A 14,000 mile motorcycle journey through Africa that created memories to last a lifetime Alan Whelan was on a unique quest to find the people in the hidden heart of Africa. On the 14,000 mile solo journey through Morocco, Mauritania, Mali, and all the way to Cape Town across deserts and the toughest roads imaginable, he met sporting legends and ministers, peacekeepers and outlaws, and countless others who shared their last morsel of food with him. Armed with little more than blind optimism, he experienced a jaw-dropping ride. Uplifting, insightful, and funny, this is the story of one man's determination through the most physically and emotionally challenging five months of his life.
A great tale of a trip through Africa's by motorcycle, In search of the ultimate cuppa. I was initially sceptical about the premise of the journey, but soon became totally immersed in Alan's trip. Overcoming bad roads, a disintegrating motorcycle, accidents, rain and heat, Alan drinks tea with all sorts of characters, from poor families in the middle of nowhere, to businessmen and self-employed farmers from Zimbabwe. The people he meets on the road add a very human element to the tale. Well written, highly entertaining, and very funny in parts, it's a bit different from all the other motorcycle adventure books out there. I thoroughly recommend it.
This is a very well written and insightful story. It only suffers from a silly and somewhat misleading title. A more appropriate title would be "African Brew: A search for the ultimate cuppa by motorbike". It is a series of very interesting encounters along the back roads of Africa. The author is kind and patient, and not prone to hyperbole. It isn't a motorcycle-centric book like " Long Way Down", but it is vastly more insightful into the people and cultures along the way. A very good read.
Really enjoyed this book. Very entertaining(anything that has bikes, tea and travel has me hooked). Opens your eyes to what life is like on another continent. Unlike similar books (Long Way Down came to mind)you get a real sense of Alan's emotions throughout his journey particularly as he was biking alone not with his best mate and a camera crew!
loved this...down to earth fella doing the trip...not sure if the tea thing was a bit contrived..but fair play a tough trip written up in a friendy stylee.