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![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
17 Aug 2018
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Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Honduras
Posts: 175
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mossproof
Not quite what you mean I suspect, but my parents put my wanderlust down to "Around the world with Ant and Bee"! That must have been embedded in my subconscious, but I was introduced to overlanding by a friend of my father who gave me his cherished "First Overland" by Tim Slessor when I was about 12. I subsequently spent 11 years driving overland trucks, eventually making the London - Singapore trip twice. He was very proud to have influenced me in this way, and my mother never forgave him!
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My buddy just had his first kid this year and I'm the godfather to him. Already have gotten moto related things for him and have plotted the string of books that will get to him once he's old enough. /devilish grin
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![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
31 Aug 2018
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sydney, Aus.
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Everything I've read by Paul Theroux has been good. Also Graham Greene - Journey Without Maps, Wilfred Thesiger - Arabian Sands, Peter Mathiessen - The Snow Leopard and Eric Newby - A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush.
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![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
8 Sep 2018
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Join Date: Mar 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by misterpaul
Everything I've read by Paul Theroux has been good. Also Graham Greene - Journey Without Maps, Wilfred Thesiger - Arabian Sands, Peter Mathiessen - The Snow Leopard and Eric Newby - A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush.
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Agreed. I think Theroux is a great writer. Thanks for the other suggestions.
Quote:
Originally Posted by brclarke
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Intriguing! Thanks for the links!
I tried out a few more recently after getting tired of Dan Walsh's incessant sarcasm and pessimism. Settled on Chris Scott's Desert Travels. He's impressively articulate and a good storyteller.
My reading has slowed down a bit as school has started and I'm teaching multiple novels.
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10 Sep 2018
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Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Esperance, Western Australia
Posts: 92
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Inspirational
One title missing from the discussion is
Last Hurrah! : From Beijing to Arnhem 2005
(author) Des Molloy
An incident-packed three-month trek from Beijing to Arnhem on 'Penelope', a 1965 Yorkshire-made 650cc Panther, and 'Dutch Courage', a 1954 Norton 600. The route took them across the Northern-most of the Old Silk Roads over the roof of the world through China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, the burning deserts in Iran, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Germany and finally to Arnhem in Holland.
Jupiter's Travels was, for me, a landmark read in the late 1970's.
Nothing was the same after reading it.
Now, at the age of 63, I am finally able to make plans to ride from Cape Town to Nordkapp.
It's going to be interesting.
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![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
10 Sep 2018
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![stuxtttr's Avatar](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/avatars/Animal014.gif) |
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Lutterworth,Midlands, UK
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Not sure its been mentioned but 'Running with the moon' by Jonny Bealby. Great book with lots of adventure and some romance (traveling down Africa) I've lent it to plenty of non bikers and they really enjoyed it as well.
Anything written by Austin Vince or his wife Louis. Likewise Nathan Millward and Chris scott.
So many great books out there.
Riding with the wind, about the iron butt rides.
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![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
12 Sep 2018
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: france
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Two great books instantly spring to mind:
10 years on Two wheels by Helge Pedersen
These are the days that must happen to you by Dan Walsh
Also great books and very popular:
Adventure Motorcycling Handbook by Chris Scott and Jupiter's Travels by Ted Simon.
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16 Sep 2018
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Join Date: Sep 2018
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travel books and books that inspire
For Me Ted Simons books
then
The Jungle is Neutral by by Freddie Spencer Chapman, not a travel book per se, but one that puts your odd little incidents into perspective
Stolen Journey, by Oliver Philpot, a journey though occupied Europe
again thought provoking
War Walks by by Professor Richard Holmes, shows the interlinking of history over thousands of years, and renewed my interest in the Great War, by showing how history keeps criss crossing the same arteries of trade
With a machine Gun to Cambrai by George Coppard
an ordinary soldiers account of the Great War, and his Return many years ago to lay the ghosts to rest
Round the World A Wheel by John Foster Fraser
an uninspiring cycle ride around the world with 2 friends in July 1896
so typical of the Victorian generation he made light of his problems
I have a first edition, its rare but worth seeking out or borrowing
and finally, Two Wheel to War by Martin and Nick Shelly
A book I reviewed a few years ago see below
First let me lay my cards on the table !
I have long had a keen interest in motorcycles, and from a very early age I was dreaming about riding and touring on one, later on against parental wishes I took to the road, and still today at my advanced age continue to ride and explore the world around me, viewing it in wonderment and awe
Many of the places mentioned in this book are familiar to me from reading about the Great War, and motorcycling along many of the same roads and villages. My wife's family have always been confused by my love of motorcycles, (they being simple country folk, grew up with cars and tractors) but recently it emerged that her grandfather, was a despatch rider in the Great War and rode a triumph Model H (a picture found on the wall of a relative long forgotten about, brought this fact to life and jogged a few memories).
