The Butterfly Route

by Michelle Lamphere

This is the story of one woman's adventures while traveling by motorcycle from South Dakota to South America by motorcycle. After having had enough of the empty promises of her long-term employer, Michelle decided to make a fresh start, but first wanted to take some time to travel. Partly inspired by a handsome Englishman, she deconstructed her life - sold her home, put her belongings in storage and left a twenty-year career as an executive (and its six-figure-a-year salary) to live life on the road, packing just the basics on her motorcycle. What started out as an extended vacation and break between careers, turned into a two-year journey including random experiences, new friendships, rugged mountain roads to Andean villages, two broken bones, countless accidents (happy and otherwise), and a marriage proposal.

309 pages, Paperback

Published May 2, 2017

Reviews

[Michelle Lamphere · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm biased because I wrote it.

[Karen Lyn Bird · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing recount of what must have been a unbelievable life enriching adventure!!

I felt like I was on this trip with Michelle, Brian and everyone else! So descriptive and well written, I could almost taste the air and the food as I read. Each experience she shared with me left me better than before I read it. I found I couldn't tear myself away from the book, and thoroughly enjoyed it from cover to cover.

So wonderfully told, I found myself laughing out loud at times... crying at times, and always looking forward to where this adventure took her next.

Thank you so much for sharing your story!!

[Tiger Coward · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is simply a great book!

I will come clean and tell you that I am a motorcycle rider and a fan of Michelle's from her role on the Adventure Rider Radio Raw panel, but you don't need to be to either to love this book.

This is a story that has everything and is told in a delightfully charming manner.

There is betrayal, bravery, heroism, and serious hurdles to overcome, and that is before she has even left Newfoundland!

Michele travels on from there and gives us a glimpse of life for the length of North and South America. She also reveals some personal challenges and tragedies that will result in you respecting her more page by page.

Buy it, you will not be disappointed!

[Tim Notier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of meeting Michelle at an overland expo. We began to talk and I ended up purchasing The Butterfly Route book from her. I got home and read it within a week, it is definitely inspiring and well written. She describes the pain you can go through while traveling, as well as the hospitality that can be given in such seemingly bad times.
She proves that some of the greatest friendships can be made during what seems to be the worst possible moment. Lifelong friends in trade of short term miseries.
Fun read all the way to the end.

[Kathryn Baker]

I am not a biker, and they terrify me, but I was happy to ride along as Michelle and Brian took me on their adventure! I never got wet, had bugs in my teeth or even got sick on my ride, plus I was taken on a colorful journey through countries I may never see. Such a beautiful, descriptive account of sights, sounds, smells and tastes. Michelle’s butterfly sightings made the journey even more meaningful. Thanks for a great read!

[Mark Kuzminski · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic travel literature read from Michelle Lamphere. If motorcycle wanderlust is your thing you’ll love this book.

[ISABELLA]

Motorcycle travel

I chose this book because of motorcycle travel. It is well written and tells a great story with great detail of there trip. Easy read and she is very good at painting a picture of the lands they traveled though!!