Red Tape and White Knuckles

by Lois Pryce

Unafraid of a challenge, Lois Pryce began the kind of adventure most of us could only ever dream of. She put on her sparkly crash helmet, armed herself with maps and a baffling array of visas, and got on her bike. Destination: Cape Town - and the small matter of tackling the Sahara, war-torn Angola and the Congo Basin along the way - this feisty independent woman's grand trek through the Dark Continent of Africa is the definitive motorcycling adventure.

Colourful and hilarious, Red Tape and White Knuckles is an action-packed tale about following your dreams that will have you packing your bags and jetting off into the sunset on your own adventure before you know it.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Africa, Adventure, Motorcycle, Motorcycling, Biography

416 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2008

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book promised so much - a woman riding a motorbike through Africa. "What an adventure" I thought. Unfortunately somehow I was actually bored while reading this. The author did not have to constantly remind me that she was a woman riding a motorbike solo through Africa. I got that from the blurb. It's why I got the book. So get on with the story and tell me about Africa. The writing was also terrible and predictable, which didn't help the story.

[Kim Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring journey through Africa. Makes me want to visit Angola and reminds me that we can all achieve our dreams - just need to take the risk and do it.

[Leela · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5, though a factually incorrect statement about chameleons living under rocks is very close to making it lose that .5. Too much emphasis on the red tape of border controls and not enough detail about the landscape and people, but despite that interesting and very inspiring to read about her travels down through Africa.

[Lisa Brandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second one of Lois Pryce's adventures I've devoured. I almost gave up on this one a couple of times but not through any fault of the author. It was because of the adventure itself. Africa was hostile to Lois and it's not a continent I would have any interest in conquering on two wheels. It's not a challenge I would undertake but that's part of the thrill of reading her books. You don't have to lift a foot off the pedal and she takes you along with terrific story-telling. However there was one train ride in particular that I read with my heart lodged in my throat. I had to keep reminding myself that there was more of the story to tell so she obviously survived it even though it looked a little grim at times! Lois Pryce would be the ultimate dinner-party guest. She is an adventure rider that any motorcyclist, male or female, can respect.

[Angie Hilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

The next time you are in the mood for some chic-lit, pick up this instead. It will give you the same light tone of a girlfriend but delivers it from the pen of an observent adventurer. Lois describes the people, the clothing, the shopping, accommodations, and the culture of every country she goes through but all in the most un-pretentious way. She's in it, a part of it. She observes her fellow travelers and how they react to their shared experiences and surroundings. You may even recognize yourself. If not in Lois, then perhaps in one of the travelers she encounters. (I'm totally a "Val" or a "Liz".)

For Angie's complete review - visit WanderLit at:
http://wanderlustandlipstick.com/blog...

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since I don't tend to travel so much, I love reading about others that do.

This was a great book, gave you a good sense of what it was like to travel as she did through Africa.

I did find myself getting a bit worried for her at times and must say she is braver than I.

[Dood Teadrinker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love her style of writing and down to earth approach to the people she encounters. Bought it because of the motorbike links but would have read it anyway. Easy to read- great escapism for the vicarious traveller.

[Liz Keily · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lightweight account of a pale faced, red haired Brit who naively rides her motorbike across Africa. A very gutsy effort, but with little to say of much worth. Lois needs to check her ego and her motivations.

[Kevin Weir]

An amazing adventure. I enjoy Lois' style, but I wish she would cut back on the prejudiced remarks about "foreign" countries.

[Gaby Wolferink · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great writing style, great book, but sometimes a bit too prejudiced, despite the fact that she claims she's not; there are some huge contradictions to be found, just one page apart from each other.

[Cathygillespie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gutsy Lois taking on Africa on her “Serow on steroids” or a Yamaha XT 220 with a sheepskin seat cover and lowered suspension and knobbly tyres Lois crosses the Sahara, boards a train full of heavily armed soldiers and who makes the Angolan border with Namibia with minutes to spare before her visa runs out. In Angola she has to camp by the side of the road as further off the road there is the danger of land mines. Having reached Namibia she screeches to a halt having just observed a stop sign, having become unused to them since they were non-existent in the countries preceding Namibia. Having reached Cape Town she is offered useful motorcycling advice like “don’t use the clutch when the engine is hot” having just completed a trip from Tunisia to South Africa.

Well done Lois, great book and great read.

[Anne Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The reading block I had a couple of weeks ago seems to be over and I'm racing through books again. I've just read Red Tape and White Knuckes by Lois Pryce. I read her first book about her motorcycle journey from Alaska to the tip of South America (Lois on the Loose) a few years ago and I've been a fan ever since. This week I'll be hearing her speak at the Edinburgh Festival so thought I'd better read her other books. 'Red Tape and White Knuckles' is about a journey from London to Cape Town. I loved reading about her foray through what is now the DRC (my former home back in the day when it was Zaire) and well just about Africa in general. Africa is definitely one of those places that gets in your blood (and I don't just mean in a malarial way). As I expected to, I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to start on her next book.

