Journal Entry 1 by SKingList on Saturday, April 02, 2005

Lutwyche Haul.

From Amazon:
It's not every day that a fellow decides to pack in a good job, pack up his saddlebags, and set off by bicycle to make a circumferential journey around Australia. In 1996, that's just what American-born Time magazine correspondent Roff Martin Smith did, though; as he explains, he'd been living in Australia for 14 years but didn't really know the country, and he "felt no emotional bond to it." About to turn 38, a few pounds over his ideal weight, and untested as a distance bicyclist, Smith faced up to considerable odds, but he survived to tell the tale. 

Journal Entry 2 by SKingList on Saturday, April 09, 2005

Roff Smith is an American who'd been living in Australia for fifteen years when he realised he didn't know a whole lot about his adopted country and rather than cracking an atlas or taking a course, he decides he's going to load a bicycle and head north from Sydney one Sunday in July.


He mixed inland travel with coastal beaches and desert outback and the refreshing thing about this, as compared to some other travelogues was that it wasn't a minute-by-minute account of his trip. By the same token, there were parts I wanted to know more about.

Reading this book in the Build Up (to my trip North, not the Monsoon) just increased the travel itch--I want to see the whole country. Yes I know that's not feasible or practical, but doesn't mean I don't want to try. He mixes spur of the moment fun--a fishing trip with mates he just met, helping to shear sheep at a huge station outside of Longreach--with the mundane reality of life on the road--facing having to backtrack after an impromptu detour, long waterless stretches of the Nullarbor to make a very good book. And while I'm sure he saw a lot more than I will, I'm glad I won't be seeing this country on two wheels.

I rambled more in my journal but I'll end this one here.

Starting a Book Ring for this one since I think others will enjoy it. 

Journal Entry 3 by SKingList on Sunday, April 10, 2005

Australia Only Bookring/ray. PM me to join:

1. claudinec (VIC)
2. wirigerie (SA)
3. binkybuffy (SA)
4. catsalive (NSW)
5. jackiea (NSW)
6. sydney2259 (NSW)
7. gabbysmum (QLD)
8. tagzbyjulie aka frangipanis
9. AmberC (NT)
10. Sally906 (NT)

.
.
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great unknown.

ETA: 29 August 2005: Got a second copy, re-opened the ring.

Forum post 

Journal Entry 4 by SKingList at bookring in bookring, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, April 11, 2005

Released 7 yrs ago (4/11/2005 UTC) at bookring in bookring, Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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Mailing to claudinec to start the book's journey :) 

Journal Entry 5 by claudinec from North Melbourne, Victoria Australia on Wednesday, April 13, 2005

Received in the mail, thank you!
 

Journal Entry 6 by claudinec from North Melbourne, Victoria Australia on Tuesday, May 03, 2005

This was an interesting story and Smith sure saw a lot of Australia, more than I suspect many city-based Australians ever do. I did however find it confusing when he wrote about distances in miles and kept making comparisons between Australian and USA culture, but I guess the book was written for an American audience. The book has inspired me to try to see more of the country and spend more time on my bike, but I'm not quite up to riding around the whole country yet!
 

Journal Entry 7 by claudinec from North Melbourne, Victoria Australia on Wednesday, May 04, 2005

Posted to Wirigerie today.
 

Journal Entry 8 by Wirigerie from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Monday, May 30, 2005

Has arrived safely. Will get to it asap. 

Journal Entry 9 by Wirigerie from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Tuesday, June 07, 2005

I'm not sure if Roff was crazy or brave but he certainly was lucky.

The trip that he had sounded like a lot of fun but I think there were probably many, many hours that he pedalled and regretted setting out.

It was very interesting but as a woman I don't know if I'd cycle around Australia on my own. 

Journal Entry 10 by Wirigerie from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Sunday, June 12, 2005

Passed by hand to BinkyBuffy over a coffee.
Great seeing you again BB. 

Journal Entry 11 by binkybuffy from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Wednesday, June 15, 2005

Had a mini meet up with Wirigerie to pass the book between hands over a cuppa. Have read almost half and an enjoying it so far so will get back when I finish. 

Journal Entry 12 by SKingList on Wednesday, June 29, 2005

Journal Entry 13 by binkybuffy from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Finished the book and sent it to Catsalive. Really enjoyed the book and reading about other parts of Australia that I hope to get to one day. 

Journal Entry 14 by catsalive from Rooty Hill, New South Wales Australia on Friday, July 15, 2005

Oops, I have been naughty & forgot to journal this when I received it. I've read it now so I'll just do my review.

I enjoyed it very much, although I wish the man could get his billiards, pool, snooker & 8-ball straight. It's the sort of thing I'd love to do, but not on a bicycle. I think I'd go for the sealed space of a car, with my dog, and take my chances that I'd still meet some people.

There appear to be a few more travel books to read that Smith mentions in here: Great Australian Loneliness by Ernestine Hill, Holidays in Hell by P. J. O'Rourke & Hell, West and Crooked by Tom Cole. I'll have to keep an eye out for them.

I loved the part about Arthur & Ivy - "Sixty-odd years on, his delight at discovering the pretty ballerina liked him too still made his eyes dance like a schoolboy's."

I have to agree with him about Australia's isolation when standing on those cliffs on the Nullabor Plain. It certainly made me feel alone & insignificant, but there was also something (I'm going to steal Smith's phrase from riding out a big Northern storm) "fiercely satisfying" about being there in the great emptiness looking towards Antartica.

Off to jackiea next. 

Journal Entry 15 by catsalive from Rooty Hill, New South Wales Australia on Saturday, July 16, 2005

Dropped in the post for jackiea today. 

