GOT2GO: How I rode around the world on a motorcycle solo and what I learned along the way

by Lea Rieck

Your family. Your friends. Your job. Your language. Your life, as you know it. Imagine you leave all of this behind, and just go on a ride around the world. 18 months, 50 countries, 90.000 kilometers of adventure. In her travelogue, Lea Rieck tells a touching story of falling and getting up again, of courage and serenity, faith in oneself and other people, empathy, hope and determination. About setting out - but not to learn to fear the world, but to find adventure, friendship and love. The moment that changes everything can come at any time. For Lea Rieck, it's a normal Monday morning in the office when she sees a colleague watering a plant with Evian mineral water. She quits her job, leaves her comfort zone and sets off on a trip around the world. Just her motorcycle Cleo and her, all alone. But what do you do when there's a military coup right in front of your window? If your lover turns out to be a Russian sniper? Or if you burn your eyes in the highest altitude desert of the world? You learn your lesson and move on. The journey takes Lea past 8,000-meter-high mountains in Pakistan, through temples in India, to the safe shores of Australia, into the driest desert in the world in Chile and Bolivia - and in the end back to Germany. Breathlessly, she lets her intuition and instincts guide her, experiences the highs and lows of traveling alone, begins to see the world from a different angle, and discovers life in all its different facets and forms. "'Dwell in the land and you shall be fed.' - that is out of the question for Lea Rieck. The more adventurous, the better. The worst journeys, she says, are the best." Hans Magnus Enzensberger „Absolutely worth reading" - Podcast Cosmopolitan "Lea Rieck [...] convinces with polished language and clever analyses [...] a brilliant read with challenges and surprises even for non-motorcyclists. One wants to go on riding with Lea forever." - Motorrad Magazin "Wittily written, but still very close to heart [...] a real page-turner!“ - Motorrad Abenteuer

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Motorcycle

390 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 20, 2021

Reviews

[Allan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review – “GOT2GO” by Lea Rieck.
Ok I do this because, it’s fun, it is my opinion and I’m not paid to do it. As I said my opinion.
But if any author out there wants an honest review on their book, just send me the book.

Lea’s book first was published in German which is understandable, and then what seemed like years waiting to see if a version in English would be published, it was. The book I read was bought off Amazon, printed by Amazon, which could explain the grainy photos, but if you look on her website or Facebook, insta page I am sure you will find the colour photos. How Amazon prints books with sometimes really poor-quality photos is a pet peeve of mine, I do not know how the photos are in the original German version.

so that been said, what you get is a is woman who hasn’t ridden a bike long, just been offered a new job, so decides to take off for a ride around the world, Germany to Germany via Europe, Asia, Australia, South American, North America. The journey takes 18months give or take a few days and journeys through 50 countries, not all get a mention and not all provide a story. The book is written with wit and humour, the characters she meets on her journey add to the journey, there is joy and sadness, adventure and mis-adventure, she falls in and out of love but never loses the love of the journey or Cleo.
There is a somewhat witty FAQ, but some questions do not get answered, such as why a trumpet and not a Beemer, how what seems like inappropriate riding gear at times ended up been the appropriate and right riding gear (Red Dress) or for me, why I couldn’t get the song Lady in Red by Chris Rea outa my head while reading this book.

So yes this book is well worth been added to your library either electronic or real book one. Don’t take my word for it, as I stated up there, this is just my opinion.

[Tiger Coward · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book!

Admittedly, I am a fan of Lea's from her YouTube channel of the same name. However, you don't have to be to read this book. That being said, you will be a fan when you are finished reading this book!

There is something for everybody in this book. Travel to exotic places, romance with a special service sniper, saving a girl from a Sexual Predator, and even a confrontation with an American Biker gang. That is just the tip of the iceberg.

The real journey is into Lea's soul and, in turn, your own. At least it was for me. The story of her journey around the world to find herself could resonate with anyone and everyone.

The writing is excellent, and the storytelling is tender, intimate, and often very funny.

