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Absurd
Senior-citizen, middle-class, PC-perfect trio decide late in life to become motorbikers for no other reason than to journey on heritage motorcycles on a Safari to the Sahara at Seventy to see a Sunrise. It is pointless, it is risky, and it is absurd. Yes, that is the beauty of it.
Absurdly determined to metamorphose themselves into a glossy photograph seen in a glossy magazine that caused a spark of desire within the tinder-dry kindling of their imagination, they were consumed with all that the photograph promised until that reality could be made theirs: to achieve all of the experience, the life’s journey implied within it, to redefine their already long lives, to change themselves, to fast-track to the achievement of the decades of experience exemplified by those young adventurers in that glossy photograph in that glossy magazine.
What an absurd notion. For no other reason, it had to be: three quickly became five guys on heritage motorcycles, hooking up with an ex-Special Forces operative and a combat zone photographer to make it seven for a safari across the top of Africa. From Spain to Tangier, they traversed the Riff, navigated the Atlas Mountains, circled Cirque du Jaffar, and rode through the Gorges du Ziz. Rough-riding across Morocco has never been so much fun.
Wild camping on the way under star-spattered sky, across unforgiving terrain where luxury is a warm sleeping bag. In places where if you don’t guard it you lose it, and where changing co-ordinates on a fast and furious basis makes good sense. Through oft sudden lows where the warmth of a Moroccan welcome exceeds the heat from black coffee, honeyed mint teas, or a meal from a hot tajine. Until dusty boots touch down on the sands of the Sahara at Erg Chebbi to witness a new dawn rise.
Absurdly determined to metamorphose themselves into a glossy photograph seen in a glossy magazine that caused a spark of desire within the tinder-dry kindling of their imagination, they were consumed with all that the photograph promised until that reality could be made theirs: to achieve all of the experience, the life’s journey implied within it, to redefine their already long lives, to change themselves, to fast-track to the achievement of the decades of experience exemplified by those young adventurers in that glossy photograph in that glossy magazine.
What an absurd notion. For no other reason, it had to be: three quickly became five guys on heritage motorcycles, hooking up with an ex-Special Forces operative and a combat zone photographer to make it seven for a safari across the top of Africa. From Spain to Tangier, they traversed the Riff, navigated the Atlas Mountains, circled Cirque du Jaffar, and rode through the Gorges du Ziz. Rough-riding across Morocco has never been so much fun.
Wild camping on the way under star-spattered sky, across unforgiving terrain where luxury is a warm sleeping bag. In places where if you don’t guard it you lose it, and where changing co-ordinates on a fast and furious basis makes good sense. Through oft sudden lows where the warmth of a Moroccan welcome exceeds the heat from black coffee, honeyed mint teas, or a meal from a hot tajine. Until dusty boots touch down on the sands of the Sahara at Erg Chebbi to witness a new dawn rise.
273 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2021
3 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 9, 2021
Admittedly, I am a biased reviewer having myself played a minor roll in Keith's adventure on a motorcycle in Morocco. Perhaps the fun, and misery, we shared during our travels atop Royal Enfield motorcycles aimed resolutely toward the Saharan sands in some way colors my review of his memoir of the trip. Make of that what you will, but I thoroughly enjoyed reliving the trip through this book.
What a joy to read through Keith's version of the events while reflecting on and comparing to my own memories. I certainly had my own harrowing little interludes along the way and was glad to see I wasn't the only one often figuring it out as I went. The goal of course was to ride a motorcycle across Morocco. I'll admit that my decision to go on this adventure was done as much more of a lark than Keiths careful preparation, as was made clear by my packing. Still we all completed our stated goal and made it there and back again without major incident, or at least without permanent consequences.
However what stands out to me in retrospect, what I really cherished most from the trip in the end, were the exhausted evening dinners and eager morning breakfasts shared together with my traveling friends. Discussing the business of the trips of course, but also just getting to know each other as individuals across our varied histories, cultures, and generations. It was a joy and a pleasure. And there were of course some other things that happened along the way. I'll leave it to the book to speak on those.
What a joy to read through Keith's version of the events while reflecting on and comparing to my own memories. I certainly had my own harrowing little interludes along the way and was glad to see I wasn't the only one often figuring it out as I went. The goal of course was to ride a motorcycle across Morocco. I'll admit that my decision to go on this adventure was done as much more of a lark than Keiths careful preparation, as was made clear by my packing. Still we all completed our stated goal and made it there and back again without major incident, or at least without permanent consequences.
However what stands out to me in retrospect, what I really cherished most from the trip in the end, were the exhausted evening dinners and eager morning breakfasts shared together with my traveling friends. Discussing the business of the trips of course, but also just getting to know each other as individuals across our varied histories, cultures, and generations. It was a joy and a pleasure. And there were of course some other things that happened along the way. I'll leave it to the book to speak on those.
February 2, 2022
If you want to start your year off right, be ABSURD!
This is a brilliant book was written by an extraordinary man, Keith Futcher who I do not think is a even a novels - but needs to continue to write.
Who doesn't have a dream that tugs at your heart strings? Bravo for Futcher not only to follow his heart and so vividly describe his journey to the reader.
Futcher's adventure of riding a motorcycle across northern Africa to the Sahara had more than one challenge. Who cares if he did not know how to ride and motorcycle at 68 years old... Age is just a number.
As someone who has rarely been on a motorbike and who also lived in Asia, many of the challenges were so visualized that I cheered on, laughed out loud and could see the beauty of the journey.
Thank you for just a wonderful journey especially during the surreal time of COVID.
This is a brilliant book was written by an extraordinary man, Keith Futcher who I do not think is a even a novels - but needs to continue to write.
Who doesn't have a dream that tugs at your heart strings? Bravo for Futcher not only to follow his heart and so vividly describe his journey to the reader.
Futcher's adventure of riding a motorcycle across northern Africa to the Sahara had more than one challenge. Who cares if he did not know how to ride and motorcycle at 68 years old... Age is just a number.
As someone who has rarely been on a motorbike and who also lived in Asia, many of the challenges were so visualized that I cheered on, laughed out loud and could see the beauty of the journey.
Thank you for just a wonderful journey especially during the surreal time of COVID.
May 11, 2022
Having just retired after 50 years of reading electrical publications for work and car magazines for pleasure I find reading a real proper book intriguing. No more technical specifications. No more biassed car reports. So in at the deep end with this book. All of a sudden I find myself consulting Google to explain the meaning of words I've never seen before. The world of a self employed electrician must be very nieve. Though I can wire a house so perhaps different talents for different circumstances. So every page of this book is a new adventure, Each chapter begins with a grid reference, so back to Google. Instantly I am transported to the exact location and feel as though I too am on this journey. I'll keep updating you as I progress through this literary gem. And in the meanwhile expand my vocabluary with words that will make the heads of my former work collegues turn in amazment.
March 15, 2022
Keith,
Just finished reading your book, traveling with you and your team vicariously from old blighty to the Sahara and back. I am impressed with the team that got assembled and the manner in which it met and overcame obstacles.
Great writing, flowing & descriptive text with many inserts of historical or scientific content. I particularly enjoyed reading the history bits. Well done.
Now the question is - what's on for 80?
Just finished reading your book, traveling with you and your team vicariously from old blighty to the Sahara and back. I am impressed with the team that got assembled and the manner in which it met and overcame obstacles.
Great writing, flowing & descriptive text with many inserts of historical or scientific content. I particularly enjoyed reading the history bits. Well done.
Now the question is - what's on for 80?
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews