William Spencer, and his mate Brian, were young men when they decided to set off from 1970s England, and cycle to India. Inspired by what he read about Auroville, in India, Spencer developed a growing interest in meditation (though it wasn’t something he could actually do).
Newbies
The pair weren’t very experienced cycle tourers, but what they lacked in experience, they more than made up for in enthusiasm. Carrying one heavy tent between them, the pair crossed France, Italy, Yugoslavia (as it was at the time), but parted ways in Greece, when Brian decided he had enough adventure.
Spencer continued the journey, making friends amongst travellers he met along the way. So far, this sounds like yet another long-distance cycling adventure, but stick with it.
Growth and challenges
The book is well-written, using language that flows easily. Spencer details astonishingly personal encounters with a myriad of different people he met along the way. In that alone, this book is well worth reading.
But it gets better. Many travel books speak of personal growth, or the search of meaning, but this one actually delivers on that. Spencer lays bare his personal growth along the journey, along with some terrifying challenges he encountered.
The route he followed to India was dangerous, at any time period, and his adventure had a great deal of danger. However, there’s a marked absence of machismo in Spencer’s writing. He’s not at all boastful, and simply recounts what happened, in quite a humble way.
Verdict
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and I expect you will, too. After all, there are many good reasons why this became an Amazon best-seller. I therefore strongly suggest you read this wonderful book.
Get your copy here, or at any good bookstore.