Lois on the Loose

Lois Pryce

A book review by Mike Forrester
Editor and Scribbler motorcycle.co.uk

Bored with her job as an open-plan-office worker-drone, Lois Pryce decided it would be fun to ride a bike from Alaska to the tip of South America. So she did.

I'm not sure if I expected a Feminist manifesto - it isn't. I'm not sure if I expected a 'give this to my girlfriend and she'll get turned on to motorcycle travelling'.

Its neither of those. Its a simple tale of everyday folk. Well, the kind of folk that are prepared to jack in their cosy BBC job and ride a small trail bike the length of the Americas. Lighter than 'Zen and the Art....', more up-to-date than the 60s classic 'Jupiter's Travels'. What it is is 'I'm a bored biker chick, and I'm off to have some fun'.

And fun she had. Freezing snow, unbearable heat, mud tracks, 10-lane blacktop madness. Bribery, corruption, breakdowns, anger, sadness. Its what Motorcycle Adventuring is about. And you put up with that shit because ultimately its about something else. Its about yourself. Its about something its impossible to describe to anyone who hasn't Travelled.

But Lois gets closer than most. Its not a big deal that she is 'a woman' who did it. But the female perspective doesn't admit of a lot of the macho bullshit that a male writer drops into. We blokes can't help some 'Yeah that was hell, but "I'm a man, I can handle adversity"' posturing. Lois doesn't bother with that, and as a result more of what travelling is really about shines through.

And she writes well, moving lightly over her story with a deft touch and a calm wit. An easy read, and a very 21st century tale. A modern-day Jupiter's Travels.

Out in paperback 1st March 07. Print out the route map from her own web site, and get the book from Amazon or your favourite supplier, ISBN 009949356X.

PS. Some months after I read this book, my non-riding, non-roughing-it better half did pick it up and read from cover to cover without putting it down. I saw a far-away look in her eye, but not quite enough. Nearly, very nearly. But not quite.

So, its still "You go off on your own for a month and have fun on your bike dear". Which is, actually, how I like it :)

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