Motorcycle Therapy

by Jeremy Kroeker

From the Canadian Rockies to the Panamanian Jungle, Motorcycle Therapy rumbles with comic adventure as two men, fleeing failed relationships, test the limits of their motorcycles and their friendship. Join the horn-honking, signal-flashing, wheelie-popping pair as they endure painful bee stings, painful snakebites and (when they talk to girls) painful humiliation.

Genres: Travel, Motorcycling, Motorcycle, Nonfiction

124 pages, Paperback

First published April 17, 2006

About the author

Jeremy Kroeker is a freelance writer, a speaker, and the award-winning author of two books, “Motorcycle Therapy – A Canadian Adventure in Central America," and "Through Dust and Darkness - A Motorcycle Journey of Fear and Faith in the Middle East."

With his motorcycle, he has traveled to nearly 30 countries while managing to do at least one outrageously stupid thing in every one. He has evaded police in Egypt, tasted teargas in Israel, scrambled through minefields in Bosnia and Lebanon, and wrangled a venomous snake in Austria. One time he got a sliver in El Salvador.

Kroeker was born in Steinbach, Manitoba in 1973, but he grew up in Saskatchewan. He spent most of his boyhood summers on a little dirt bike chasing gophers. As a young adult, he took a job as a long-haul truck driver to fund a year of travel in Europe. There he attended a mountaineering school in Austria and volunteered at a Croatian refugee centre near the end of the Balkan War.

Returning to Canada, Kroeker worked at a wilderness camp in Alberta where he fell in love with ice climbing (an enterprise that has been described as “hours of suffering interspersed with moments of terror”). To earn entire work-free winters to climb, Kroeker laboured during the summers as a member of an initial attack wildfire rappel crew in northern Alberta.

Some time later, as a knee-jerk response to a failed relationship, he bought a used motorcycle and rode from the Canadian Rockies to the jungles of Panama. That trip provides the foundation for his book, “Motorcycle Therapy.” More recently, Kroeker completed another motorcycle trip, this one to the Middle East and North Africa. "Through Dust and Darkness" chronicles that journey. (Rocky Mountain Books, 2013.)

Since 1999, Kroeker has made his home in Canmore, Alberta, although he still travels extensively. He presents slideshows of his adventures in classrooms throughout southern Alberta and at motorcycle rallies across Western Canada. His writing has appeared in newspapers such as the Toronto Star, Winnipeg Free Press, Calgary Herald, and in American magazines such as Alpinist, and Outrider Journal.

Reviews

[Randy Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it is simply amazing how we can go through such adversities and difficulties in some of our travels and it is not until later when all of the troubles and suffering is over that we can look back and call it adventure. I have been down roads like this in my life and I can sympathize very much with this book.

[Paulr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book one of my favs I wish his other one was done. Met him at a motorcycle show he was really cool. I actually wish the book was a little longer. I'm biased though being Canadian.

[Tiger Coward · Rating 5 out of 5]

The new addition to my Adventure Books Library is MOTORCYCLE THERAPY by Jeremy Kroeker.

This was a fun read of the author's trip diary as he travels the length of North America to find himself.

This book is funny, touching, and inspiring.

His journey will inevitably have you reflecting on your own personality.

This was a great read and cheap THERAPY!

[Charlie Gage · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but entertaining book. Offers some funny perspectives and brutally honest introspective looks into Jeremy as well as his riding partner, Trevor. Some of Jeremy’s journal entries are brief and vague while others, like his reflection on his grandmother, are intimate and well portrayed.

[Jeff Perron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a very well written account of a motorcycle trip south from Canada, I completed a Very similar trip in 2015, and this book was a trip down memory lane, as Jeremy had an almost identical experience of people and experiences.

[Ehsan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uno de los mejores libros de aventuras y viajes. Me impactó cómo el protagonista se lanzó en los retos más increíbles de su vida montando en su motocicleta hacia América Central, y pasando una revolución anímica tras recorrer por una ruta bastante desafiante. Muy recomendable.

[Curt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super fun read about riding from CA to SA. The struggles of getting through borders and keeping the old Kawis running while on a a trip that long.

[Ted Hessler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent book on Central America trip

I have now read quite a few books on travel through central and South America. This book does not add much useful information but it is a decent book. The book gives me the impression that multiple coauthors did a lot of polishing to make it sound like it was written by an English professor.

[Sean Gursky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is it any wonder babies just eat and sleep? Their tiny minds shut down periodically in order to process it all, much the same way a weary traveller needs to lie in a hammock and drink beer once in a while instead of seeing one more amazing sight or taking in one more cultural experience.

An enjoyable read but I felt like there was probably a lot more that happened on this epic journey than could be put in to words. Outside of dangerous passing lanes, sketchy border crossings and friendly locals that was the trip. What I enjoyed came at the end, when Jeremy puts the trip in to perspective and reflects on what he accomplished with his travel. I would have liked more of this, perhaps amongst the travel diary, but it put a nice bow at the end of the book.

Also, I felt that I didn't experience the time on the road the same way Jeremy did. Describing other perfect moments or the scenery but being a four month trip I am sure some of this had to be removed in order to avoid the book going to a thousand pages. In the end it was a good book and I would read his Through Dust and Darkness story.

[Kharah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I have to stop reading these sort of grand motorcycle adventure books - mostly because the Hell these people try to depict as a wonderful adventure makes me want less and less to do anything even remotely resembling the great motorcycle trek.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic read, every turn of the page lead to a seamless link in Jeremy's & Trevor's journey. Whether you ride motorcycles or not, whether you're an adventurer or not, this book will put a big smile on your face simply because of the way Jeremy tells his story. Loved it from start to finish

[Richard Marleau]

Kobo @3.99

[Cal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very compelling record of a trip few
would think to take. Very candid reflections
on self and friendship.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is totally entertaining and laugh out loud amusing. Everyone who rides should read his books. I loved it.

[Karen Styles · Rating 5 out of 5]

The telling of what happens when guy rides as far as he can away from heartbreak. Funny, honest and poignant.

I listened to the audio version while on a road trip and love it!

[Ludmil · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very pleasant read. The book takes you captive of the road, the motorcycle and the chalenges of companionship and friendship. Enjoyed it and laughed with it