Spotted in France
by Gregory Edmont

I just finished one book on France, and this is the next in line. Picked it from the France section in the library mainly because it is a Moto-Travelogue with a difference, The cover showed that Gregory on a Vespa Scooter with a Dalmatian and I could make out that this was an on road journey through France. If you don't know the French just Love DOGS and this books makes it all the more evident. The book is filled with hints on how much the French love their dogs, Did you know that the French have mating shops or to put it more crudely animal brothels where one can take his pet to be "trained" just in case if breeding does not come naturally to his pet. Did you know that French dogs eat out at restaurants with their owners and are often given their own chair at the restaurant table, with their own dish.

Having just finished an Excellent book on the French last week I was hoping this one to be just as good and it was. The book starts with "I knew my life was missing something . . . I just didn’t know what, ...." I always wanted to have a pet dog and this book just gave me a hundred more reasons why I should hurry up. You can read a brief outline of the story in one of the reviews here which broadly give you an idea of the story.

Gregory's life truly changes for the better with the dog, everywhere he goes people are more friendly , strangers come and talk to him and compliment him about the dog. He is invited into homes, fed and treated well , offered assistance , showered with innumerable smiles and the like just because he and his dog strike a gentle chord in people's hearts wherever they go.

In the 2 years Gregory also gets too attached to JP as he calls his dalmatian, and they share a lovely relationship. The book is filled with cute one page hand sketches of JP and the environment of the chapter which are sort of a prelude to what's in the chapter and really add a sort of a suspense and good feel to the book. This book is very well written in a simple and lucid manner, and can be easily read in a few hours. Apparently there is a movie in the making on the book, I'm looking forward to the movie now.

Two for the Road
by Shirley Hardy-Rix and Brian Rix

56671 Kilometers, 27 countries, one dream is the enticing tag line of the book. I practically kissed the book when I found it just as I was browsing through the travel section Melbourne city library. I was so happy to have found the book that I read the complete book some 325 pages of it and their travelogue on the website in the next 24 hours flat. So that does say something about the book, doesn't it ?

This couple has done the sort of a ride every biker worth his name dreams of but never comes around to actually doing. Shirley and Brian are a police couple from Melbourne, with Brian being a Policeman and Shirley a crime reporter / writer. They shipped their bike to England and rode it back all the way overland from London to Singapore from where they flew to Darwin and rode further on to Melbourne.

On the way passing through 28 countries and sending 350 days on the road. They have a good website which typically covers all the sections in the book in a little less detail. So its worthwhile having a look here before you decide to buy the book.

The interesting thing for me is that, this couple too was motivated by another US couple passing through Australia on their RTW on a motorbike: Chris and Erin. When Chris and Erin stayed in Melbourne with them. Chris and Erin must have motivated hundreds of people in their journey spanning 4 years , I know at least of one another friend of mine, Srinidhi, who was inspired by Chris and Erin when they stayed with him, and who is doing his own RTW now.


This motorcycle travel bug is like an Epidemic, and spreads like wildfire when like minded people meet. I had felt so enthused when I hosted a Motorcycle traveler - Linda Bick at my residence in Pune. Good to see that Brian was motivated by Chris and Erin and set off. I really appreciate their guts to have left everything behind and take the step ahead to leave for an RTW, to follow his dream. I know most bikers dream of following in their footsteps someday.

The book as such is alternatively written by Shirley(writing a Major Chunk, the Impressions of the places , the people and stuff) and Brian ( writing the Bike part, its repairs, problems , navigation , procedures, etc). I found the writing pretty easy going good to read but at places very touristy.

They did have their fair share of interactions with locals, but the couple (being reasonably well to do, I assume) stayed most of the time in Hotels, resorts , etc . This luxury might have somewhat limited their exposure to the locals, but still the book is filled with experiences of hospitality received from strangers and some funny anecdotes and the like. The detailed description of the Race day at Isle of Man is too good, you can also have a look at their website to get an idea of what I am talking about.

The practical advice in this book would be really helpful for someone planning a similar trip, for example they describe in detail their battle with Singaporean bureaucracy and have One line of Strong advice for any one planning to ride on to Singapore " Don't do it " the paperwork and the troubles to take the bike in Singapore is simply not worth it, one would be better off shipping out from Malaysia.

Today I got a reply for My email to the Authors sent from their regular email address, the other email address that I sent my mail to is fairly inactive (I guess since they did the trip a couple of years ago). And yeah I forgot the mention , Hardy Rix, owns a classic Standard Enfield Bullet in Melbourne.

Considering the authors are based in Melbourne, I hope to meet them for coffee some day, will update my post after that experience.

A Tankful of Time
by Michael P Fong

This books takes you on a journey from the concrete jungles of Singapore to the deserts of the Sahara by road and on a 1989 BMW 900 GS motorbike. Travel with the author on a road tour across the 3 continents , the book does not bother us with menial details like the formalities of border clearances and their difficulties, trials tribulations etc, difficulties with the bike , the journey , husband wife quarrels etc.

Instead This is more of touchy feely book with lovely profiles of places visited and people they met on the way. He makes an RTW(Round the world ) motorbike trip look very easy, reading this book you end up feeling just like as if the author was on a short ride on a long weekend.

The Author, Michael Fong comes across as the friendly guy next door , a very down to earth practical person. The book is very Motivating especially when he describes how he was initiated into motorcycling , when his school principal had arranged for another legendary motorcycle traveller passing through Singapore to address the students. If the purpose of him writing this book was to motivate others I am sure he has more than achieved the same.

You can follow the writer and his pics and travelogue here.