Running with the moon: A boy's own adventure

by Jonny Bealby

Jonny Bealby was devastated when his fiancee, Melanie, died unexpectedly while they were travelling in Kashmir. Two years later and still heartbroken and utterly disillusioned, he took on the challenge of a lifetime. Setting off with only his motorbike or company, he began a daring and dangerous journey around the African continent in a desperate attempt to unearth some meaning in his life.
A true love story, Running with the Moon is a tale of great adventure and courage.

Genres: Travel, Africa, Nonfiction, Motorcycle, Biography

333 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Rock singer, writer and travel entrepreneur, Jonny Bealby has streetwise savvy and miles of travel under his belt. His experiences have given him the ideal background for setting up Wild Frontiers, the specialist award-winning tour operator which takes small groups and tailor-made clients to roads less travelled.

Reviews

[Jesse Hartman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was gripping, couldn't put it down, a definite 5 stars!

[Sumit Shinde · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book's well written but adding photos would have done justice to this epic solo trip taken around Africa. Photos really speak the world. Giving 4 stars for lack of photos but no doubt, an exceptionally well described arduous journey. Hats off to Jonny and sorry for your loss.

[Neil Mattey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tragic but beautiful book about someone trying to make peace with the past whilst testing themselves to the full. Honestly and adventurously written. Raw emotion and fantastic travelling tales.

[Matīss Jurģelis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story teller with a nice sense of humor. What an adventure he took. I'd suggest this book to anyone who likes adventures or at least to read about them.
At first part of the book I taught I might do the same trip, but as I red the second half I was happy for Johny and also happy that I was not in his place. The times have changed and most likely treveling throught the Africa is not that difficult I wonder.
Nice story. Thank you Jonny!

[Evander]

Well, a few pages in and already we've had gems like "Zaire may have been in turmoil, as, no doubt, were countless other African states, but so what?" As long as your trip's still on, you don't care. Then his "first experience of African bureaucracy": "Jonny, remember, this is ~Africa~, learn patience." I don't have time already for this crap, and went to read this book because it's been on my shelf for years and I'm cleaning up. There are more than enough books about Africa by Africans for me to read instead. *shrug*

[Mihai Alexe · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite motorcycling adventure book, by far.
Heartfelt and true, it's bits of Africa flying by you as you thunder down that dirt road. If you ever wanted to ride a motorcycle, please pick this one up.

[Kate]

Probably my favourite non-classic book. When I finished the book I felt I had to know what happened next. I didn't find the follow-up quite as compelling but still worth a read.

[Jane Delaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Being a rider myself I could understand his frustrations when the bike got stuck in mud. Wonder how things are with him now?

[Tiger Coward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hello Friends,

There’s a new addition to the Tiger Coward Adventure Motorcycle Library:
Running With the Moon by Johnny Bealby.

This is a fantastic adventure book that transcends the motorcycle-travel genre with a uniquely romantic thread. I’m convinced that moto-travel nerds (most of you) and normal people (the rest of you) will love this book. I’m testing this theory by recommending it to all of my “normie” friends. Both of them.

Although published 30 years ago, this book begins with an emotional hook that rivals Todd Lawson’s Inside the Belly of an Elephant and Neil Peart’s Ghost Rider. From page one, you’re drawn into the story—long before the motorcycle even appears. I know, eh?

When the ride does begin, aboard a Yamaha Tenere 600, we’re taken on a pre-internet epic from England to Cape Town and back. But this isn’t just a story about a road trip. Along the way, Bealby serves up vivid vignettes as he relives his past and comes to terms with loss. It’s compelling, touching, and deeply human.

I inhaled this book in just a few days and now regret rushing it. I recommend savouring it like a fine tumbler of Crown Royal.

Five Things I Loved About This Book

1) The pre-internet adventure.
I’m not clouded by nostalgia. I never leave home without GPS, Google Maps, or my SPOT tracker. But it’s undeniable—pre-internet odysseys were on another level. Setting off into the unknown with little information was incredibly brave and always came with unpredictable consequences. That’s the kind of drama we try to avoid in our own travels—yet it makes for great reading when it happens to someone else.

