BOOK REVIEWS
I
21 Days To Dirt Bike Baja,
What Could Go Wrong?
JESSICA WALSTAD
2019
ASIN B07XNKXW4J
Baja. We all know it, it’s where
that famous off-road race takes place
but who really knows a lot about the
real Baja? That strip of land that is
Mexico yet so very close to the Unit-
ed States? It would seem it’s a great
place to explore, a great place to ride
a bike.
So, picking up 21 Days To Dirt Bike
Ride Baja, What Could Possibly Go
Wrong? We were expecting a travel
adventure exploring the region, the
people, the cultures.
Jessica Walstad provides an ac-
count of her and partner, Travis, of-
ten referred to as ‘T’, twenty-one-day
ride down the peninsula and back.
Starting well, 21 Days, allows the
reader to explore personal thought,
the anxiety, the excitement and as it
moves along, we see that there will be
a few issues, nothing any motorcycle
traveller hasn’t experienced. It con-
E
She'll Be Right
Chantal Simons
2017
ISBN 978-1-980879-30-5
W
Riding from Perth across the
Nullarbor Plain with her father is just
the beginning for a young Chantal
Simons, an adventure riding around
Australia follows.
She’ll Be Right! Is the account of
Simons’ two year odyssey across and
through what she describes as one
of the most vast and empty places on
Earth. For the adventurous Simons
this is the perfect invitation to start a
ride.
Not so much a book about time on
the road, She’ll Be Right! is a trav-
elogue based on connections and
feelings; landscapes and places are
exchanged for meetings with Austral-
ian characters, new friends, new love.
As Simons rides across the centre of
Australia, diagonally from Brisbane
to Perth we’re given an insight into
the mind of a ‘solo’ traveller through
very personal thoughts and memo-
ries.
Riding with a friend following in a
TRAVERSE 105
tinues as the pair finally board their
bikes and start riding into Mexico.
We’re given an insight into the peo-
ple and regions close to the USA, it’s
interesting and keeps the pace mov-
ing as they ride further south howev-
er, a few themes become repetitive;
meetings with the familiar – Amer-
icans holidaying by bike. Booze,
there’s a lot of booze, tequila, beer,
wine ... it’s all there, not a problem,
just repetitive.
21 Days begins engagingly enough
to show potential. Sadly, it does fin-
ish hurriedly leaving this reviewer to
ask, “why wasn’t there more time put
into it?” A consequence of self-pub-
lishing? Perhaps.
With a little constructive editing
21 Days To Dirt Bike Baja could be a
great little read.
S
4x4 Simons is technically not alone
yet she’s determined not to rely on
friendships or easier options and
wants that personal solo experience
and for that, we, the reader, are much
better for it as we share all of Simons’
emotions, fears and successes.
She’ll Be Right! is a well written
account of her time on the road and
the experience of it all. There is one
criticism of the whole account; it’s
simply not long enough. It’s a book
that doesn’t need to be longer how-
ever, a few more details would’ve
provided greater context and perhaps
opened the experience a little more
for the reader.
If you’re a female … no, anyone
… who dreams of solo motorcycle
travel give She’ll Be Right! a read, it’ll
open your mind to the possibilities
and options for such travel. In many
ways, She’ll Be Right! is written as
travelogues should be written.