Armchair Traveling

Since riding days are pretty much over for this season, I return to my stack of well-read travel books. One of my favorites is 'Abgefahren' by Claudia Metz and Klaus Schubert, two Germans who left their home country in 1981 to ride around the world on two XT600's. Their journey lasted 18 years. 'Abgefahren' has two meanings: on the one hand way-out or cool, but also taken off or gone.

The newest addition to my book shelf is 'Dreaming of Jupiter', in which Ted Simon set out on a second world-trip, 30 years after his first journey. And last but not least, Emilio Scotto's voyage, an Argentinian who rode solo around the world on his Gold Wing, documenting his travels lasting 10 years, and 500,000 miles in 'The longest Ride'.