The Road to Gobblers Knob: From Chile to Alaska on a Motorbike |
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Geoff Hill
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Pages: 310 (Paperback)
ISBN: 0856408042
Pub: Blackstaff Press Ltd
Pub date: 2007-04-23
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 7565
Reader Reviews:
the road to gobblers knob (1/4 people found this helpful)
Pretty pointless yarn...the main problem is the author and his use of non stop so-called "Irish Wit" from start to finish of the book which just becomes a big turn-off after the first chapter. If you are thinking of subjecting yourself this nonsense - be warned..
A Brilliant Read (9/10 people found this helpful)
An absolutely brilliant read. Not your normal motorbike rabblings. This was a great read from start to finish. So well written, very funny, full of interest and even very moving. Well done Geoff Hill. Happy and safe motorcycling.
brief review (3/3 people found this helpful)
found the book better than the usual travel writing....... well written, with relentless humour (mostly funny in my head)....... its generaly brief about all the places visited and about the preperation of the venture... mister Hill turns on the poetic descriptions of certain times, places and feelings far less than i wish he had done..... if your looking for details for ideas to sort your own panamericana trip , this is weak in info, but it will inspire as it has me..... cant help love the mans spirit.
as interesting as it is humourous (10/11 people found this helpful)
A very enjoyable read recounting a seat of the pants adventure born of frustration at the daily grind of office life. No slick production this trip , no eye to the DVD sales or TV show, just two guys with the guts to get off their backsides to live a little on their own wits & with the kindness of strangers to get them through.
No doubt an understanding of the deadpan Ulster sense of humour helps but is far from impenetrable.
He does indeed go on a little about missing his wife, so what? I would feel the same and it is just part of the overall package as much as his endless wonder at the beauty of the landscapes, the weather good & bad, the food, the people,etc.
A little reminder also to those of us who travel with preconceived notions of "national characteristics" only to find that most people utterly fail to live up to the stereotype.
Well done Geoff, I am ordering "Way to go" & would await any further books with interest.
Interesting story of a long bike journey (11/11 people found this helpful)
A dream come true for Geoff Hill and his companion Clifford Patterson - riding all the way from Chile to Alaska. Lucky guys!
Travel writer Hill shares his wonderful adventure with us in a mixture of road book and travel review. He tells us of the difficulties and pleasures of riding his Triumph over some of the best and worst conditions. He also gives us anecdotes about the people and the places he stopped in. There's something here for travel fans as well as bike enthusiasts.
I have previously read "A Long Way Round" and Hill certainly slags Charley and Ewan off on several occasions - but very much in a good humoured sort of way. He did this trip without the back-up that Boorman and McGregor had.
One thing that did get tiresome for me is the incessant exaggerated humour, eg "When Francis Drake sacked Cartagena in 1586, it claimed unfair dismissal." (p 173). If you like this kind of humour, then you'll love this book. Lots of good fun and jokes, but it does wear you down after a while.
It's also clear that Hill loves his wife Cate - and he told us this many, many, many times. Not as bad as Charley and Ewan, but once would have been enough for me.
In summary, this is an enjoyable book that is light and easy to read. You don't have to be a biker to enjoy it, but it would probably be more interesting if you ride bikes.
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Categories
Amazon.co.uk places this book into the following categories:
Books -> Subjects -> Reference -> Transport -> Automotive -> General AAS
Books -> Subjects -> Reference -> Transport -> General AAS
Books -> Subjects -> Reference -> General AAS
Books -> Subjects -> Travel & Holiday -> General
Books -> Subjects -> Travel & Holiday -> Countries & Regions -> Central & South America -> Chile
Books -> Subjects -> Travel & Holiday -> Countries & Regions -> Central & South America -> General AAS
Books -> Subjects -> Travel & Holiday -> Guidebook Series -> General AAS
Books -> Subjects -> Travel & Holiday -> Travel Writing
Books -> Subjects -> Travel & Holiday -> General AAS
Books -> Refinements -> Language (feature_browse-bin) -> English
Books -> Refinements -> Format (binding_browse-bin) -> Paperback
Books -> Refinements -> Font Size (format_browse-bin) -> Regular Size