Free Ride

by Noraly Schoenmaker

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

A SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE BEST TRAVEL BOOK OF 2025

By the YouTube sensation with three million followers, the inspiring account of a young woman who, in a moment of personal crisis, embarked on an epic, transcontinental motorcycle ride—and along the way found a new sense of purpose.

Noraly Schoenmaker was a thirtysomething geologist living in the Netherlands when she learned that her live-in partner had been having a long-term affair. In desperate need of a new beginning, she decided to quit her job and jet off to India. But her plans were dashed when she fell quickly and helplessly in with a motorcycle. Behind the handlebars, she felt alive and free—nimble enough to trace the narrowest paths, powerful enough to travel the longest of roads.

First, she set off toward the Pacific, through the jungles of Myanmar and Thailand, then into Malaysia. Rather than satisfy her appetite for the open road, this ride only piqued it. She shipped her bike to Oman, at the base of the Arabian Peninsula, and embarked on a journey through Iran, across Tajikistan along its border with Afghanistan, over the snowy peaks of Central Asia, and into Europe, all the way back home to the Netherlands. She covered remote and utterly unfamiliar territory, broke down on impossibly steep mountains, and pushed too many miles along empty roads, farther and farther from civilization. But through her travels, she discovered the true beauty of the world, the kindness of its people, the simplicity of its open spaces, and a new and unshakable belief in her capabilities.

Free Ride is an inspiring story of self-discovery and renewal. Filled with unforgettable figures, hilarious disasters, and powerful human connections, it shows you what happens when you open your heart and let the world in.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Memoir, Adventure, Biography, Audiobook, Motorcycling

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 10, 2024

About the author

Noraly Schoenmaker, known as Itchy Boots, is a Dutch adventurer and popular content creator on YouTube, renowned for her thrilling motorcycle journeys around the world. She initially worked as a geologist in gold exploration but later decided to leave her job to follow her passion for travel and adventure.

She launched her YouTube channel in 2018, documenting her adventures across various continents, including Asia, Africa, and South America, in a simple and engaging style. Noraly shares her daily experiences on the road, including the challenges she faces on rough terrains and in harsh weather conditions, making her content both realistic and inspiring.

Noraly has gained widespread fame for her courage and love of exploring the world, inspiring her followers to pursue their dreams and embrace new experiences. The Itchy Boots channel has become a favorite destination for adventure and travel enthusiasts, showcasing how passion can transform lives.

Reviews

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Curiosity had me choosing this transcontinental bike ride story. I needed to know what would drive someone to do this. I was pleasantly surprised; Noraly’s was a journey of self-discovery and of redefining her purpose. We may never experience the stories she shares, but her encouragement, determination, and survival skills are something we could all do with developing. I was tantalized by the descriptive food and was in awe of Noraly’s fearlessness. The most memorable part for me would be the happiness and sigh that I experienced reading about her meeting the old couple after her bike broke down. It doesn’t matter where in the world we go ~ there are always good people willing to help and a stranded soul.

My interest was piqued enough to investigate Noraly’s previous story!

I was gifted this copy by Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars for Free Ride (audiobook) by Noraly Schoenmaker read by Imani Jade powers.

I’d wondered what inspired Itchy Boots to get on a motorcycle and start riding around the world and this book explains just that. I’ve enjoy her YouTube channel and this book gives a behind the scenes look at Noraly and how she started her channel and some of those difficult early miles and countries.

[Lilisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir by Noraly Schoenmaker about her solo travels on a motorcycle across numerous countries in Asia and the Middle East. It was interesting, informative, and kept me engaged. I loved how she described the places she rode through, the people she met, and the mechanical challenges she overcame with her motorcycle. It’s amazing she was able to survive riding across many of the roads or ruts in inclement weather. I get the sense she may have sanitized some of her experiences or else she was very fortunate in meeting so many generous and helpful people - I’m glad that was the case. I also appreciated her candidness as she described her feelings, determination and what motivated her to set out on her original trip in the first place. She took us along with her on her personal growth journey and I was rooting for her as she undertook some of the most physically arduous parts of her ride. There was a nice balance in the description of the countries and areas she traveled to - a bit of history, environment, terrain, culture, food, language. I also liked that the writing was engaging and nicely paced with humor tossed in for good measure. Yes, and I did end up watching a few Itchy Boots episodes and thoroughly enjoyed them too. I’m looking forward to the author’s next book - when is the next one out, please? Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Carmie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was happy to read this book because I’ve followed Noraly on YouTube since season 2, and this book is all about where it all started, her first bike adventures, birth of her blog and her vlog: her Itchy Boots channel.
Apart from my interest in her first adventure, I don’t think this book is that exciting. Her writing is limited to describing what strangers are wearing, the conditions the road, and the daily logistics of travel. On one or two occasions I felt moved by her insights but I think overall she reveals much more of herself through her films than by words on a page.
Perhaps it is the translation that fails her. I consider her to be an incredible woman and her intrepid travels have shown me so much of the world that I will never, ever go to myself!
Mostly what I love about her films, and something she does sum up in the last few pages of her book (and I wish she had drawn out more throughout the whole story) is that most, or almost all, people are kind and trustworthy and the world is a safe place to be.

[Roger B7 · Rating 2 out of 5]

In het dankwoord schrijft Noraly dat haar droom is uitgekomen en dat ze een schrijfster is geworden. Dat ben ik niet met haar eens. Ze heeft een boek geschreven maar een schrijfster kan je haar niet noemen.
Het boek heeft de diepgang van een Kirgizische pannenkoek. Het is een opsomming van steden die ze aandoet, routes die ze rijdt, maaltijden die ze nuttigt en onbenullige gesprekjes die ze voert.
Dit alles in een knullige stijl, zonder humor, zonder fraaie beschrijvingen of originele metaforen. Bv zinnen als: 'Het uitzicht was een meesterwerk en ik kon een glimlach niet onderdrukken' (p229). Ze is niet in staat een verhaal te vertellen of haar emoties pakkend te beschrijven. Ik denk dat veel werk nodig was van redacteuren om er een leesbaar boek van te maken.
Ze is een wereldreiziger van het onthechte soort dat, gedreven door een innerlijke onrust, steeds maar door moet, van de ene naar de andere stad, van het ene naar het andere land zonder ergens even (bij) stil te staan, zonder een echte connectie te kunnen maken met een plaats, land of personen, die nergens thuis of tevreden is en altijd weer ergens naar toe moet zonder te vinden wat ze zoekt.
Ze heeft (of toont) weinig emotionele diepgang en zelfreflectie. Ze kijkt niet naar haar eigen aandeel in haar relatiebreuk terwijl die voor de lezer wel duidelijk is.
Haar kracht is dat ze in staat is moeilijke projecten aan te gaan en af te ronden terwijl ze hiervoor de benodigde vaardigheden, ervaring en of kwalificaties niet heeft. Goud zoeken in Australië als bioloog; alleen en volkomen onervaren (alleen mooi weer ritjes op de fraaie Nederlandse wegen) en onvoorbereid (met zomerhandschoenen het hooggebergte in gaan) een motorreis door centraal Azië maken waar de meeste ervaren motorrijders voor terug zouden schrikken; een boek schrijven en uitgegeven krijgen zonder enig schrijftalent. Hiervoor verdient ze respect.
Het is overigens wel een leuk boekje voor motorrijders die willen dromen van reizen die ze nooit zullen maken, zoals ik. Ik heb het met plezier gelezen.

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

First and foremost ~ Thank you to Simon & Schuster, Atria Books and Noraly Schoenmaker for the ARC copy of Free Ride.

I got all the feels when reading this inspiring, heart-wrenching, and humbling story. How can anyone read this and not relate to parts of her journey themselves? And I'm not even a motorcycle enthusiast, but I absolutely loved reading about her journey.

[CatReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Noraly Schoenmaker (b. 1987) is a Dutch motorcyclist and vlogger; her Youtube channel, Itchy Boots chronicles her travels with rather clickbaity titles (though I have not watched her videos). Her 2025 memoir, Free Ride, recounts how she began her solo traveling long distance motorcycle adventures with a 9-month trip in 2018-2019 from India to the Netherlands, focusing largely on her time in India, the Middle East and the Caucasus. The memoir is told in a chronologically confusing way (at least to me), frequently jumping back in forth between her prior life in the Netherlands, her childhood, her work as a geologist traveling the world, and various motorcycle adventures. The impetus for her nomadic lifestyle appears to have been a serious relationship breakup that made her housing situation unstable, though she only shares bits and pieces of this, and much of the motorcycle journey is told in an in-the-present, matter-of-fact way that doesn't leave much room for rumination. As of 2025, it appears Schoenmaker is still cycling around various continents, though this isn't really explored in the book either.

Further reading: grand adventures
On the Hippie Trail: Istanbul to Kathmandu and the Making of a Travel Writer by Rick Steves
To Shake the Sleeping Self: A Journey from Oregon to Patagonia, and a Quest for a Life with No Regret by Jedidiah Jenkins
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
Beyond the Trees: A Journey Alone Across Canada's Arctic by Adam Shoalts
North to the Night : A Spiritual Odyssey in the Arctic by Alvah Simon
Wavewalker: Breaking Free by Suzanne Heywood

My statistics:
Book 229 for 2025
Book 2155 cumulatively

[Cav · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Aut inveniam viam aut faciam.
I will find a way or make one myself."

Free Ride was a fairly middle-of-the-road book. It opens with the quote above. I was looking for a bit of a change from the titles I typically read, so I put this one on my list when I came across it. Although it covers an interesting, wide-ranging journey, I found the writing to be a bit lackluster.

Author Noraly Schoenmaker, known as Itchy Boots, is a Dutch adventurer and popular content creator on YouTube, renowned for her thrilling motorcycle journeys around the world. She initially worked as a geologist in gold exploration but later decided to leave her job to follow her passion for travel and adventure.

Noraly Schoenmaker :


The writing here covers an epic 20,000-mile motorcycle trip the author took around central and south Asia, after finding out that her partner had been having a long-term affair. She bought a motorcycle in India, which she named "Basanti."
The end of the book also featured many pics, which is a nice touch I wish more books would utilize. They really help bring context to the writing.







Quite a lot of the first part of the book was written in a non-chronological format. IMHO, she should have just told it chronologically. I found this threw off the continuity and flow. A minor gripe, to be sure.

As mentioned above, she decided to embark on this epic motorcycle journey after uncovering an affair that her partner had been having. She talks at length about it in the book.

She also shares with the reader some of the background of the trip, including some amusing anecdotes that could have easily ended in disaster. Firstly, she did the entire journey solo. This is arguably the most reckless of her decisions. Any number of horrible things could have happened to a solo female in these places. She also embarked on the journey without knowing how to ride a motorbike off-road. LOL She mentions that she didn't know what or where the air filter on her bike was/is. She also didn't know that bump starting a bike with a dead battery was a thing...

Fortunately (for her) and unfortunately (for the reader looking for a hilarious story), these vast oversights never really came back to bite her in the ass. Although I guess I'm glad nothing bad happened, I have to admit the guilty pleasure of reading tales of well-intentioned yet ill-equipped idiots completely out of their depths.

********************

Free Ride was a decent travel memoir, but the writing was a bit flat and dry at times for my tastes.
3 stars for this one.

[Doug · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and fast read. It’s a good story about doing something wild and unexpected, mostly on impulse. I enjoyed the adventure.

