Lois Pryce quits her job at the BBC, buys a used Yamaha XT225 and heads for Alaska to start a solo ride to the southern tip of South America via the Pan American “Highway”. Guys, if you are married and dreaming of getting into motorcycling, ask your wife to get you this book from the library. She’ll love the idea that you are actually reading something and, wonders will never cease, it’s about a woman’s achievement! Only later will she realize she has brought you a book about motorcycles, and is already complicit in your dream. And kinda likes it. Compared to Lois, you are looking like mister reasonable.
In some respects the book is the flip side of The Long way ‘Round. Ewan and Charlie back each other up while Lois travels alone. A whole support team including a van and third motorcycle versus nothing for Lois. The guys are each riding a new BMW R1150GS, at the time the gold standard in long distance adventure bikes. Lois has her old XT. Displacement is fundamental in how much power an engine can produce and 1150 is over 5 times the size of 225. The unladen GS is over twice the weight of the XT.
It’s the minimalist approach that I find so appealing these days and Lois has nailed it.
By the time she has described her first night out camped beside a remote Alaskan highway with snow falling on her lonely tent, I am hooked for the duration. The book has excitement, technical details, humor, danger, tragedy and triumph. It’s wonderful.
It may also help you get your own bike.
Getting On 