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African Brew Ha Ha: A Motorcycle Quest from Lancashire to Cape Town
Tea-drinking is a ritual that binds people together. Alan Whelan was on a unique quest: to find the people at the hidden heart of Africa... and sit down for a nice cup of tea with them. On the 14,000-mile solo motorcycle journey through Morocco, Mauritania, Mali and all the way to Cape Town across deserts and the toughest roads imaginable, he met sporting legends and ministers, peacekeepers and outlaws, and countless people who shared their last morsel of food with him.
Armed with little more than blind optimism, he experienced a jaw-dropping ride. Uplifting, insightful and funny, this is the story of one man's determination through the most physically and emotionally challenging five months of his life.
Armed with little more than blind optimism, he experienced a jaw-dropping ride. Uplifting, insightful and funny, this is the story of one man's determination through the most physically and emotionally challenging five months of his life.
372 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 25, 2024
Amazing journey, up the Tabot
December 11, 2020
Very entertaining read
A great tale of a trip through Africa's by motorcycle, In search of the ultimate cuppa. I was initially sceptical about the premise of the journey, but soon became totally immersed in Alan's trip. Overcoming bad roads, a disintegrating motorcycle, accidents, rain and heat, Alan drinks tea with all sorts of characters, from poor families in the middle of nowhere, to businessmen and self-employed farmers from Zimbabwe. The people he meets on the road add a very human element to the tale. Well written, highly entertaining, and very funny in parts, it's a bit different from all the other motorcycle adventure books out there. I thoroughly recommend it.
A great tale of a trip through Africa's by motorcycle, In search of the ultimate cuppa. I was initially sceptical about the premise of the journey, but soon became totally immersed in Alan's trip. Overcoming bad roads, a disintegrating motorcycle, accidents, rain and heat, Alan drinks tea with all sorts of characters, from poor families in the middle of nowhere, to businessmen and self-employed farmers from Zimbabwe. The people he meets on the road add a very human element to the tale. Well written, highly entertaining, and very funny in parts, it's a bit different from all the other motorcycle adventure books out there. I thoroughly recommend it.
August 26, 2016
Very interesting book
This is a very well written and insightful story. It only suffers from a silly and somewhat misleading title. A more appropriate title would be "African Brew: A search for the ultimate cuppa by motorbike". It is a series of very interesting encounters along the back roads of Africa. The author is kind and patient, and not prone to hyperbole. It isn't a motorcycle-centric book like " Long Way Down", but it is vastly more insightful into the people and cultures along the way. A very good read.
This is a very well written and insightful story. It only suffers from a silly and somewhat misleading title. A more appropriate title would be "African Brew: A search for the ultimate cuppa by motorbike". It is a series of very interesting encounters along the back roads of Africa. The author is kind and patient, and not prone to hyperbole. It isn't a motorcycle-centric book like " Long Way Down", but it is vastly more insightful into the people and cultures along the way. A very good read.
August 5, 2015
Really enjoyed this book. Very entertaining(anything that has bikes, tea and travel has me hooked). Opens your eyes to what life is like on another continent. Unlike similar books (Long Way Down came to mind)you get a real sense of Alan's emotions throughout his journey particularly as he was biking alone not with his best mate and a camera crew!
January 20, 2013
loved this...down to earth fella doing the trip...not sure if the tea thing was a bit contrived..but fair play a tough trip written up in a friendy stylee.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews