Highway Cello

by Kenneth Wilson

This isn't an ordinary journey. Old enough to know better, Kenneth Wilson sets off to cycle from Hadrian's Wall to Rome - with a cello on the back of his bike. Every day en route he makes music - at impromptu as well as formal concerts, busking, and just responding to the people and events of each day. Highway Cello is about the 1800 mile journey through England and France, over the Alps and into Italy, and the music and the mishaps along the way. But it's about more than that too. Through the medium of travel and cello, of encounter and exhaustion, of people and places, Kenneth unpacks the real questions of what life is really all about.

310 pages, Paperback

Published May 27, 2023

Reviews

[Mrs Charlotte M Rook · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful travel book.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the nearest I get to a beach read. It's an account of Kenneth Wilson's decision to load a cello onto the back of a trusty old bike and cycle from his home in Cumbria to Rome, playing to impromptu audiences in town squares, and lightly-planned concerts in homes, halls and cafes. In among this part of the tale, he discusses he whys and wherefores of his trip, and always with a light touch. It's an uplifting undemanding book, the perfect accompaniment to a holiday.

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both interesting and inspiring, this is more than a simple travelog with the author sharing his thoughts and insights before, during and after his epic journey across Europe with a bike and a cello. A well written and memorable account of a unique undertaking.

[Winifred McQueen]

The Highway Cello

This is not the sort of book I usually read as I am interested in neither travel writing nor biography/memoir. Being an amateur string player, however I was sufficiently intrigued by the idea of an amateur cellist travelling across Europe on a pushbike with a cello case in tow (and a specially procured carbon fibre cello inside), that I tentatively read the first few pages and was immediately drawn in.
Kenneth Wilson writes in a light flowing style, as it were one side of a conversation between friends. He has a gift for concise yet very evocative descriptions of landscapes, locations, and the many and varied people he encountered on his journey. Above all his narrative is consistently interlaced with a lively irreverent and entertaining humour, usually at his own expense.
Because his days are spent covering substantial distances with stops for arranged or ad-hoc performances in beautiful villages, town squares or solitary beauty spots, the narrative becomes a veritable kaleidoscope of experiences and adventures, not all of them pleasant, though most of them highlighting the impressive kindnesses and generosity of spirit shown all along the route by a range of different people to a stranger in need of lodgings or a cyclist in need of a mechanic.
A feature I particularly appreciated was the inclusion of unexpected, interesting and often very surprising anecdotes concerning the venues he visits and the music he plays. I found myself more than once turning to YouTube to listen to a composition I’d never encountered before.
There are some recurring flights into a sort of pseudo philosophical debate about the nature and motivation of the journey itself which is never really resolved and which I didn’t really understand or care about, though some thought provoking ideas were raised. A Schrodinger’s Pilgrimage seemed to be the neatest conclusion.
Very unexpectedly then I really enjoyed reading this story of a genuine modern day, cycle helmeted troubadour. I think it will be of appeal to keen cyclists and I know it will be of interest to music lovers but I would recommend this as a good read to anyone looking for good writing and entertainment with a peppering of erudition for good measure.

[Rosalind Bryden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love to hear about people doing slightly crazy things as I find it quite inspiring. Kenneth Wilson decided to cycle from Hadrian's Wall to Rome on the bicycle he had owned since being a teenager and with his cello on a specially designed rack on the back of his bike. Why? Well, he considers that during the book so you will have to read it. Maybe the shortest answer is, 'Why not?'

Parts of Wilson's journey have been pre-arranged. He has concerts and accommodation booked down the length of the UK but much of the rest of the journey he 'finds his way'; seeing what the lie of the land, the weather, his body will allow him to do each day. And along the route he gets out his cello, Libre, and gives little impromptu performances - a dance here, a Bach suite there - something to suit the moment.

It really was a pleasure to read this book. I suppose just the fact that the book exists is a spoiler that he made it to Rome. But I still wondered as I read if the sun would just get too much, if fatigue would finally take over, if the next truck would be the one which would run him over a cliff edge... And Wilson's writing style is very light-hearted. I love his actuary brother who forecast an audience 2.5 times smaller than the number who arrived (hence putting at risk his standing as an actuary!) I also now want to know what is Wilson's favourite TV series, if Big Bang Theory is only number 2!

This is a story of the kindness of people, shared moments of enjoyment and a lot of ice-cream. Fortunately it didn't inspire me to cycle anywhere. I'm safe at home looking for my next book to read.

[Fk · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author traveled by bicycle from Hadrian's Wall in Britain to Rome, carrying his (carbon fiber) cello on the back of his bike, busking and giving small concerts on the way.

I'm a touring cyclist and amateur musician, a multi-instrumentalist. So the idea of this tale seemed quirky and charming, and full of possibilities. The reading of it, much less so. To me, the writing lacked spark and wit. The first third of the book seemed jumbled and rambling, with lots of flashbacks that seemed like attempts to justify the notion of the trip, or to add significance to the effort. The rest of the book was pretty much a straightforward "I did this; then I did that."

Despite my natural interests in the cycling and the music, I found it uninspiring. And I can't say much for his occasional bits of poetry either.

[Fiona Erskine · Rating 5 out of 5]

You don't need to write poetry, play the 'cello or love long distance cycling to be captivated by this journey from Hadrian's Wall in Cumbria, England to Hadrian's villa outside Rome, Italy. But if you do any of these things (or wish you could), it'll make this read all the sweeter. From Bach to Monty Norman, carbon fibre to ashlar, reel to milonga, from carpal tunnel to Montblancing, Diderot to Dijon mustard.

When is a pilgrimage not a pilgrimage but instead a work of art?

An excellent staycation sofa/bath/bed read - Kenneth suffers so you don't have to.

I bought this book for my 'cellist son, but he had to wait until I'd finished.

Bravo! Encore!

[M C · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable and easy flowing read, full of inspiration; he rather seems to get away with things that I certainly never would and I can only imagine it his pleasant, kind and calm manner that gave him so many fantastic opportunities along the way! Whenever I am cycle touring, I'm usually absolutely exhausted and grumpy with it, either way it's too hot or too wet or something else will be unsavoury or unsastisfactory and it doesn't put me in the best of moods!

I think anybody who has been on a cycling journey would enjoy reading this and those interested in travel writing with a slightly different take on the world.

[Isabel Rivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Kenneth's journey. This book is packed with brilliant storytelling and humour, plus all sorts of interesting reflections to get you thinking and laughing and thinking some more.

[Lisa of Hopewell]

I learned of this book via this post: https://margaret21.com/2024/02/03/six...