BOOK REVIEWS
I
Títle : Two For The Road Writer : Shirley Hardy-Rix & Brian Rix Year : 2005
Títle : Race to Dakar Writer : Charley Boorman Year : 2006
Two For The Road
In 2003 Australian couple Shirley and Brian set out to explore the world by motorcycle , a life-long ambition for both . Covering just under 57,000 kilometres , 27 countries , in 350 days , Two For The Road , is their tale .
The book covers their travels from the Isle of Man , there for the TT , then through Europe and Asia to home , in Melbourne , Australia .
Two For the Road , is an epic adventure in different lands for both Shirley and Brian , with great insight into the different cultures and peoples from the perspective of a couple on one motorcycle . At times the descriptions do come across as a little negative and perhaps even just plain whining , perhaps that ' s how the authors are trying to make their point ... that things are different to what they are accustomed to . Try to skim over this and take the positives
E W
Race to Dakar
A lifelong dream to enter the infamous Dakar overland rally was all it ook for actor Charley Boorman to take on this epic event . With a team of TV producers and fellow riders ; Simon Pavey ( multipile Dakar competitor ) and Matt Hall , Boorman set about preparing for such a gruelling race .
Training took it ' s toll on Boorman who broke a collar bone while in Dubai , setting back the overall preparation .
During the race Boorman crashes and breaks a hand and injures the other forcing him out of the rally , he then tells a mesmorising tale trying to justify his attempt at the Dakar and what he sees as a failure , all the time with the knowledge that a rider , Andy Caldecott , of Australia was killed on the very same race .
His team continues on , and while Hall gives up and is then lost in the from the underlying story ; that there ' s a great wide world out there , with lots to offer everyone .
Two For The Road is an honest account of what it is like to travel as a couple , and the trials and tribulations that go with that . If you ' re looking for hardcore adventure this isn ' t the book for you ; the roads are well travelled , the accommodation quite civilised , the situations quite touristy , yet don ' t be fooled , this is still adventure travel at its core . ; a couple of people , travelling in a way that most wouldn ' t and in countries that many consider too ' unsafe '. It is still an adventure .
Two For The Road is worth a read , if for nothing else than the inspiration to get out and give it a go .
S desert for two days , Pavey finishes the greatest challenge in all of motorsport .
While this book is strictly not about overland travel it is a great insight into the conditioning , both physical and emmotional , that is required to take on such and endeavour , to follow your dreams .
Race to Dakar is at it ' s core a motor racing biography , yet it goes further than just results , or lack of , and explores many aspects required to be the best or to simply do what you love . Race to
Dakar is simply one of the best books of it ' s type written . Boorman receives a lot of criticism for his journeys , many saying he does it with a full support crew and backup , that may well be the case but he still gets out there and has a go ... amd that is what Race to Dakar is all about .
TRAVERSE 69