[Robin Petty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling page-turner providing interesting insights about developing Africa and illustrating how things that we've read/heard about a country can play with our minds.
Out of the desert and on her own, you are genuinely worried for her in the scary, edgy moments. Eliciting that heart-in-mouth emotional response in the reader is one of the hallmarks of punchy travel-writing. And that's what this is for great sections.
The cross-Sahara chapters could have stood less focus on the group-dynamics but I understand how, in a sometimes featureless landscape, the writings in a travel diary might steer towards recording such engagements. However there's much inspiration to be found here, along with a thoughtful, honest tone and chutzpah in spades.

[Tiger Coward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book from Lois Pryce!

This is Pryce's second book, and it is as good as the first one, which I thought was brilliant.

This book follows an adventurer as she solo rides her motorcycle from England, through the length of western Africa, to Cape Town.

This grueling ride is full of funny situations, heart warming interactions with "guardian angels," and suspenseful interactions with corrupt police and thugs.

Admittedly, I am a motorcycle adventure junkie, but you don't have to be to enjoy this book. This story is a universally great tale of overcoming both real and imagined challenges.

This book is one of the best in my moto travel library.

Save yourself time and buy all three of her books together because once you fall in love with one, you will want to read them all.

[Deb Werenko · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed Louis’ take as she traveled through Africa, and loved how our observations seemed to find a similar vein despite coming from different perspectives. I even found a picture of a tiny gas station in Tunisia I had seen and didn’t get a picture of. What a coincidence. Sometimes Lois portrayed some negativity that was likely a reflection of her anxiety and a strong set of preconceived notions it so hard not to have when visiting somewhere your friends can’t stop warning you about only to find the exact opposite is true. The chilling account of the people she encountered in the DRC was another thing all together. I enjoyed the read to be sure.

[Royce Darrell Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better than her first book? You bet!

Excellent read from start to finish. Lois has a way of keeping a story simple but manages to place the reader right there with her riding pillion all the way. Scary parts . Humorous parts. Oh my goodness ! parts. And "Damn I wish I was there too" parts. They're all there to make one helluva story that ranks right up there with the very best motorcycle adventure stories. I hope Lois and Austin continue their motorcycle journeys together for a very long time.

[Kitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely extraordinary.
I normally do not read travel books because they tend to be full of author musings and philosophising.
This book however, read like a story.it was captivating, stark, funny, true to African life in many ways. The author does not attempt to judge the cultures or determine what is right and wrong in her experiences.
Only that she had a bloody good time riding a motorcycle all through Africa!

[Weeze Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - hard to rate as overall I really enjoyed reading this, - but a lot of the ‘jokes’ and critiques of history/cultures really don’t land or sit well with me - and come across as very western centric misinformed & insulting (even tho I really don’t feel they/she means to be.) But I really admire what she did & found reading about it incredibly interesting, and did also make me laugh a lot at times.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

This woman rides her motorcycle from London to Cape Town. And has a sense of humor writing about it. I liked this book because it is ‘just’ a story about the journey, it’s not a history lesson or political analysis of the places she goes through and it doesn’t try to be. A frank account of what travel in Africa is like, or at least what it was like for her.

[Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're read Lois' first book, you already know what her style is like.

This is a great read if you're interested in motorcycle adventure tourism (and not the organized, big bucks' worth of gear and a chase vehicle kind...this is a small dual-purpose motorcycle and minimal gear) and/or North/West Africa.

This her second book and I am reading them in order. Onward to book 3!

[Glenn Parkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A scary, fascinating ride

I couldn't put this book down. Lois had me right there beside her on the whole trip. I question her sanity sometimes with her destination choices, but she doesn't waste a word. I could feel the heat and humidity and was terrified during the train ride with the Congolese soldiers. Whew! Now that I've recovered, we.'re off to Iran.

[John Janes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lois' second book is a good or better than her first

Having enjoyed Lewis's 1st adventure on a motorcycle from Alaska to Argentina, I didn't know if she could top that eFort. This adventure of riding from England to South Africa reads like a thriller and an adventure story all rolled into one. I am now looking forward to reading of her third motorcycling adventure.

[Jim Unsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting. Daring. Not enough about the motorcycle
Maintenance, repair etc. for someone who ‘loved’ her
bike, and apart from the fact it was between her legs
constantly it was as if it wasn’t on the trip at all.
I’ve done the Sahara biker trip and I had more
troubles in 2 weeks than she did for the trip’s
Entirely.
Less me. More bike.

[Stephanie Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice read

Nice story with amusing interludes. Enjoyable reading. Travelling overland is always about the people one meets, good and bad. Lois' journey through Africa really underscores this perspective.

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exciting and at times nerve wracking trip across an amazing continent with a huge variety of cultures. This and the other adventures are inspiring and exciting.

[Norman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite simply, one of the best motorcycle travel books I've read.

[Linda Gocha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, true story of a brave woman that rode thru the middle of Africa on
her motorcycle and the challenges and people she met.

[Mario Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genuine, a good and honest adventure read.

A genuine and humorist take on a hard core adventure ride. Well written and from the core of the author.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite the adventure for the author, enjoyed reading of her trials and tribulations during her African solo trip. Gutsy!

[Kun Dániel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is even better than Lois on the Loose, if it's possible to compare. I found it interesting because she travels an unusual route through Africa, so I could learn about countries and people that other travelogue writers travelling on the Eastern side of the continent can't write about. She sees Africa realistically and as a biker she gives her opinion. It's a pity she only has 3 books.