BOOK REVIEWS
2Up And Overloaded
TIM NOTIER
2020
ISBN 979-8603138374
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Sleeping Around In America
ANDREW BEATTIE
2020
ISBN 978-1-5255-6751-3
Tim Notier’s second book, 2 Up and
Overloaded, continues where his first
book Maiden Voyage left off; he and
partner Marisa’s plan to ride around
the world.
2 Up and Overloaded is a book in
three parts and in many ways, it is
written in a similar fashion. It starts
with the pair, aboard their KTM,
riding through the United States to the
border with Mexico. While some of
this experience might be new to these
travellers, setting the scene of what
we can expect … Marisa, the world
traveller, enjoying the experience,
Tim, new to the experience, strug-
gling with the early days. The reader
is the benefactor.
Through Tim’s self-deprecating
sense of humour, we discover this
couple are the perfect travellers to
share the experience.
Part two, Mexico; we learn that
what Tim, and Marisa, take from the experience is often very different yet,
very similar, moreso as they move
into a rhythm, the tale changhes pace
and becomes more engaging.
The third part sees another turn
and while it is the most engaging, it is
also the most rushed, perhaps an indi-
cation as to how Tim and Marisa were
travelling through these countries.
The countries of central America
don’t get as much content as Mexico
or the USA however it reads like these
countries were where the greatest
experiences occurred.
Tim has crafted an impressive
account of motorcycle travel for the
first-time overlander although this
account would've benefitted from an
additional 150 pages of detail.
Tim, and Marisa, are on a big bike
and a little overloaded but these two
know how to adventure ... 2 Up and
Overloaded is well worth getting your
hands on.
Beautifully constructed, Andrew
Beattie has compiled an attractive
series of travel notes that form a trav-
elogue of a differing nature.
Sleeping Around In America, is a
look at fifty of the USAs unique road-
side motels through the eyes of a
motorcycle traveller. Andrew’s expe-
rience, he has an MBA in hospitality
and tourism, and has worked with
many of the leading chain motels,
leads him to honest opinions of a
unique sub-culture of the road trip
adventure. It’s a compelling story of
50 motels across 50 days.
Neon signs, retro furniture, inter-
esting history, all these motels have
a story which Andrew draws from to
tell his story fused with theirs. He
explores the structure, the history, the
people, past and present to find that
there’s a resurgence in the roadside
motel, along two different paths.
The format of Sleeping Around In
America is such that it would make
a perfect coffee table book, drawing attention, starting conversations.
Cleverly crafted, this book is full of
images that evoke memories of times
past, of childhood family road trips.
Sleeping Around In America chal-
lenges the concept of adventure; it
needn’t be dirty or remote, adventure
is about new experiences, discovering
different cultures, learning about your
surrounds and yourself. Sleeping
Around In America is an adventure
amongst civilisation.
If you prefer a more comfortable
experience, an adventure without the
dirt, then Sleeping Around In Amer-
ica is for you … if you’re after a new
experience, exploring the by-roads
of the United States of America, then
Sleeping Around In America is for you
… if you’re after a beautifully crafted
book, full of interesting imagery and
compelling anecdotes, then Sleeping
Around In America is for you …
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