Larry Walsh's Blog: Adventure Travel Memoirs - Posts Tagged "memoirs"
Manhattan Book Review - 5 Stars
Very excited to receive this wonderful review!
Forty to Finish takes readers on an exhilarating cycling tour with Army veteran author Larry Walsh, who went on a new cycle expedition after detailing his initial biking excursion in Suit to Saddle. Larry cycled 4,200 miles through ten states, from Oregon to Virginia, as part of his participation in the Trans Am Bike Race. He struggled for most of the race between racing to prove something to himself and racing to enjoy himself. Fortunately for him, he finished the race and made some lovely memories while meeting interesting people, seeing gorgeous scenery, and seeing majestic wild creatures such as a grizzly bear and a bald eagle. Follow Larry Walsh’s daring and very inspirational trip as he cycles through thirst, tension, anxiety, dog attacks, near misses, extreme weather, and other challenging obstacles.
Although the plot seems simple, it actually involves much more than just a man’s desire to finish a cross-country bike ride competition. Larry reveals himself as a creative, dedicated, brave, driven, interesting, and warm person whom anyone would be glad to have a conversation with in person as he reflects on his love of basketball, his two daughters, his military experience, his work experience in the world of sales, and so much more. Fortunately, you can get a sense of what a conversation with him would be like through the fascinating talks he has with other racers and other people he meets along the road. I’ll never forget the helpful advice a former NFL referee from a little town in the middle of Virginia provided him on how he was able to have a great career in the NFL despite coming from a small area.
Aside from specifics on the author’s thoughts and physical state throughout the race, the book also includes historical and current information about the huge landscapes, towns, and native territories that the author passed through. The poetic and creative language of the book provides a good depiction of the stunning scenery that Larry encounters, such as “the music of water falling from the cliffs and onto the pavement—the result of thawing snow flowing from the Cascades.”
Readers who desire to go on similar cross-country bike trips or just want to go bicycling, marathoning, or trekking for long distances will find the author’s recommendations on maintaining one’s inner drive and physical conditions valuable. Forty to Finish is a must-read for all adventure seekers and cycling aficionados out there! It is a remarkably profound and healthy book that redirects one’s focus from materialistic concerns and social media content to the wonderful natural environment around us.
Forty to Finish takes readers on an exhilarating cycling tour with Army veteran author Larry Walsh, who went on a new cycle expedition after detailing his initial biking excursion in Suit to Saddle. Larry cycled 4,200 miles through ten states, from Oregon to Virginia, as part of his participation in the Trans Am Bike Race. He struggled for most of the race between racing to prove something to himself and racing to enjoy himself. Fortunately for him, he finished the race and made some lovely memories while meeting interesting people, seeing gorgeous scenery, and seeing majestic wild creatures such as a grizzly bear and a bald eagle. Follow Larry Walsh’s daring and very inspirational trip as he cycles through thirst, tension, anxiety, dog attacks, near misses, extreme weather, and other challenging obstacles.
Although the plot seems simple, it actually involves much more than just a man’s desire to finish a cross-country bike ride competition. Larry reveals himself as a creative, dedicated, brave, driven, interesting, and warm person whom anyone would be glad to have a conversation with in person as he reflects on his love of basketball, his two daughters, his military experience, his work experience in the world of sales, and so much more. Fortunately, you can get a sense of what a conversation with him would be like through the fascinating talks he has with other racers and other people he meets along the road. I’ll never forget the helpful advice a former NFL referee from a little town in the middle of Virginia provided him on how he was able to have a great career in the NFL despite coming from a small area.
Aside from specifics on the author’s thoughts and physical state throughout the race, the book also includes historical and current information about the huge landscapes, towns, and native territories that the author passed through. The poetic and creative language of the book provides a good depiction of the stunning scenery that Larry encounters, such as “the music of water falling from the cliffs and onto the pavement—the result of thawing snow flowing from the Cascades.”
Readers who desire to go on similar cross-country bike trips or just want to go bicycling, marathoning, or trekking for long distances will find the author’s recommendations on maintaining one’s inner drive and physical conditions valuable. Forty to Finish is a must-read for all adventure seekers and cycling aficionados out there! It is a remarkably profound and healthy book that redirects one’s focus from materialistic concerns and social media content to the wonderful natural environment around us.
(4.4/5.0) New Forty to Finish Review from IndieReader
I'm excited to share a wonderful review of Forty to Finish by IndieReader!
An American cyclist’s memoir of participating in the 4,192-mile, cross-country TransAm Bike Race.
Larry Walsh’s FORTY TO FINISH begins with a low moment in the author’s life. At 57, he’s been laid off and is battling depression. During this unanticipated break from the rat race, he completes the near-3,000-mile Southern Tier cross-country bike route and decides to take on the Trans America Bike Race―nearly 4,200 miles between Astoria, Oregon and Yorktown, Virginia. The Trans Am is grueling; even the race’s founder warns potential riders of the trek’s dangers. This memoir recounts Walsh’s experiences on his bike, Tank, cycling over five mountain ranges and stopping in dozens of small towns across North America in his effort to finish in less than 40 days. Walsh’s straightforward, contemplative story is also a love letter to America that could only be told by someone crossing the continent’s surface slowly enough to feel the contours. Walsh diligently logs town names, populations and brief conversations with strangers he meets along the way. He writes thoughtfully about small resonant places touched by history. Even his sense of urgency to complete the race does not stop him from pausing at a breathtaking vista or taking a detour to visit Sacajawea’s grave.
Walsh’s simple presentation of his tremendous effort―his hero’s journey―is compelling. Most arduous, life-altering personal quests are unsung and un-famous. But stories of this sort remain worth sharing. They serve as reminders of what we can do with planning, observation and determination―and how much it is possible to win without coming in first. Walsh writes about one stretch, “The ride … was merciless … I tried to think about my family. That didn’t help. Hearing my Garmin ping at each 10-mile mark was no longer motivating. I put my head down and counted pedal rotations in my mind (and aloud), grinding at the monotonous sameness of it all.” For all Walsh’s appreciation of the small joys of a good meal and a warm bed, he leaves no doubt that this ride takes all he can bring to it, mentally, emotionally and physically. His story is a thoughtful, forthright re-telling of accomplishment and also a reminder of the power of steady determination, the delight in simple things, the grace lurking in small towns, and the grandeur of the North American continent.
Larry Walsh’s FORTY TO FINISH is a straightforward, quietly dramatic memoir of a 4,192-mile bike race from Oregon to Virginia, a love letter to America, and a story of hard-won victory.
~Ellen Graham for IndieReader
https://indiereader.com/book_review/f...
An American cyclist’s memoir of participating in the 4,192-mile, cross-country TransAm Bike Race.
Larry Walsh’s FORTY TO FINISH begins with a low moment in the author’s life. At 57, he’s been laid off and is battling depression. During this unanticipated break from the rat race, he completes the near-3,000-mile Southern Tier cross-country bike route and decides to take on the Trans America Bike Race―nearly 4,200 miles between Astoria, Oregon and Yorktown, Virginia. The Trans Am is grueling; even the race’s founder warns potential riders of the trek’s dangers. This memoir recounts Walsh’s experiences on his bike, Tank, cycling over five mountain ranges and stopping in dozens of small towns across North America in his effort to finish in less than 40 days. Walsh’s straightforward, contemplative story is also a love letter to America that could only be told by someone crossing the continent’s surface slowly enough to feel the contours. Walsh diligently logs town names, populations and brief conversations with strangers he meets along the way. He writes thoughtfully about small resonant places touched by history. Even his sense of urgency to complete the race does not stop him from pausing at a breathtaking vista or taking a detour to visit Sacajawea’s grave.
Walsh’s simple presentation of his tremendous effort―his hero’s journey―is compelling. Most arduous, life-altering personal quests are unsung and un-famous. But stories of this sort remain worth sharing. They serve as reminders of what we can do with planning, observation and determination―and how much it is possible to win without coming in first. Walsh writes about one stretch, “The ride … was merciless … I tried to think about my family. That didn’t help. Hearing my Garmin ping at each 10-mile mark was no longer motivating. I put my head down and counted pedal rotations in my mind (and aloud), grinding at the monotonous sameness of it all.” For all Walsh’s appreciation of the small joys of a good meal and a warm bed, he leaves no doubt that this ride takes all he can bring to it, mentally, emotionally and physically. His story is a thoughtful, forthright re-telling of accomplishment and also a reminder of the power of steady determination, the delight in simple things, the grace lurking in small towns, and the grandeur of the North American continent.
Larry Walsh’s FORTY TO FINISH is a straightforward, quietly dramatic memoir of a 4,192-mile bike race from Oregon to Virginia, a love letter to America, and a story of hard-won victory.
~Ellen Graham for IndieReader
https://indiereader.com/book_review/f...
Excited about my Kirkus Review!
"Bicycling enthusiasts will find here an enjoyable depiction of the sport and its devotees’ yearnings...well-observed and engrossing account of competitive bicycling and its spiritual overtones." — Kirkus
Kirkus Verdict - GET IT
Forty to Finish: Cycling to Victory on the TransAmerica Bike Trail
Kirkus Verdict - GET IT
Forty to Finish: Cycling to Victory on the TransAmerica Bike Trail
Adventure Travel Memoirs
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