Bikers' Bookshelf

It’s a hard road
Especially on an old bike and with little money, but harder still is resisting the urge to ride. This is a journey of thrill and despair as the author heads into heavily armed Iraq, barely unable to escape the overwhelming hospitality and humbling generosity.
On the verge of discovery
Ureka is an almost accidental realisation that we can’t always control where the road takes us. However, accepting the direction, we find what we need to and that can be the most fulfilling travel experience of all.

How do you sum up a 15,000 mile motorcycle ride through 23 countries?
· Upon leaving the UK, Europe was in the way;
· Iraq was on the way, and worthy of a diversion;
· Turkey became an acquired taste;
· Georgia offered more diversity than one visit could cover;
· The Caspian Sea was a cause for reconsideration;
· A moment of planet-alignment occurred and the journey found purpose;
· The Caucasus called him back for deeper penetration;
· Armenia was a rough diamond;
· Thoughts leaned towards Bulgarian relocation whilst riding the Balkan backroads;
. Former Communist Europe had a raw but brutal beauty;
· An old flame was rekindled in Austria;
· Climaxing in an Alpine finale;
· A French food extravaganza;
· And Iron Maiden topped off the trip.

With a passport full of unused visas
The author turned his back on the Caspian Sea, but this U-turn was the Ureka moment. Sleeping next to a dying kitten in a Russian truck scrapyard, everything he’d been fighting against fell into place, inadvertently he turned his trip around.
Subsequently he bravely penned this book telling what others dare not admit or mention, that long distance solo travel and living the dream can be really bloody hard. His honesty and wit has inspired many a rider because, as with anything in life, perseverance brings exclusive rewards to the dedicated.

“One of the very best motorcycle adventure books I’ve ever read. At its best his writing is so vivid you’re in the tent with him, watching the sun come up, not knowing where you’ll be to see the next sunrise.” — RiDE Magazine