I've never done one of these online reviews before, but this book should get more attention. I wish I always had a book on hand like this, that I was so actively interested in. I would give family a running update on what Larry and Barb were doing at a given point in the book.

As for a previous review citing lack of proper planning and cultural insensitivity, there is something to be said for underplanned or spontaneous adventures. And sometimes those who make the most mistakes can become the best of teachers. I for one don't require that the authors have something profound, illuminating, and highly sensitive to say about each culture they encounter. I'm quite happy that Larry and Barb were normal people who had some great adventures, persevered where many might not, and happened to write well enough to let me share some of it.

I definitely recommend this book.

Wow, even though this book was written some time ago, I felt a connection to Barbara Savage. She was open about life, and funny too. From the moment I started reading about her adventures I couldn't put the book down. I wish that I had never read the outside back cover of the book, however.

It has been over 20 years since we read this book. _I_ read it in preparation for a 4 month trip through and across western Europe. _She_ read it because I recommended it.

This story is so inspiring, it can change your outlook on life -- forever. The Savage's trials and tribulations, their open-mindedness in dealing with situations far beyond our immediate experiences -- ... this trip opened our minds and hearts to the planet Earth, and all her wonders.

After all these years, this wonderful travelogue still pops up up in our conversations about our lives --- to the extent that we decided to write this review: If you *want* to have an open mind, if you want to *experience* life on this Earth, to understand how *your* understanding differs from that of your brother/sister - read this book. Get a bike. Go for a tour. You will never be the same, again.

I found this book both enjoyable and annoying. Certainly, bicycling around the world in the 1970s was a daring thing to do. It took a great deal of courage and an adventuresome spirit. It was indeed sad to learn of the author's death at the end, and to wonder if that would have occurred if today's effective helmets were available. At the same time, the book has an annoying undercurrent of "oh look at what we had to endure. Aren't we noble?" when, in fact the author's and her husband's problems were largely the result of poor planning and cultural obtuseness. For example, they took very little care to avoid illness in places where sanitation was not good, and paid for it severely. They also complain about the wife being perpetually propositioned in Moslem countries, but she was warned about, and obviously ignored, rules of dress. I don't find these things admirable.

As with other such books, the story is completely self focussed. It would have been nice to learn something about the people that the author met, and the cultures of the places visited, beyond the two-dimensional treatment in the book. This could have been a book about personal growth through meeting challenges and developing cultural understanding. But, it isn't.

This book is without a doubt my favorite book ever! I first read this book in the late 80's. It was the inspiration for my husband and I to do some traveling of our own. After saving for a few years, we decided to take 18 months off from our "normal lives" and travel the world. We spent 4 months cycling Europe,traveling 4000 miles. We backpacked the rest of the way through Asia,Australia, and America. We had a great time and am so glad we took the plunge and just did it. I don't think we ever would have, had we not read Babera Savage's book. I highly recomend it for anyone considering traveling, or anyone just wishing they could.