Miles from Nowhere

Barbara and Larry Savage embark on a two-year bicycle journey spanning 23 countries and 23,000 miles. The couple departs from California in 1979 with minimal cycling experience, setting out to circumnavigate parts of four continents. The narrative follows their route through small villages and major cities across North America, Europe, North Africa, Asia, and New Zealand. They face physical challenges, cultural barriers, and unexpected encounters while living on $5 per day and carrying their possessions on their bicycles. Miles from Nowhere documents their navigation of foreign bureaucracies, mechanical problems, and the constant search for food and shelter. The book includes practical details about bicycle touring alongside observations of lands and peoples encountered during their journey. The memoir explores themes of human resilience, cultural connection, and the transformative effects of leaving comfort behind. Through direct experience with different societies and ways of life, the narrative examines what it means to be both a traveler and an outsider in the world.

Readers consistently highlight the raw honesty and detailed daily accounts of Barbara and Larry's bicycle journey. The unpolished, diary-style writing captures both the mundane challenges and meaningful encounters they experienced across 23 countries. Readers appreciated: - Authentic portrayal of relationship dynamics during long-term travel - Practical details about equipment, routes, and costs - Cultural observations from the 1980s perspective - Barbara's candid writing about fears and struggles Common criticisms: - Occasional repetitive passages - Some found the writing style too informal - Limited historical/political context about visited regions Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (150+ reviews) Notable reader comments: "Shows both the freedom and burden of long-term bicycle touring" - Goodreads reviewer "Her honest accounts of marital tension during the journey set this apart from typical travel narratives" - Amazon reviewer "The tragic context of Barbara's death shortly after publication adds poignancy" - BikeForums user

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🌍 Barbara Savage and her husband Larry embarked on their 23,000-mile bicycle journey in June 1979, traveling across 25 countries on four continents over two years 📚 The book was published posthumously in 1983, after Barbara tragically died in a bicycling accident near her home in California 🚲 During their world tour, the couple spent only $7,000 total, averaging about $10 per day for both of them combined 🌱 Barbara had never been an avid cyclist before this journey - she was actually a vegetarian restaurant owner who sold her business to fund the trip 🏆 The Adventure Cycling Association created the Barbara Savage Memorial Award in her honor, given annually to writers who capture the spirit of bicycle adventure