Now the title of this book may lead one to believe that it is all about motorcycles, and that could make for boring and mundane reading for those of you not afflicted with my passion. Worry not, this is a story of the Great War, young men from all social classes coming together, and growing up quickly and learning to cope, while the world changed around them, and staying sane amidst the horror and destruction for which their generation were ill prepared.
This comprehensive book written by Martin and Nick Shelly, who are both motorcyclists and restorers of Vintage motorcycles, and Marque experts for the V.M.C.C., and highly respected amongst the motorcycling fraternity, is a labour of love, and well worth reading.
The book is based upon the diary and letters home of W.H.L. Watson, one of the intelligent and articulate young men of his day, of whom so many were slaughtered in the Mud of the Somme.So many of these Bright young men were lost that universities had to open up to a wider range of students (one of those being the son of a mill worker, J.B. Priestley)
W.H.L Watson wrote about his life, from joining up with the R.E and taking his motorcycle along to qualify (it is likely that he purchased his machine solely to join up) he writes with great skill of his friends and comrades, the experiences and the horrors, and yet makes light of his suffering. His book, published in 1915 was based upon letters that he wrote home, and that his family loaned to his old school to publish, the Censors initially missed this out, the book being heavily censored, the censored paragraph's are all included and highlighted in this book.
To add to this fine work, Martin and Nick have managed to locate many of the pictures taken at that time by Watson and his comrades, and to decipher their real names from the nicknames used in the stories.
Also letters home from from other members of his regiment are included and nicely cross reference the various scenes so vividly illustrated by him.
Many of these articles have not been seen since 1916 , and appear fresh and new to our modern eye.
Also included is an entire chapter devoted to the types and makes of motorcycles used in the Great War, and to the tools and spares that these men carried on their motorcycles, and to the riding and maintenance of them.
Now reading about their trips, often in darkness, on poor roads (long before tarmac), with the risk of enemy action, mechanical failures, friendly fire, and just the physical damage done by riding in such awful conditions, one is filled with respect for their actions; more so when you consider the fact that the motorcycle as a form of transport was still in its infancy and not considered much more than a rich man's toy!
The motorcycles of this Great War generation, share about as much in common with modern motorcycles as do the Wright Brothers flyer and the Boeing 737. They both have engines and they both fly, but their the similarity ends. (I purposely rode one yesterday to make a full comparison)
These machines, jokingly referred to as gas pipes, were little more than a conventional bicycle to which a crude and often unreliable stationery engine had been affixed, lights were either oil or acetylene, punctures common, as were bent and fractured fork blades, broken spokes, bent rims and snapped frames, broken drive belts, or snapped valves, or just mysterious faults beyond comprehension.
Added to this fact was the lack of petrol and oil available and the lack of skill mechanical engineers well versed in motorcycles to assist the riders.
Many human stories of triumph over adversity are in this fine book, of course the heroism and danger is downplayed as was common with that generation.
The story of them getting behind the lines and stealing a car under the noses of the enemy is real boys own stuff.
Upon first joining the Royal Engineers, Watson's opinion of the Regular soldier is not one of praise or respect, but then the different social stratas that they inhabit would explain that.
However given time, his experiences of the British Army, turn his opinions around, and I find he has a fair old judgement of the system before long, balanced and fair, and heaps praise gently upon the men serving under him and of those he serves and works under.
This book ties in well if you are studying the Great War, so many stories of this period were written by the leaders and decision makers, often some time afterwards and with little personal criticism or explanation of their actions.
The battles of Le Cateu, Mons, The Aisne, and the Retreats, the panics, and some terrible actions are well recorded, you will learn much about how the ordinary soldier lived and eat, their opinions of senior officers, the fear as they went out into the night
This is a very comprehensive book, and even those who know little or nothing about motorcycles will learn from it, all the complexities of the machines are explained in simple terms and with great accuracy, without glorifying the technical details. It runs to 302 pages, well printed and easy to read, 100 black and white photographs and 8 maps.
It is a book well worth reading on a dark evening with the window open and the smell of the French countryside wafting in, if only to remind you how lucky you are, and reading it made me wonder how I could have coped under those conditions ?
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Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.
"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)
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Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!
What others say about HU...
"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia
"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK
"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia
"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA
"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada
"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa
"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia
"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany
Lots more comments here!
![Five books by Graham Field!](/stuff/grahamfield/graham-field-2021-280.jpg)
Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook
"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.
Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!
New to Horizons Unlimited?
New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!
Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.
Read more about Grant & Susan's story
Membership - help keep us going!
Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.
You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.
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