[AJ Thurlow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly believe that until you have traveled alone you don’t fully know yourself or how much you can handle. Getting yourself in and out of trouble, relying on your intuition, and being your own company, are so vital in understanding your place in the world.

Reading “Free Ride” by Noraly Schoenmaker, the creator of YouTube channel “Itchy Boots”, reminded me of this and so much more.

Heartbroken and looking for connection to a better time in her life in India, Noraly and her motorcycle, Basanti, embark on a journey of 20,000 miles across Asia, Central Asia, Russia, and Eastern Europe. Facing language barriers, infrastructure hurdles, mechanical breakdowns, and the various faces of Mother Nature herself, Noraly describes her wonderful interactions with locals and the help, support, and kindness of strangers she encounters along the way.

As soon as I felt some of the frustrations I had with Noraly in her journey she brings them up as frustrations of her own. Thinking of her not being prepared with gear, not having the ability to be truly self sufficient through camping and supplies, and rushing through parts of the trip were great reflections for myself and allowed me to think deeply about my own experiences.

Too often in the modern world with ever present technology and instant social connections to billions of other humans, being alone and having to face your own internal life is a rare thing. Free Ride is a great reminder that taking these opportunities for solo contemplation, and embarking on epic journeys, allows us to expand our horizons, experience the best and worst of humanity, and begin to trust ourselves again.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for the opportunity to review this book

[melhara]

June 3, 2025 Pre-Review:
Happy publishing day!

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a physical ARC. I love memoirs, and this YouTuber travel memoir sounds exciting!

[Lisette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dit is het verhaal van haar eerste motorseizoen als Itchy Boots. Haar reis op Basanti van india terug naar Nederland.

En toch voelt het heel anders zo te lezen dan de reis op youtube te volgen. Helemaal met de aanvulling van de emotionele staat waar ze zich in bevond, voor, en gedurende de reis,die je in youtube videos niet meekrijgt maakt het nog veel sterker.

Daarbij is het prettig geschreven travelogue en leest het vlot weg. De emotionele kwetsbaarheid die ze toont maakt het voor mij een erg krachtig verhaal. Kijk uit naar het volgende seizoen (zowel op YouTube, als in boekvorm)

[Moonkiszt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Noraly Schoenmaker's journey of 22k+ miles, through many countries starting in India ending back in the Netherlands (no, she's apparently still moving! See YouTube!) has resulted in her report to the world in her book Free Ride . Inspirational and proof of what one can do when one sets one's mind to a particular path. She bought a bike - a Royal Enfield Himalayan, made a plan, got some cameras and took off.

It must be said she comes from a riding family and so this was a reasonable and supported way for those in her tribe to face challenges and prove themselves. I'm not sure all families would so calmly do so - but you won't know until you try!

Kudos to Noraly Schoenmaker for sharing her story with us all, and those in the future. I missed a map - and so, checked out a published copy (I'd read an ARC) and it fulfilled my needs for maps and pictures that audio version and pre-published copies don't provide. Keep those amenities in mind, dear readers!

*A sincere thank you to Noraly Schoenmaker, Atria Books, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* 25|52:38e

[Megan Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. I just finished Free Ride by Noraly Schoenmaker and I feel like I just spent a few days hanging out with my female ADV riding bestie.

This book hit me in all the right ways—from its honesty and vulnerability to the raw thrill of adventure. It echoed everything I’ve ever felt as a female motorcyclist, from the self-doubt to the pure freedom of riding alone.

What I loved most about this book was its duality: the deep familiarity of the female moto experience, paired with the thrill of exploring places in the world I know little about. It truly felt like Noraly brought me along for the ride—dusty roads, awkward customs, emotional struggles, and all.

So many times I wanted to reach through the pages and hug her and say, “You feel that way too?” Other moments, I was holding my breath while she navigated rough terrain, injuries, and unfamiliar countries, hoping she’d make it through safe and sound.

Right from the prologue, I knew this was going to be special. She writes,

“I was filled with grief, and physical exertion became my lifeline.” As someone who also turns to physical challenges as therapy, this resonated deeply. And then she mentions “the pain of wearing uncomfortable motorcycle boots.” YES. Preach.

Some of my favorite moments in the book were subtle but powerful in their honesty. Like when she admits,

“I was secretly relieved the others left so I could get ready in my own time without being asked technical questions I couldn’t answer.” Or the night before that, sitting around a dinner table as others discussed tire types and compounds, and feeling completely out of her depth. I’ve been there. So many of us have.

She doesn’t shy away from revealing the less glamorous parts of ADV riding either. Midway through Chapter 9, she admits to not checking her tire pressure daily. (Guilty.) In Chapter 10, she talks about riding in freezing weather with cold hands and not-quite-right gear. Then there’s the brutally honest moment:

“The road is rough, my body hurts, and I want to go home.” That right there is adventure riding in a nutshell.

But despite all that, she presses on—with grace, grit, and zero pretension. She lets us into her mind and her heart, and for that, I’m incredibly grateful. This wasn’t just a travel memoir or a motorcycle diary—it was a powerful look at rebuilding, reconnecting, and rediscovering strength through solo adventure.

And just when I thought I couldn’t feel more seen, the book ends on one of the most resonating notes of all. Noraly is asked what it was like to travel the world as a woman. She reflects on how she never really thought about it in those terms—and how she almost felt guilty not giving a more “empowering” answer. But what she does say is this:

“If what you’re really asking is whether men are dangerous, then let me say this: I’d like to give a gold star to all the men who came to my aid without me ever needing to ask.”

I felt that to my core. Having lived in communist Venezuela under Chávez’s rule, I too was often asked what it was like being a woman navigating such a volatile world. And like Noraly, I never thought to define it by fear or limitations—only by the kindness and courage of strangers along the way. Her words gave voice to something I’ve felt for years but never quite knew how to express.

If you’re a rider—especially a female rider—you must read this. And even if you’re not, Noraly’s story is a moving reminder that sometimes the road we need most is the one we’re terrified to take.

[Jessica Perciaccante · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are not watching itchyboots on YouTube you’re missing out on a lot of the world. On her channel we see the smooth-sailing versions of her journey motorbiking across the world and witness how she’s prepared and able to overcome any obstacle in her way. In this book we get the raw journey and every lesson she had to learn to be the smooth-sailing expert she is now. And what a relief it is to know that there once was a time when she was just beginning and she had absolutely no idea what she was doing.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a fan of the author and have watched all her seasons of Itchy Boots on YouTube. What a great adventurer and writer. The book kept me riveted.

[Brittnee · Rating 4 out of 5]

After watching her YouTube channel "Itchy Boots", it was nice to get the background of how she started off her solo motorcycle travels.

[Nonny · Rating 3 out of 5]

loved it but felt like it needed a little more detail as she does some incredible things but feels like it's glossed over too quickly. such an inspiration though and love her approach to adventure!

[Jan Pelcman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a little bit confused by the time sequence in the first few chapters but when I caught up, I just couldn't stop reading. I hope for another book.

[Holly Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Nobody would have thought we’d come this far, including me”.

This book was a fun ride through remote places of the world. Like “Wild” by Cheryl Strayed, but make it on a motorcycle. It opened my eyes to places in the Middle East (the Kalutes and Darvaza Crater both sounded very cool). Noraly is a brave/tough lady!

Definitely worth a read to go escape with Itchy boots on her motorcycle for awhile.

Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for the ARC!

[Emster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ik heb dit boek in een record tijd uitgelezen. Noraly neemt je mee met haar avontuurlijke 36.000 kilometers waarbij ze bijzondere mensen ontmoet. Ik heb nu al zin in mijn volgende motorvakantie :)

[Michelle Kimber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great memoir. It showed grit and honesty. The author did not shy away from the hard parts. I enjoyed the journey.