[Kimberly Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Lea Rieck’s YouTube videos; the photography is beautiful and she shares much interesting information about the places she visits. (Her channel is also named “Got2Go.”) So, at first I was a little put off by the book’s focus on her love life and emotional ups and downs. But I kept reading and am glad I did. She writes about many amazing encounters with people all over the world; it left me appreciative of our shared humanity with all its warts and challenges.

[Mr D Ashton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting and annoying

This is an interesting book. Unfortunately, it's not a travelog as expected instead, it's a collection of travel stories and reflections on the personal development created by the author's travels.

The tales are well related and interesting, but the disjointed nature detracts from the enjoyment. Huge gaps in the narrative are very irritating but if you can put up with that, it is worth reading.

[Paul Curtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not what I expected in that it’s not a travel diary that describes her route in detail or how she equipped the motorcycle etc.
Excellent account of her discoveries about herself however and her experiences of people all over the world. Inspiring and profound in places, unsettling and uncomfortable in at at least one place too.
Well worth reading and I’ll be actively encouraging others to read this too.

[KiwiAntje · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the German version "Sag dem Abenteuer ich komme" (Tell the adventure, I'm coming).

In a gripping yet simple style, Lea documents her solo motorbike travel around the world. We witness her grow from initial struggle to making friends and, finally, an utter trust in the universe that wherever she is, is where she is meant to be.

A must-read for the travel obsessed. @lea_rieck also has an Instagram account.

[Prakash Holla · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art of woman motorcycling..
Author recounts her ride as a woman motorcyclist (which has more cons than pros) well..intertwining her emotions emanated by people and places along the way..the book may be considered as a memoir rather than a travelogue as most of the places traveled through are not reflected in the narrative..a good translation which engages one emotionally

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

This could have earned four or even five stars had Fraülein Rieck had the benefit of a tougher editor. Someone to clean up the howlers (e.g., the Grand Canyon is “like an orange-red chasm”), but most of all to eliminate much of the pontificating and philosophizing. The experiences she relates don’t require her recitation of explicit life-lessons.

[Dr Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book

I have read several travel books but this is definitely one of the most enjoyable. The short stories of the various places that Lea visited are often funny heartwarming or fascinating. Lea really brings to life thoughts of the alone traveller and gives a very realistic impression of what her journey has been about.

[garth · Rating 5 out of 5]

INSPIRATIONAL

just an OLD GUY who likes to ride .. as i read the book it gave me the feeling i was experiencing the adventures she achieved .. hope she shares more of her journeys ..

[jerry hendrickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for Sharing

I've really enjoyed this read and story. Your insight and observations were fun and funny. I wish some of the time gaps.were filled in as I wanted more. Thank you for sharing. Like your YouTube too!

[Lachlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adventurous woman.

I liked the honest writing about her experiences good and bad, the fantastic adventure she has had and about the really good people she met. She followed a dream.

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

I was familiar with Lea through her YouTube channel. The.book exceeded my expectations and then some. I am a!so a motorcycle rider but not as adventurous as Lea. What I enjoyed most was the way she relates her journey on the bike to the journey we call life.

[mike bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading the book but it was different than expected from watching her Youtube channel.
Instead of motorcycling, motorcycles or discussing the areas travel, the book consisted of personal growth with a tad too much Harlequin Romance thrown in.

Still a good read .

[Kelsey Goodwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tim recommended- got make the husband happy and throw him a bone every once in awhile. This was cool. Lot's of good meditations on being alone. I'm stunned by other peoples ability to be so open hearted to strangers.

[Shahid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lea is a very innocent human being. she has the skill of story telling. Her photography is realy very very impressive.

[Kenneth P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read. Two.enthusiastic thumbs up

What a simple but deep.story of adventure and will. Love the author and what she has accomplished. A must read.

[Melindannk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Great stories and great information.

[Bob Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this frank account of Lea's big adventure and the effect it had on her. She is inspirational