Overland to India by Gordan G May

Overland to India by Gordan G May (2008)
Read: August 2010

We'd been following Gordan's Overland to Cairo blog since Kevin altered us to this crazy Kiwi now living in Manchester who was planning to ride to Cairo from Manchester on an old BSA Bantam motorcycle. We got in touch with Gordon and were planning to meet him when he arrived in Cairo, so we decided we really ought to buy his book to get an idea of his other travels and adventures.We were really pleased then that this book was waiting for us when we returned to the UK this summer.We decided that it would be one of the three books we took to America and Canada with us on holiday as we wanted travel books to read as we were travelling around. Scotty read it first and really enjoyed it so I was pleased to get hold of it and have a read.

Gordan's writing style is great; really accessible, just like his blog that we've been reading. As I'm reading this after having met him in Cairo, it's got a really personal feel - as if he's retelling his tales to us over a Stella or two in a back street baladi, or faded glory hotel, bar.

There are so many examples of the kindness of strangers throughout his tale, and I know that I'll be reading similar stories when he publishes his most recent journey to Egypt. They are heartening to read and Gordan's gracious and kind acceptence of help, and his offerings in return, are also touching. I'm not a "bike" person and so I don't get all of the technical aspects of the bike going wrong. This doesn't matter though as Gordan's writing isn't as technically-based as Long Way Round / Long Way Down / Dakar Rally, and it shouldn't be - because Gordan's tale is about the journey and the people and the time he shares with them.

A really great read - can't wait to read Overland to Egypt when it's out!