[Yvonne (It's All About Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished reading: February 2nd 2026

"I was living in a constant state of excitement and fear. My emotions rose and fell, just like the peaks and valleys around me. Everything I did was so far away from what I knew and was familiar with that nothing felt safe or secure. I had no faith in my own skills or knowledge, was left to hold on only to my hope of a good ending."

REVIEW

While I don't exactly read a lot of non fiction, I've discovered a love for travel memoirs and I've been trying to read at least a couple of them each year. The fact that they help boost my bookish travel tremendously is a bonus of course... Although it's not the main reason I read them. Free Ride came highly recommended by Nicki, so of course I knew I had to pick it up sooner than later. While technically I could have read it in Dutch, I decided to stick to the English translation... And I have to say that I ended up having an excellent time reading this travelogue. There was just something about the writing style that made it easy to keep turning those pages, although I do wish that the first chapters would have been in chronological order. The jumping back and forth interrupted the flow, but thankfully the rest of the story did stick to that chronological order. I enjoyed reading about her adventures while traveling on a motorcycle, and there were so many countries I had never visited before in books! That said, things can be said about her lack of experience and preparation for some of the more dangerous parts of her journey... The author was lucky to be able to overcome all those problems without any serious consequences to be honest. That said, I do admire her for taking on and completing such a long journey on her own. It made for some great reading, and I do hope she will write about her later travels from Patagonia to Alaska at some point.

[SylviaV · Rating 5 out of 5]

Free Ride by Noraly Schoenmaker.

This is a memoir by Noraly Schoenmaker also known as Itchy Boots on You Tube. It details her personal journey after a break up and what a series of random meetings with a variety of people during her travels in India led her to buy a motorcycle as a mode of transport for her travels. Over the course of the book, the reader gets an insight into what it takes to travel through multiple countries on a motorcycle during various weather conditions, dealing with cultural and language issues and the ever present bureaucracy of currency/visa/passport/insurance/motorcycle paperwork etc. The overall conclusion I took away from reading her journey was that all over the world, people are people and regardless of what government is in place the every day people you encounter on your travels are mostly friendly and want to help.
Having watched Itchy Boots for years on her You Tube channel, I am delighted that she decided to write her first book/memoir about that first season traveling from India to the Netherlands. I hope that people who read her book, take the time to view her You Tube channel and watch those episodes she talks about in her book.
Noraly writes the same way as she narrates her You Tube videos, she takes you along her journey. For the many people around the world, who for whatever reason are not able to travel, Noraly gives them a glimpse of the beauty of the landscape and the people in far away places. I look forward to her next book. 5 stars.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't want this to end and forced myself to read only a few chapters per day. If you're one of the more than two million who follow Noraly's videos on YouTube, you'll want to read her book, where she opens up about her personal history and shares thoughts and information never seen on her videos. If anything, after reading Free Ride, I am an even bigger Itchy Boots fan.

Her autobiographical first effort, Free Ride, briefly covers her pre-Itchy Boots life, then concentrates on her first ride, an epic journey that began on a rented motorcycle in India, continued on her own newly-purchased bike eastward to Myanmar and Thailand, then back west eventually all the way home to the Netherlands ... basically, season one of her YouTube adventures. If you're like me, you'll find yourself watching season one videos between reading chapters of the book.

I bought the Kindle version, which includes the color photos included in the hardcover book, only they're in black & white. And I'm happy with that, but if you want the full experience you should probably pop for the hardcover.

If Noraly decides to write more about her adventures, I'll be there. Just as she reveals a cinematographer's eye in her videos, here she reveals herself as a talented writer with a gift for words.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore travel narratives featuring solo women traveling in fairly exotic places, and this well-written memoir filled the bill. Noraly, a geologist who worked in exotic locations all over the world for a dredging company, suffers a bad breakup and is forced to sell her home. With the funds, she embarks on an epic motorcycle journey, taking her from India to Myanmar, Thailand, and on to the extremely remote sections of Iran, Afghanistan, and more former Soviet bloc countries I can't name without looking them up. Traveling for nine months and over 22,000 miles, she suffers from mechanical breakdowns, gets into precarious situations in uninhabited areas, and meets many kind people who are always willing to lend a hand. As she traveled, she filmed the journey and established a YouTube Channel called "Itchy Boots," which now has over 2 million subscribers.

