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The Unseen Walls: Overland solo across Africa on a motorbike
Christian Brix set out to ride his motorbike from London to Cape Town in late 2016. It did not go to plan.
As he travelled 18,000 miles across parts of West Africa, Southern Africa and East Africa he learned many difficult lessons about the continent and himself, but it was not the trip he had hoped to make.
Some adventurers boast of the more gung-ho aspects of their journeys or seek to take overly glamorised pictures for their Instagram profile. But there are a few who honestly chart the underside; the fear, the doubts, and the confusion. On the surface, not much happened on this trip, despite a torrent of potential risks. Under the surface however, while attempting to make sense of the reality of Africa alone, Christian fights many battles in his mind, struggling to stay sane in the process.
Through discomfort, hostile lands, extreme poverty and disorder, depression knocks on the door of this determined introvert as he charges his motorbike across some of the most dangerous roads in the world. The author and his beloved motorbike Glory ride hard in a glorious rebellion, without a happy ending, but a greater understanding of the complex world we inhabit.
No matter how brave we may be, there is a fear – an unseen wall – in us all. The author runs head long at his, and this story chronicles his amazing journey.
(He then went on to take his bike to Asia and ride a further 12,000 miles across it.)
As he travelled 18,000 miles across parts of West Africa, Southern Africa and East Africa he learned many difficult lessons about the continent and himself, but it was not the trip he had hoped to make.
Some adventurers boast of the more gung-ho aspects of their journeys or seek to take overly glamorised pictures for their Instagram profile. But there are a few who honestly chart the underside; the fear, the doubts, and the confusion. On the surface, not much happened on this trip, despite a torrent of potential risks. Under the surface however, while attempting to make sense of the reality of Africa alone, Christian fights many battles in his mind, struggling to stay sane in the process.
Through discomfort, hostile lands, extreme poverty and disorder, depression knocks on the door of this determined introvert as he charges his motorbike across some of the most dangerous roads in the world. The author and his beloved motorbike Glory ride hard in a glorious rebellion, without a happy ending, but a greater understanding of the complex world we inhabit.
No matter how brave we may be, there is a fear – an unseen wall – in us all. The author runs head long at his, and this story chronicles his amazing journey.
(He then went on to take his bike to Asia and ride a further 12,000 miles across it.)
- GenresTravelNonfictionAfrica
254 pages, Paperback
Published August 12, 2019
15 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 8, 2021
Philosophic Journey
An interesting read but more a philosophic journey than a travelogue. A great deal of the book was devoted to the author's inner thoughts about the sights and people he was seeing and trying to reconcile these with his "western" experiences. I found the philosophising somewhat laborious and was glad when the as author returned to his travels.
An interesting read but more a philosophic journey than a travelogue. A great deal of the book was devoted to the author's inner thoughts about the sights and people he was seeing and trying to reconcile these with his "western" experiences. I found the philosophising somewhat laborious and was glad when the as author returned to his travels.
February 27, 2024
One of my top books so far this year
This book is adventurous, funny, depressing, thought-provoking, and I couldn’t put it down. Traveling through Africa with him, exposed me to a different version of this continent.
This book is adventurous, funny, depressing, thought-provoking, and I couldn’t put it down. Traveling through Africa with him, exposed me to a different version of this continent.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews