Bikers' Bookshelf

Sensing what was already a bad situation was likely going to take a turn for the worse, I glanced at the machete I kept strapped to the back of my bike. Weighing the alternatives in my mind, I was pretty sure that pulling out the machete would send a strong message that we didn’t want to be messed with. On the other hand, it would likely only serve to further provoke an already agitated crowd, akin to throwing gasoline on a fire…..

In March of 2021, Brad and Aaron Zakes departed Seattle, Washington on a father and son motorcycle adventure to South America. With the goal of reaching Ushuaia at the southern tip of Argentina, little could they have anticipated the challenges they would face during the trip.

The Road to Ipiales tells the story of Brad and Aaron’s epic three-month journey of nearly 15,000 miles through North, Central and South America. Border closings, breakdowns, country protests and crooked customs officials barely scratch the surface of the many trials they encountered along the way, all while traveling during the height of the global COVID pandemic.

For overland motorcycle enthusiasts or those who simply enjoy reading good adventure tales, Zakes tells his story in an entertaining, narrative style of how father and son work together to overcome adversity and still manage to have a hell of a good time along the way.