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After the big trip...write a book After the big trip...write a book
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After the big trip They came, went... and did it! But where are they now? DID that big trip change their lives? What to do with all the travel experience and how to use it? How to get a job afterwards! Was the trip the best - or worst - thing you ever did?
Photo by Lois Pryce, schoolkids in Algeria

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Photo of Lois Pryce, UK
and schoolkids in Algeria



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  #1  
Old 12 Dec 2013
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After the big trip...write a book
OK, so I did the big trip and then when I got home I had this huge void in my life. 10 years in the saving/planning, one year in the riding and then nothing. So I decided to sit down and write about it.

I found is incredibily therapeutic. I could relive my story, fill in the gaps and research some of the history I'd only touched upon whilst on the road. And I wasn't boring my friends!

It took me two years but I've just managed to turn my story into a book and I launched 'Gone Riding' two weeks ago at the NEC Motorcycle Live show in Birmingham, UK.

I thank the HUBB Community in my book as they/you have helped me through all the stages of my journey. This really is the story of someone who's managed to 'live the dream' largely due to HorizonsUnlimited.

Please take a look at my website. http://domgiles.co.uk/
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Old 13 Dec 2013
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Lonesome George, congratulations on your book! What kind of volunteering did you do while traveling?
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Old 17 Dec 2013
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Dom, well done with the book and I hope it works out well. You can't have too many bike travel books in my err... book.

I've written two books in the last year (neither of which I've yet published beyond proofing) so I know how hard it can be, particularly if you have to be writer and editor rolled into one. In some respects doing the trip is the easy part, although as usual it's the bits that caused the most pain and anguish that make the best copy.

I did wonder how many other people on here have done something similar ie publish a book of their travels (or any other aspect of their lives), but after the reaction to the rtw question above perhaps its better left hanging.
Last edited by backofbeyond; 17 Dec 2013 at 13:34. Reason: editing!
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Old 17 Dec 2013
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Thanks for the comments. After writing my book I was very worried about the kind of reception it would get. It's early days but I sold loads of copies at the NEC Motorcycle live show and so far I've had three comments posted on Amazon - all of them excellent. I'm really pleased.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gone-Riding-...ds=Gone+riding

Rosa, I volunteered on a Turtle rescue centre in Baja California, a Sloth sanctuary in Costa Rica and teaching in a township school in Cape Town.

Incidentally I sort of started my motorcycling travels in Argentina. In 1995 I went to teach in BA and bought a Honda Transalp. I spent the summer in Patagonia and the foloowing winter in Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay. Even though I wasn't supposed to be allowed to take the bike out of the country as a foreigner, I didn't know and just booked myself on a ferry to Montevedeo. No one asked! Sometimes ignorance is bliss...
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Old 17 Dec 2013
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Hey LG, I was thinking about a family volunteer trip to the sloth sanctuary outside Limón. Is that the one you volunteered at? Any quick words of wisdom about the concept and experience? It's not something I'm done much of.

Thanks. I'll get to your book sooner or later…although at the moment it looks like "later."

Mark
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Old 4 May 2014
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Sorry my reply is so late!

Yes, that's the one I was at. Really enjoyed the experience. If you like animals and like getting up at 5 am then give it a go!

(Have you bought my book yet )
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Old 28 Apr 2018
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Originally Posted by ta-rider View Post
Is there still a marked for books? I think in times of Internet and co books are old fashion. Young people dont buy them anymore.

I buy an adventure book once in a while. Blogs and facebook pages are the fast food of adventure travel accounts. Read a few lines, skim a dozen photos and you are off. Maybe you never check that blog again, maybe you subcribe etc... A book(a good one) you get into it and leaves more to imagination, more introspective, oftentimes less self centered, less "look at what I rode today" a book, you commit to it and if it's a good one, reading it can be rewarding.
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