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Every Day an Adventure #4
Tortillas to Totems
Motorcycling Mexico, the United States and Canada.
Sidetracked by the Unexpected.
The 4th book in the adventure series.
'If you want to know why motorcyclists get out into the big world and ride across it then it's all here.' Motorcycle Sport and Leisure
Sam Manicom's fourth book is a gripping rollercoaster of a two-wheeled journey which takes you riding across the dramatic landscapes of Mexico, the United States and Canada.
This enticing tale has more twists and turns than a Rocky Mountain pass and more surprises than anyone would expect in a lifetime.
There are canyons, cowboys, idyllic beaches, bears, mountains, Californian vineyards, gun-toting policemen with grudges, glaciers, exploding volcanoes, dodgy border crossings and some of the most stunning open roads that a traveller could ever wish to see.
More Reviews of 'Tortillas to Totems':
'Just because an adventurer travels through interesting places doesn't necessarily mean the story will be compelling. I've read too many authors that can make a trip to the moon seem boring. But Tortillas to Totems is compelling, with a combination of diary, narrative and commentary that really makes the reader feel like you're right there in front of the campfire with Sam, listening to the tales as the coyotes howl in the background. Sam and Birgit, his riding companion familiar to readers of his other books, are not Americans or North Americans. So it is very interesting to get their take on a land that I thought I knew.' WebBikeWorld USA
'This is an engaging book from the first chapter to the epilogue. Written so beautifully you feel invited to share the highs, the lows, the joy and sadness and the overall human experience of wild travelling on a motorcycle...' BMW Club
'Sam has a wonderful way of story telling that enables you to put yourself as his riding partner and paints a vivid picture in your mind of where he is and what he's seeing. The experiences come thick and fast...' Honda XRV
'All we know is that Sam Manicom is the best adventure bike writer in the world... You could be his pillion, so well does he describe the sounds, sights and smells of the road. If you like bikes, riding and people watching, Sam is your man.' Scottish Daily Record
'Sam Manicom's appeal is that he's the ordinary guy doing extraordinary things. He's incredibly modest for someone who's been so far, sometimes in the face of highly unfavourable odds... Great stories...' RiDE Magazine
'Any good travel book must involve the reader as well as inspire and Tortillas to Totems does just that with vivid descriptions of the roads, places and people that Sam and his partner Birgit travelled and met. Sam is a natural storyteller going way beyond "we went here and did this...", getting under the skin of each country he visits...' TRD Magazine
Sidetracked by the Unexpected.
The 4th book in the adventure series.
'If you want to know why motorcyclists get out into the big world and ride across it then it's all here.' Motorcycle Sport and Leisure
Sam Manicom's fourth book is a gripping rollercoaster of a two-wheeled journey which takes you riding across the dramatic landscapes of Mexico, the United States and Canada.
This enticing tale has more twists and turns than a Rocky Mountain pass and more surprises than anyone would expect in a lifetime.
There are canyons, cowboys, idyllic beaches, bears, mountains, Californian vineyards, gun-toting policemen with grudges, glaciers, exploding volcanoes, dodgy border crossings and some of the most stunning open roads that a traveller could ever wish to see.
