BOOK REVIEWS
Títle: Around Australia The
Hard Way In 1929
Writer: Jack L. Bowers
Year: 2003
I
Written almost 75 years after the
event, Around Australia The Hard
Way In 1929 is an amazing account
of an amazing motorcycle ride.
Jack Bowers and his mate Frank,
put together a Harley Davidson
sidecar outfit that resembled a cof-
fin and set off to ride a lap of Aus-
tralia, the first such successful at-
tempt.
Riding on mostly unmade roads,
some non-existent, this is a fantas-
tic tale and perhaps it is just that ...
a tale.
The writer is of a high quality
that engages the reader, keeping
one enthralled however, it's hard
not to think at times that perhaps
the story has been embellished by
the passing of time.
While the adventure is of the
E
W
When The Road Ends: The Tale
Of An Incredible Journey, while
well written, in a way that keeps the
reader interested it is at times a lit-
tle hard to decide what is fact, what
is fiction.
This is a motorcycle adventure of
a very different type and well worth
reading, cast aside your impres-
sions and believe this is real, not
The Life of Pi 2.
Regardless of how much is fic-
tion, Dylan tells his story with great
enthusiasm, a way that sees the
reader wanting more. It’s hard to
put down.
Títle: When The Road Ends
When The Road Ends is just that,
Writer: Dylan Samarawickrama
a
story
of when the road ends at
& Martina Zuercher
the Darien Gap in Panama. Not to
Year: 2015
be outdone, he builds a raft, to car-
ry he and his bike and sets sale for
TRAVERSE 113
highest, the story telling is some-
times a little vague or glossed over.
The harshness of the Australian
outback is sometimes vaguely remi-
nisced, some detail would make the
story a little better.
There's no doubt Jack can tell a
story however, seventy five years
later, the story doesn't fit with mod-
ern thinking ... perhaps this is a
good thing and is just Jack being
very honest. Racism and prejudices
both come into the story. No doubt
that's how it was at the time, maybe
that's the charm of the story. It pro-
vides an open view into a different
time, just like the conditions of the
time.
If you can get your hands on a
copy of this book, do so, but do so
with an open mind.
S
lands south of the gap.
There's drama, there's bandits,
there's hero, there's dolphins that
save the day. This is a very enjoya-
ble read that gets you thinking; why
can't I do that?
Originally written in German,
When The Road Ends, perhaps is
embellished when translated to
English. It doesn't matter, it even
perhaps keeps the story alive.
When The Road Ends: The Tale
Of An Incredible Journey is certain-
ly worth reading, certainly worth
owning ... just be mindful that the
dolphins perhaps represent the
Coast Guard, just as an Orang-utan
represented a mother ...