2) The writing.
Bealby isn’t just a traveller and daredevil—he’s a gifted writer. His environmental descriptions are vivid, his journey raw and awe-inspiring, and his reflections tender and poignant.
That is not a combination you find very often.

3) The journey
Even today, riding the length of Africa and back is legendary. Thirty years ago, it was even tougher.

The distances, border crossings, war zones, heat, and wildlife all posed very real risks. Surviving this journey is heroic in its own right. And, as with all great Trans-African tales, there are stories of kindness, support, friendship, and love—this book has them in abundance.

4) The bike
Long before Itchy Boots, people recognized the utility and toughness of the Yamaha Tenere 600. It takes a beating and keeps going… most of the time. There are dramatic breakdowns and roadside repairs—exactly the kind of chaos I love in older travel stories, and exactly why I don’t ride old bikes.

In this adventure the rider is the hero, but he couldn’t have done it without his trusty steed.

5) The romance
In my humble interpretation, there are three levels of romance here:
• Romance with the journey, the land, and the people
• Romance with past loves—memories and loss
• Romance in the hope for future love

If that sounds confusing, it’s probably because I don’t know what I’m talking about. But trust me—this rugged road trip has a real current of emotion running through it.


Final Thoughts

This is an epic, page-turning adventure and a beautifully written contribution to the motorcycle-travel collection. It stands out in my library because of its emotional depth and romantic undercurrent.

Track down a copy wherever you can. Then lend it to a non-motorcycle friend and show how rugged yet sensitive you are.

P.S. I’m currently reading Impossible Journey by Jeffrey Polnaja.

P.S. x2 For more of my book reviews, search Tiger Coward Adventure Motorcycle Library on Facebook or on Goodreads.

P.S. x3 Check out my YouTube channel for my own modest odysseys.

[michael baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Running with the Moon immensely. From the very first pages, I found myself swept up in Jonny Bealby’s journey across Africa, reveling in both the adventure and the vivid characters he encounters along the way. It’s the kind of trip I know I’d never undertake myself—I can’t imagine coping with the relentless rain, the heat, or the sheer unpredictability of the continent—but that’s exactly what makes the book such a pleasure to read.
Bealby’s storytelling makes the journey feel effortless to follow, even as he navigates landscapes and situations far outside the ordinary. There’s a warmth and honesty to his writing that keeps you rooting for him, and the emotional arc that unfolds—culminating in his unexpected discovery of love—provides a wonderfully satisfying conclusion.
A captivating, heartfelt travel memoir that lets you experience adventure from the comfort of your armchair.

[Evison T · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Beauty. Emotion. Inspiration.’
Are words used to describe this beautiful book.
Bravissimo, bravissimo.
As an African I’m astonished by the beautiful depiction of Africa and its people.

[Doug Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bit of a slow burn to start with but ended up really enjoying this book about a man riding round Africa. Nicely written and relatable.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid addition to my work-in-progress motorcycle adventure library.
I must admit, I didn't see the ending coming, pleasant surprise there and a nice coda. I may have skipped out the italicized relationship-history sections, although I'm sure others would like the book for those exact parts.
Quite the feat for early-1990's Africa, legendary even?
Quite enjoyed the book, compare and contrast with Charlie Boorman and Ewen M.'s Long Way Down.
Enjoyed it, which is what counts.

[Kevin Weir · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone whose long-dormant adventure biking career was resurrected by the death of his wife, I could strongly relate to this story. It is told in a simple and self-effacing fashion with good verbal imagery.

I tend to gauge adventure books by whether I think they would be of interest to someone who isn't an enthusiast in the discipline being described. I think this book would be a worthwhile read even for someone who doesn't appreciate motorcycling. It is a fascinating story.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A guy travels through Africa by motorbike down the west coast and back up the east. Amazing journey off the beaten path.

[Eon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story, not his writing so much.
The endless similes got on my nerves a bit.
But a heartfelt telling, and a great adventure.

[Aled Owen-Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read this one three times now. Most travel books are tied to the period in which they were written but this one has an almost timeless quality.