More Reviews of 'Tortillas to Totems':
'Just because an adventurer travels through interesting places doesn't necessarily mean the story will be compelling. I've read too many authors that can make a trip to the moon seem boring. But Tortillas to Totems is compelling, with a combination of diary, narrative and commentary that really makes the reader feel like you're right there in front of the campfire with Sam, listening to the tales as the coyotes howl in the background. Sam and Birgit, his riding companion familiar to readers of his other books, are not Americans or North Americans. So it is very interesting to get their take on a land that I thought I knew.' WebBikeWorld USA
'This is an engaging book from the first chapter to the epilogue. Written so beautifully you feel invited to share the highs, the lows, the joy and sadness and the overall human experience of wild travelling on a motorcycle...' BMW Club
'Sam has a wonderful way of story telling that enables you to put yourself as his riding partner and paints a vivid picture in your mind of where he is and what he's seeing. The experiences come thick and fast...' Honda XRV
'All we know is that Sam Manicom is the best adventure bike writer in the world... You could be his pillion, so well does he describe the sounds, sights and smells of the road. If you like bikes, riding and people watching, Sam is your man.' Scottish Daily Record
'Sam Manicom's appeal is that he's the ordinary guy doing extraordinary things. He's incredibly modest for someone who's been so far, sometimes in the face of highly unfavourable odds... Great stories...' RiDE Magazine
'Any good travel book must involve the reader as well as inspire and Tortillas to Totems does just that with vivid descriptions of the roads, places and people that Sam and his partner Birgit travelled and met. Sam is a natural storyteller going way beyond "we went here and did this...", getting under the skin of each country he visits...' TRD Magazine
- GenresMotorcycleTravel
362 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
12 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Sam Manicom
13 books30 followersSam Manicom, overlander, traveller and author of 4 motorcycle books, was born in the Congo in Central West Africa where his parents worked. His family returned to the UK when he was 10 and he has been travelling for much of his life.
His first solo trip was age 16 by bicycle into Europe. Many backpacking, hiking, cycling and hitch hiking journeys later, and back in the UK but wanting to do something completely different, Sam learned to ride a motorcycle. Within 3 months of starting to ride, he set off to travel the length of Africa. This 1-year trip turned into an 8-year, 200,000 mile, around the world motorcycle adventure across 55 countries.
Sam’s 4 'Every Day an Adventure' series books take the reader travelling through the different sections of the eight-year journey. Africa – ‘Into Africa’, Asia and the Middle East – ‘Under Asian Skies’, Southern Africa and South America – ‘Distant Suns’, and North America – ‘Tortillas to Totems’.
His 5th book, released in February 2022, is called ‘The Moment Collectors’. An anthology of 20 authors original work compiled and published with the subtitle ‘Twenty Travellers’ Tales from Around the World.’
Sam now works full time in the world of adventure travel. He’s a keen advocate of motorcycle travel in particular and when not writing his books, magazine articles and conducting multimedia travel presentations within Europe and the USA, he’s very much involved with travel related organisations. Sam is a co-host for Adventure Rider Radio RAW.
In 2017 he was awarded the Overland Magazine ‘Spirit of Adventure’ Award for his contribution to Overlanding.
When he isn’t writing or presenting, Sam and his partner Birgit are usually off riding somewhere.
Find out more about Sam and his travels via his website www.Sam-Manicom.com ‘Every Day an Adventure’
And the first Adventure Bike TV ‘Under the Visor’ interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bToV6...
Catch up with Sam on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
His first solo trip was age 16 by bicycle into Europe. Many backpacking, hiking, cycling and hitch hiking journeys later, and back in the UK but wanting to do something completely different, Sam learned to ride a motorcycle. Within 3 months of starting to ride, he set off to travel the length of Africa. This 1-year trip turned into an 8-year, 200,000 mile, around the world motorcycle adventure across 55 countries.
Sam’s 4 'Every Day an Adventure' series books take the reader travelling through the different sections of the eight-year journey. Africa – ‘Into Africa’, Asia and the Middle East – ‘Under Asian Skies’, Southern Africa and South America – ‘Distant Suns’, and North America – ‘Tortillas to Totems’.
His 5th book, released in February 2022, is called ‘The Moment Collectors’. An anthology of 20 authors original work compiled and published with the subtitle ‘Twenty Travellers’ Tales from Around the World.’
Sam now works full time in the world of adventure travel. He’s a keen advocate of motorcycle travel in particular and when not writing his books, magazine articles and conducting multimedia travel presentations within Europe and the USA, he’s very much involved with travel related organisations. Sam is a co-host for Adventure Rider Radio RAW.
In 2017 he was awarded the Overland Magazine ‘Spirit of Adventure’ Award for his contribution to Overlanding.
