Maiden Voyage: The Prequel to The Adventure of a Lifetime

by Tim Notier

When a couple from Chicago buy an adventure motorcycle and decide to take a road trip around the western states, they have no idea how inspirational such a short trip could be. Their journey is humorously told with beautiful scenery, interesting characters met along the way, and countless uncomfortable situations (i.e. the traveling strippers they befriended, Tim’s almost accidental initiation into a gang, a devil child on the side of the road with wicked aim, and the several times where the most peaceful of locations almost lead to certain doom), all with a sprinkle of deep-seated inspiration. Written with sweeping descriptions of the landscape and a laugh-out-loud sense of humor, Maiden Voyage is an unforgettable journey into the western wilds of the United States for two people who are woefully unprepared, and yet their trials and mistakes will make you want to be right there with them, discovering for yourself what it is to truly have an adventure.

Genres: Nonfiction

196 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 12, 2017

About the author

Tim Notier was born and raised just west of Chicago, Illinois. For the first 32 years of his life, he rarely explored more than an hour away from the hospital he was born in. But now things have changed. He has sold all of his possessions, and has traded his behind-the-desk job for a full time behind-the-handlebars adventure.

Reviews

[T J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing adventure story, driven by true love, and some tough biking!

[Carol Naille · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adventure beginnings at its very best! A couple goes west on their motorcycle and decide to join the hallowed halls of “adventure “motorcycle riders. You must have the dream, and make it happen!
Having travelled half a million miles on the back of an adventure bike, this is a delightful book. Brought back soooo many memories of my youth in the SW United States. Gear, rain, the sheer terror of near misses. Go for it ! Life is a gift. Read this book.

[Garrett Glass · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are a lot of travelogues written every year, and many are worth reading just to learn about new places and interesting people. Few of them, however, qualify as a truly great travelogue. This book by Tim Notier is in that rare company, and it starts with the fact that he is a gifted writer. His writing style is smooth, comfortable, flowing, witty, self-deprecating, highly observant, and always engaging. His descriptions of the western national parks he and his girlfriend toured on motorbike are truly poetic and distinctly his, which is saying quite a lot when you consider how many thousands of writers have tried to capture the beauties of Yellowstone Park or Bryce Canyon. He is a natural story-teller who compels you to keep reading. He is an adventurer, a romantic, a philosophizer, and a humorist. If I put him in the company of Paul Theroux or Bruce Chatwin it is nothing more than I am telling my literary friends. Once you've read this book, do not be surprised to find yourself recommending it to your friends as well.

[Kira Hak · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully descriptive and funny story about how a dream became a reality. Tim’s descriptions and unique metaphors really pulled me into the story and places they went. Adventure, humor, inspiration and romance. What more could you want?

Currently living out our own dream, this story reminded me of how far we have come, and made me feel nostalgic for those days spent dreaming up this reality. I highly recommend!

[Feifei · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read to have with you on your own travels or at home. Small form, full of knowledge, fits easily into luggage without weighing you down with more than the heavy burden of trying to decide whether (more like when) to start your own journey. Continually inspires with great characters and descriptions of places, making the urge to travel overwhelming.

[Tim Notier · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's my book, what can I say.
I would love for you to read and enjoy the book as much as I enjoyed living, and then writing it.

[Bryanna Plog · Rating 3 out of 5]

These stories are about a brief vacation on a motorcycle around parts of the American West. Notier’s stories from the road sometimes read like a friend simply relaying his vacation stories instead of a tight travel narrative, but the writing is above average and Notier is not afraid to make himself vulnerable for the benefit of the reader. For anyone who is planning a trip around the American West, thinking of taking a motorcycle trip, or just needs a little escapism after a long week at work, Maiden Voyage delivers.

[foxbat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unfinished Journey

I recommend this book to anyone who might be thinking of placing 2 wheels on various continents. If only I had thought about such an endeavor years earlier. Last advice; don't wait.

[Allan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review, My own opinion. This was a nice introduction to Tim & Marisa. Before they further adventures. You learn that Tim, sometimes runs before he leaps, and that Marisa has the final say. Taking the wrong route, " the strippers" and finding out waterproofs arn't always water proof. I would of preferred coloured photos as you struggle to make out the details, and the repeated latitude and longitude co ordinates were doing my head in. But overall a canny read, a short read, but a canny read.