Journal Entry 16 by jackiea from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Monday, July 18, 2005

OMG! Just two weeks ago, my Mount TBR had been whittled down to a tiny little hillock! :o)
Then a couple of other rings turned up, I came across a book sale – well, who could resist as many books as it was possible to squeeze into a large bag for $5! – a couple of my own rings came back to me – with surprise books enclosed! – my book club tempted me with another two books and Harry Potter is waiting in the wings!
Today this book arrived and it looks so good I can’t wait to begin.
So now I have a mountain once again and I must be strong and read at least a couple of the others first, but will get to this as soon as possible. Thanks catsalive for passing it on.
More comments soon.
 

Journal Entry 17 by jackiea from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, October 12, 2005

Great book!
I really enjoyed Roff Smith’s writing style, not to mention his determination and intrepidness. (is that a real word? Well, you know what I mean )
His constant references to things American, did begin to grate, but as someone else mentioned, such comparisons would be invaluable to American readers and I felt also that this habit underlined the feeling he had confessed to, that of not really belonging to Australia, before he set out on his trip.
So I really enjoyed it and if only I could ride a bike that far, I’d be off to emulate him tomorrow!
Can I just add that the map was a great addition!
I love maps! So many travel books let themselves down, in my opinion, by not providing a detailed and notated map of the journey and this one was a beauty.

Sorry I've held on to this book so long, but it will be travelling again to sydney2259 as soon as I have an address. Thanks SKingLIst for the chance to read it. 

Journal Entry 18 by sydney2259 on Monday, November 28, 2005

This book arrived safely yesterday, and I'm really looking forward to reading it! It's next on my TBR pile, thank you for sharing it :) 

Journal Entry 19 by sydney2259 on Saturday, December 03, 2005

I really enjoyed this book, what a fantastic journey Roff experienced. I'd love to be brave enough to tackle this kind of thing... The map was excellent, I really like to be able to follow a journey through the map, and the photos were a nice touch too.

Will send this on to the next participant very soon. 

Journal Entry 20 by gabbysmum from Brisbane, Queensland Australia on Friday, January 06, 2006

Received yesterday,Iam half way through it and enjoying it heaps 

Journal Entry 21 by gabbysmum at Bookring Controlled Release in Controlled Release, --by post or by hand (ie ring, ray, RABCK, trade) -- Controlled Releases on Friday, March 03, 2006

Released 6 yrs ago (3/2/2006 UTC) at Bookring Controlled Release in Controlled Release, --by post or by hand (ie ring, ray, RABCK, trade) -- Controlled Releases

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On its way to Frangapani{AKA tagz} 

Journal Entry 22 by frangipanis from Rockhampton, Queensland Australia on Sunday, March 05, 2006

This book has just arrived in the mail, and has been added to my TBR pile, thanks so much ... 

Journal Entry 23 by AnonymousFinder on Sunday, March 26, 2006

I absolutely loved this book. What an adventure it must have been for him. Being able to relate to many of the place he passed through on his journey was great, because it made me feel like I was on the trip with him. I wish I had the courage to embark on a similar journey. I will forward it on to the next person as soon as possible.

CAUGHT IN ROCKHAMPTON QUEENSLAND AUSTRALIA 

Journal Entry 24 by amberC from Darwin, Northern Territory Australia on Thursday, May 25, 2006

One of 2 bookrings received today , all wrapped up nicely in Christmas paper. It had me wondering for a moment about just how slow the mail was!! 

Journal Entry 25 by amberC from Darwin, Northern Territory Australia on Friday, June 23, 2006

I loved this book. It brought back so many great memories of my families travels around Australia. We took 6 years tho and did it in a lot more comfort. When we were on the road we would see the occasional cyclist and while admiring them for tackling the ride and agree that it would be a wonderful way to see the country, I would also know that there were a lot of places I wouldn't want to be riding through trying to carry enough water.

Thankyou for sharing SKingList. I will pass it along to Sally at our next meet-up. 

Journal Entry 26 by amberC at Cullen Bay in Cullen Bay, Northern Territory Australia on Friday, August 11, 2006

Released 5 yrs ago (8/11/2006 UTC) at Cullen Bay in Cullen Bay, Northern Territory Australia

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Finally handing on to Sally at todays meet-up. Sorry for the delay. 

Journal Entry 27 by sally906 from Darwin, Northern Territory Australia on Saturday, August 12, 2006

Picked up today at the meetup - as am last on the list will release it or pass it on :) 

Journal Entry 28 by sally906 at Jamaca Blue Coffee Shop in Casuarina NT Australia, a fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases on Friday, September 15, 2006

Released 5 yrs ago (9/15/2006 UTC) at Jamaca Blue Coffee Shop in Casuarina NT Australia, a fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases

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Passing onto another bookcrosser at the meetup this morning 

Journal Entry 29 by brahminy1 from Darwin, Northern Territory Australia on Friday, September 15, 2006

I got this one from Sally at a bookcrossers meeting. 

Journal Entry 30 by brahminy1 from Darwin, Northern Territory Australia on Friday, September 29, 2006

I love books about travel experiences, bikes and places I've been. This book had all of those. I could empathise with the authors occasional restless awkwardness. I related very much to the symptoms of being an expat and being caught between the memories of home and the reality of returning to a place that can never be what it was (although I've never lived outside my country for longer than a year). I would have liked to have read more detailed description of the bike and nights out in the open but it was not a techy story.
A great read. 

Journal Entry 31 by deense from Marrickville, New South Wales Australia on Saturday, October 21, 2006

Received in the mail yesterday! Thanks! Both the husband and myself will be reading this one.