I read an advanced digital copy with no photos (although I'm unsure if the print book includes any), so I'm off to explore her videos.

Other good books featuring intrepid female travelers are "One Year and a One-Way Ticket" by Danika Smith and "Tales of a Female Nomad" by Rita Gelman.

[Lizzy Cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t talk about this book enough. I have read TONS of solo travel books but this by far is my favorite. I myself am a female motorcycle rider and the entire time I have felt the same way she did in many situations. She also told me so much about many of the countries that she went through. Which I find to be amazing. Not to mention her story is very inspiring. Another reason I love this book is because it didn’t have any sort of political message. It was just a girl in her bike in her journey riding it. I also felt like unlike books like he pray love the story was not centered on her self despair from her recent splitting with her husband yes, that was sort of a pivotal moment for the journey, but when she talked about it, it was very rarely more than a page at a time. Seriously amazing highly recommend if you love to read about people’s adventures.

[Abhishek Dafria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing journey, amazing story-telling ! This book is a clean, honest, straight-forward recounting of a truly incredible motorcycle ride where you just feel the passion of the rider / author while also connect with her as a person who is young, brave and at times naive too. The innocence and fears which Noraly must have carried throughout this journey spills out so perfectly across the pages that you just keep wishing for her safety and well-being. Instead of portraying herself as a daredevil, she comes across as someone who tried and just kept trying to move forward - and that itself is such a big inspiration for anyone reading this book. Just go for it - just do what you think you need to do and life will find a way, that seems to be the message. I hope she writes more - would love to be part of more of her adventures!

[Bill Babcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been riding motorcycles for more than 60 years, I've never done a trip as ambitious as even Noraly's first trip on a poky, overweight, under-powered Royal Enfield.. I've watched many of her videos and it's amazing that she can produce such intricate, well filmed, well edited content on her own. People frequently comment that she's lying, that she has a crew of at least five, following her in a truck. I understand why they say that, but I'm convinced they are absolutely wrong. It's her, just her.

It astonishes me that she has the guts and persistence to travel as she does--solo, poorly prepared, no mechanical capabilities (I've been wrenching on bikes for all those 60+ years), no ability to camp, no food, no equipment for cooking, relying on the available facilities regardless of how sparse they might be. It's amazing, it works, she's great at it. The book is excellent and inspiring.

It's somewhat of a relief to see the emotional turmoil she revealed, it's even more impressive that she's not superhuman--I've experienced how being alone inside your helmet can scrape off the armor that shields you from loss and loneliness. I've experienced some of that myself, and I understand how a motorcycle and the open road can release all that turmoil, and then can save you from it. And even how irritating, and impossible it is to escape an earworm song in your head when you have hundreds of mile to go, and just three bars of "fooled around and fell in love" for company.

Thank you Noraly, I'll continue to be your fan for as long as you continue to film and write (or until I no longer exist, which ever comes first). As much as I like your videos, I look forward to the next book. I certainly expect all of your 2 million subscribers will purchase and enjoy this book and want more--as I do.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

From awkward beginner to a seasoned traveler, I have watched itchy boots for a number of years, and have always admired Noralys bravery and thirst for adventure (plus a love for motorbikes).

This book gives a good insight to Norally herself, the personal battles that she undertook in that first series, which we the viewer were unaware of at the time of watching.

Although, it seemed rushed in places the antidotes and explanations keep you engaged and interested.

As a motorbike rider and adventure daydreamer, I thoroughly enjoyed Noralys story and look forward too more in the future if that be written format or YouTube.