When he isn’t writing or presenting, Sam and his partner Birgit are usually off riding somewhere.
Find out more about Sam and his travels via his website www.Sam-Manicom.com ‘Every Day an Adventure’
And the first Adventure Bike TV ‘Under the Visor’ interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bToV6...
Catch up with Sam on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 23, 2021
Tortillas to Totems.
Sam Manicom and Birgit now end their journey around the world with this fourth book.
The book begins in Mexico and via not always so funny police or border guards, but with warm and friendly "ordinary people", the journey goes to the United States "This so familiar" country.
Too expensive?
Too little adventure?
Well, it did not turn out that way.
Camping freely in the US I thought was impossible, it is not.
Living cheaply is also possible.
You get a little shock, it's the USA after all!
-Why not transport your motorcycle by helicopter to the motorcycle meeting?
-Well, Afghanistan is NOT in North Africa?
It flashes with wealth and sometimes unfortunately also with the ignorance of the outside world.
But you get much closer to the United States than any news article ever can, and I think that's because two outsiders describe the country.
They see things that are so natural to the inhabitants that you do not think about them.
But the openness, the hospitality, the warmth of the Americans they meet can not be missed.
Sam and Birgit have completed this journey, I have traveled as a passenger and learned a lot about countries, nature, roads and the universal fact that most people are willing to do a lot to help others when needed.
One thing I did fail at.
Reading the books slowly, but it's actually not my fault, Sam has to take it on.
Gunnar / Sweden
Sam Manicom and Birgit now end their journey around the world with this fourth book.
The book begins in Mexico and via not always so funny police or border guards, but with warm and friendly "ordinary people", the journey goes to the United States "This so familiar" country.
Too expensive?
Too little adventure?
Well, it did not turn out that way.
Camping freely in the US I thought was impossible, it is not.
Living cheaply is also possible.
You get a little shock, it's the USA after all!
-Why not transport your motorcycle by helicopter to the motorcycle meeting?
-Well, Afghanistan is NOT in North Africa?
It flashes with wealth and sometimes unfortunately also with the ignorance of the outside world.
But you get much closer to the United States than any news article ever can, and I think that's because two outsiders describe the country.
They see things that are so natural to the inhabitants that you do not think about them.
But the openness, the hospitality, the warmth of the Americans they meet can not be missed.
Sam and Birgit have completed this journey, I have traveled as a passenger and learned a lot about countries, nature, roads and the universal fact that most people are willing to do a lot to help others when needed.
One thing I did fail at.
Reading the books slowly, but it's actually not my fault, Sam has to take it on.
Gunnar / Sweden
May 27, 2020
A great finale!
This book, as with previous three books, really bring motorcycle travel to life. My own European travels are nowhere near the challenges faced by Sam and Birgit but much of what has been written here applies nonetheless.
A great read as are the previous three books.
This book, as with previous three books, really bring motorcycle travel to life. My own European travels are nowhere near the challenges faced by Sam and Birgit but much of what has been written here applies nonetheless.
A great read as are the previous three books.
March 24, 2022
Wonderful book I love how you digress a little makes it so interesting
If you love the journey of travel you must buy this book
If you love motorbikes thats an added bonus.
If you love the journey of travel you must buy this book
If you love motorbikes thats an added bonus.
May 4, 2016
Not Sam's best effort
The third of his books I have read. Too much anti-American political opinion in the first half. Not enough about travel by motorcycle. Too much wasted time when they could have gotten to Alaska and many other interesting places in the Eastern US. Yes, there are many Americans that know little about world culture but there are many that have traveled extensively and are enlightened.
The third of his books I have read. Too much anti-American political opinion in the first half. Not enough about travel by motorcycle. Too much wasted time when they could have gotten to Alaska and many other interesting places in the Eastern US. Yes, there are many Americans that know little about world culture but there are many that have traveled extensively and are enlightened.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews