to add that book to my reading list though! Soon I will have a whole shelf of two wheeled adventure books ^_^PeterC wrote:Have you read Peter Moore's Vroom with a View?" The mileage isn't spectacular ... only from Milan to Rome, but Moore accomplishes it on a vintage 1961 Vespa fixer-upper (ongoing), and manages to get in many great meals and consume mass quantities of alcohol. Definitely more fun than being kidnapped by guerillas or banditos.
Lift heavy eat clean!
- pugbuddy
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Hmmm, what about a ride from Tuscon to Nashville TN for "Buddyfest 09"? It'd be a pretty good warm-up for a mass Alaskan jaunt and you could pick up other riders on the way (lots of us in Texas in Oklahoma). Route 32 through Missouri is an excellent ride and you could do a good loop through much of the Central U.S....
- PasadenaSue
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Becktastic -
As an armchair adventurer, I have those shelves of books. Some make me want to pack up and head out, others are great reads but I'm glad that I wasn't along on the journey.
Anyplace can be an adventure if you have the right mindset. I agree that you can start with the U.S. There is plenty to see and you speak the language. After that you can venture to Mexico, South America, Africa, Australia (a great place for adventure travel), or places beyond.
Take a look at a map of Australia and follow the road from Cairns to Cape York. I did 1000+ miles of this mostly dirt road two up on a Cagiva 350. What an amazing experience!! Camping among the termite mounds, along croc infested rivers, with free range brahma bulls and wild fires burning around. If we saw 10 people a day it was crowded. After I got back I heard about a group of gals who rode their mountain bikes along that same route. I was absolutely amazed they could pull off such a trip! (Finding enough water would be a challenge, besides the condition of the dirt track.)
I think a fun, and unique trip, would be to ride across Canada. It gets pretty lonely out there in places. Or tour Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, they are very different from the western U.S.
Now I'm getting out my maps!!
PasadenaSue
As an armchair adventurer, I have those shelves of books. Some make me want to pack up and head out, others are great reads but I'm glad that I wasn't along on the journey.
Anyplace can be an adventure if you have the right mindset. I agree that you can start with the U.S. There is plenty to see and you speak the language. After that you can venture to Mexico, South America, Africa, Australia (a great place for adventure travel), or places beyond.
Take a look at a map of Australia and follow the road from Cairns to Cape York. I did 1000+ miles of this mostly dirt road two up on a Cagiva 350. What an amazing experience!! Camping among the termite mounds, along croc infested rivers, with free range brahma bulls and wild fires burning around. If we saw 10 people a day it was crowded. After I got back I heard about a group of gals who rode their mountain bikes along that same route. I was absolutely amazed they could pull off such a trip! (Finding enough water would be a challenge, besides the condition of the dirt track.)
I think a fun, and unique trip, would be to ride across Canada. It gets pretty lonely out there in places. Or tour Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, they are very different from the western U.S.
Now I'm getting out my maps!!
PasadenaSue
- Becktastic
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When is this Buddyfest? I haven't heard of it before...and Google search is turning up sports thingspugbuddy wrote:Hmmm, what about a ride from Tuscon to Nashville TN for "Buddyfest 09"? It'd be a pretty good warm-up for a mass Alaskan jaunt and you could pick up other riders on the way (lots of us in Texas in Oklahoma). Route 32 through Missouri is an excellent ride and you could do a good loop through much of the Central U.S....
Depending on the timing, that could be really awesome We could start a caravan, like when Forrest Gump starts running and all those people join in
Lift heavy eat clean!
- Becktastic
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Plus I should do the US while my roadside assistance is still good I don't think they would come rescue me if I got a flat tire in Mexico...PasadenaSue wrote:Anyplace can be an adventure if you have the right mindset. I agree that you can start with the U.S. There is plenty to see and you speak the language. After that you can venture to Mexico, South America, Africa, Australia (a great place for adventure travel), or places beyond.
That sounds awesome I want to go to Australia and New Zealand so badly. I'm not sure how comfortable I'd be on dirt roads like that on a two wheeler, but I've never ridden one designed for off road. My Buddy hates dirt and gravel...Take a look at a map of Australia and follow the road from Cairns to Cape York. I did 1000+ miles of this mostly dirt road two up on a Cagiva 350. What an amazing experience!! Camping among the termite mounds, along croc infested rivers, with free range brahma bulls and wild fires burning around. If we saw 10 people a day it was crowded. After I got back I heard about a group of gals who rode their mountain bikes along that same route. I was absolutely amazed they could pull off such a trip! (Finding enough water would be a challenge, besides the condition of the dirt track.)
This couple did Canada...2-up...on a 49ccI think a fun, and unique trip, would be to ride across Canada. It gets pretty lonely out there in places. Or tour Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, they are very different from the western U.S.
http://scootercanada.weebly.com/
Me too! When I can't be traveling, I get out maps and draw lines on them...or mapquest trips, or play with www.roundtheworldticket.com I'd be such a junkie if I had the money to completely indulge my habit.Now I'm getting out my maps!!
Lift heavy eat clean!
- chloefpuff
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- Alix B
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I also like Peter Beagle's book--"I see by my own outfit"
Two guys, go cross country on Heinkels. Two of the first guys to go cross country on scooters, actually.
I sometimes question if the Stella picked up her name from that book. Peter Beagle is a friend of P. McCaleb. The guitar in ISBMOO is 'Stella.'
Becktastic says, "Alix (quite the adventuress herself) pointed me towards www.loisontheloose.com"
Yes, and hopefully with my own book coming out in a year. A Publisher wrote to me, I've just got to make time and money for this to happen.
I went just as far as Lois, in less time actually. I went further than the Long Way Around guys, on their fancy BMW's. Except they had worse roads to travel, or lack thereof.
Two guys, go cross country on Heinkels. Two of the first guys to go cross country on scooters, actually.
I sometimes question if the Stella picked up her name from that book. Peter Beagle is a friend of P. McCaleb. The guitar in ISBMOO is 'Stella.'
Becktastic says, "Alix (quite the adventuress herself) pointed me towards www.loisontheloose.com"
Yes, and hopefully with my own book coming out in a year. A Publisher wrote to me, I've just got to make time and money for this to happen.
I went just as far as Lois, in less time actually. I went further than the Long Way Around guys, on their fancy BMW's. Except they had worse roads to travel, or lack thereof.
- armacham
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- rabbitgod
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Depending on which state you are in they have 'free' roadside assistance in place. Los Angeles Verdes in Sonora is an example. If that's any consolation. I'd love to ride down to San Carlos and go diving. Or Copper Canyon. Maybe next spring, hopefully the drug cartels will stop killing people by then and everybody can make some money on tourism.Becktastic wrote:Plus I should do the US while my roadside assistance is still good I don't think they would come rescue me if I got a flat tire in Mexico...
Also, I didn't see Motorcycle Diaries mentioned yet. Che Guevara and a friend of his went on an 8k mile journey around South America. It has some socialist commentary so if you don't mind that it's an ok read. The movie is pretty good too because they cut out a lot of his narrative and stuck to the motorcycle parts.
- Philio81
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I think Goran Kropp's odyssey is pretty amazing and has to be one of the toughest adventures (partially on 2 wheels) undertaken I can remember reading about. Puts difficult travel in perspective!
http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-High-My- ... 484&sr=1-1
Check out the editorial review on the above link...
http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-High-My- ... 484&sr=1-1
Check out the editorial review on the above link...
- Becktastic
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Of course Motorcycle Diaries! Read the book and watched the movie ^_^ Both really great.rabbitgod wrote:Depending on which state you are in they have 'free' roadside assistance in place. Los Angeles Verdes in Sonora is an example. If that's any consolation. I'd love to ride down to San Carlos and go diving. Or Copper Canyon. Maybe next spring, hopefully the drug cartels will stop killing people by then and everybody can make some money on tourism.Becktastic wrote:Plus I should do the US while my roadside assistance is still good I don't think they would come rescue me if I got a flat tire in Mexico...
Also, I didn't see Motorcycle Diaries mentioned yet. Che Guevara and a friend of his went on an 8k mile journey around South America. It has some socialist commentary so if you don't mind that it's an ok read. The movie is pretty good too because they cut out a lot of his narrative and stuck to the motorcycle parts.
Lift heavy eat clean!
- olhogrider
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- soundofsingles
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Also, I didn't see Motorcycle Diaries mentioned yet. Che Guevara and a friend of his went on an 8k mile journey around South America. It has some socialist commentary so if you don't mind that it's an ok read. The movie is pretty good too because they cut out a lot of his narrative and stuck to the motorcycle parts.[/quote]
Also check out "Chasing Che" by Patrick Symmes. He re-traces Che's journey (without the socialist commentary).
Also check out "Chasing Che" by Patrick Symmes. He re-traces Che's journey (without the socialist commentary).