5 comments about Lois on the Loose.

1. Great fun read. Not a great amount of detail on doing a trip of this sort but that's not what the book is about...it's about a fantastic adventure.
   I get a kick out of certain movie stars doing a round the world trip with a support team, video...on big BMW bikes....and then reading about a woman who does N and S America on a 225cc dirt bike without support. Too bad there isn't any video. Now she's gone and done Africa N to S....hopefully she will continue to ride and write...there is still a lot of East to West.



2. As an avid motorcyclist (I currently own two)and Central American traveler I was extremely excited get my hands on this book. My disappointment in it is almost beyond words. I feel obligated to write my first Amazon review as a warning to others.
   
   My first impression was how in the world could an author compress such an epic journey into such a small book? After a thorough reading I'm all too aware of how that is possible. She simply blew through the entire journey as fast as possible and seemingly learning as little as possible.
   
   For her "Glory ride" she chooses to travel through thousands of miles of Latin America but, by your own admission, doesn't bother learning any Spanish beforehand. Then she proceeds to complain endlessly about communication difficulties. She breaks just about every possible cultural taboo wherever she travels then proceeds to complain about not being treated respectfully. It seems the author's paranoia of host country nationals is more fueled by her chronic total disregard of indigenous culture than by any malevolent intent on the part of those she encounters along the way. The rich Gringa bikes through the Third World staying in ultralow budget accommodations and complains incessantly about a perceived lack of cleanliness by her first world standards.
   
   The author mixes all of this with an unbelievable dose of hypocrisy by berating almost every other traveler she encounters! There may be more insensitive and disagreeable travelers in this region but, in my experiences and author would have to rate close to the top on the obnoxious scale! She chooses to travel with only one set of clothing and by her own admission is almost constantly filthy and stinks yet sees fit to complain when she is treated better than her appearance and demeanor would justify.
   
   This book will tell you nothing about the cultures of central or South America because the author knows nothing of those cultures. This book will tell you nothing of the technical details of riding a motorcycle in this region because the author doesn't know anything more about motorcycles than how to add fuel and oil.
   
   This book is a how to not travel! She blows down the road so fast and so blind as to not really experience anything. This is a classic example of having made the trip but never taken the journey.
   
   The only redeeming feature of this book is that this time at least the "ugly American" was an ugly Brit. In a nutshell the whole story is painfully sordid and poorly rendered. If you must read it borrow the book from someone or a library. Please do not support this person in her ego trip by financially rewarding her!



3. I really liked this book. It was a light, easy read, & I almost finished it in one sitting -- didn't want to put it down. Lois sounds like a really great person -- someone you'd like to meet, but I know there isn't much chance of that. I wished for a few more specific details about the places she passed through, as well as more photos & maps. I read the book as research for a similar trip. I look forward to any other things she has written. Thank you.



4. One of the many books I've read on motorcycle travel. A good read, not many insights into what and what not to do on motorcycle travel but a very entertaining book and as an Ex-pat in the US, I loved her humour and quirky insights.



5. I'm not a big book reader, too much riding or other things to do. This book, I just couldn't put it down! What an adventure, I want Louis to go on another trip. This book has excitement and disapointments. If you have ever gone on a bike trip, you can relate to Louis with either someone she traveled with, or it makes you see yourself in how she explains her companions. Louis- if you are out there, YOU GO GIRL!!!!!

No comments about A Visitor's Guide to Colonial & Revolutionary Mid-Atlantic America: Interesting Sites to Visit, Lodging, Dining, Things to Do, Includes New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland.

3 comments about The Unofficial Guide to Chicago.

1. This guide offered everything I needed for my trip to Chicago. I found out where to shop, which beaches to go to, and all about the night life in the Windy City.



2. This guide has ratings for the places you can visit, by age range. This is helpful so that you know it your family members will be interested in visiting there. They gave helpful hints for some of the locations. We found they underestimated the amount of time needed at some of the sites. The maps were very well laid out and showed how things were related to each other. They didn't give many parking locations, but often places to park were easy to find. Take plenty of money for parking (usually $18 and for all the toll roads). Some of the restaurants were much higher priced than listed in the book.



3. No discussion of pre-theater dining! When you are going to see Wicked at the Ford Theater, there is not much more you care about than where to eat first. In fact, the restaurant guide does not even mention half the restaurants that are listed online as "the" pre-theater dining places (none of which "grabbed" me online, so I was hoping this book would be more enlightening).
   
   Also no full drawing of the various parts of the city. Small maps that show only two districts do not tell me where Bucktown is relative to The Loop. This is critical when all the hotels, restaurants, etc. are referred to by district.
   
   Overall disappointing, because The Unofficial Guides tend to be better than other guides, and they tend to be better than this.

1 comments about A Night On the Ground A Day in the Open.

1. This set of articles, originally written for magazines and catlalogues, is one of the most eloquent collections of mountain writing I've yet come upon. The book is divided up into chapters such as 'Climbing with Style', which features articles about "the whole art of natural protection" written at the the start of the clean climbing revolution, and 'Further Aborad' which includes the authors account of a climb on Ama Dablam.
   
   One of the features I most enoyed about the book was the introductions to various historical figures such as Smoke Blanchard and Royal Robbins. And the memoir style accounts of what it was like for a small band of climbers to live in the mountains away from civilization getting their kicks out of the "simple joys" and living in bare subsistence, long before climbing turned into the popular sport which it might be called today.
   
   Doug Robinson is well qualified to write what he does, and his style is nice and clear without being base. Most of it is written in an autobiographical style, dealing with developments on the climbing and skiing scene for wenty odd years. If you are partial to a bit of Dharma Bums then get this book. Also anyone interested in the history of the Sierra Nevada.

No comments about Taos, New Mexico / Los Alamos / Espanola / North Central NM Street Map.

No comments about Undiscovered Islands of the U.S. and Canadian West Coast.

2 comments about The Race to Nome.

1. I first read this book as a ten year old and it is an outstanding read. Any child could pick it up and find it fascinating. If your children have ever seen the cartoon movie Balto and want to find out the true story about all of the legendary mnushers and their dogs - such as Leonard Seppala and his lead dog Togo - you have to read this book. It is an inspring story of how man helped his fellow man (with the assistance of man's best friend the dog)to beat a Diptheria epedemic. Absolutely wonderful - hope this book is back in stock soon as I would love to re-reasd it.



2. I first read this book as a ten year old and it is an outstanding read. Any child could pick it up and find it fascinating. If your children have ever seen the cartoon movie Balto and want to find out the true story about all of the legendary mushers and their dogs - such as Leonard Seppala and his lead dog Togo - you have to read this book. It is an inspiring story of how man helped his fellow man (with the assistance of man's best friend the dog)to beat a Diptheria epedemic. Absolutely wonderful - hope this book is back in stock soon as I would love to re-read it.

No comments about The Insider's Guide to Santa Fe, Taos, and Albuquerque, Fourth Revised Edition.

1 comments about The Sierra Club Guides to the National Parks of the Desert Southwest (Sierra Club Guides to the National Parks).

1. Beautiful Photography and top level info make this an excellent guide to begin planning of your trips to the national parks of the southwest.

No comments about Discover Charleston West Virginia.